It takes much discipline and restraint to care for a person while allowing them to make their own choice. The easier thing is to enter into an argument, to try and outmaneuver the other.
Category Archives: Years
Attachment & Authenticity
Over the last few months, I’ve become interested in the reality that we have two needs as humans which are very central: the need for attachment and the need for authenticity. I think most of our pain and what makes life so difficult is that one must often be sacrificed for the other. At theContinue reading “Attachment & Authenticity”
take away (this eclipse)
A simple song written the night after our friend Luke Hollinger passed away. — It’s so crowded, without you here / This empty room, and all my fear, I’m not afraid, that God’s not real / But that he saw you shaking, didn’t heal. And that he’ll be greeted by my friend you’ve taken, IContinue reading “take away (this eclipse)”
Life in Phoenix ’24
I am very excited for this new year. I’ve begun cataloging posts by year as well as by topic (see below), and it’s remarkable to realize I’ve been writing on this website for about 8 years. Most of what I write falls into the essays and articles category, and probably not enough goes in theContinue reading “Life in Phoenix ’24”
The Gifts of My Childhood Church
On this Christmas evening, I am reflecting a bit on the church. Anyone who’s read much of anything I’ve written may now sigh at the inevitable forthcoming gloom, surly observations, vexation etc. But no! It is Christmas, and this is more cheerful. My last article was about the roles and nature of the pastor andContinue reading “The Gifts of My Childhood Church”
The Pastor & the Psychotherapist
Introduction One night, near the end of our class time, the professor had a pastor speak to us about bereavement and end of life care. After she signed off, the class discussed the roles of mental health counselors in conjunctions with and opposed to pastors in providing care. My classmate remarked that the church isContinue reading “The Pastor & the Psychotherapist”
Deconstruction of Small Gods
*the use of the cover art for this piece was generously permitted by John Kennedy: www jedika.com A Funny Scene There’s a funny scene I imagine sometimes in which I get to the afterlife and meet God after a life on earth. And God tells me, “Sorry pal, you were wrong. I’m actually not quiteContinue reading “Deconstruction of Small Gods”
Asking Jesus Into Your Mind
This is an attempt to ponder what might be happening from a psychological perspective when a very theologically oriented event takes place.
Ava Li
Ava Li has joined us on the earth. I’m sitting here in a cream colored chair, and she is sleeping in a baby rocker to my left, and Teddy is sleeping on the floor left of her, and Aleisha is eating a salad on the couch across the room. Ava Li, this is the account,Continue reading “Ava Li”
“Big Egos”
For as long as I can remember, I’ve had a real distaste for people who are arrogant and overly self-confident, or whom I perceive that way. It’s partly because I dislike and fear bullies and partly because most of my life I’ve felt quite the opposite: self-doubt, insecurity, a bit shy and afraid of lookingContinue reading ““Big Egos””
javen.bear. 