Dog

Sermons

A Sermon for White America: Dyson

After Saturday, I felt happier than I have felt since, oh, about Columbus Day Weekend–– and I didn’t even march.  But I felt like I did. Tom and the kids went…

Sermons

Confessions of an Undecided Democrat–And Why I Will Remain So

I started, a few weeks ago, to write a piece on the Democrats, to confess that I was still undecided. I still am today, less than a week before my state’s…

Parenting/The Full Catastrophe

Sermons

We wake up when the bombs come home

Every month or so, one of my children comes into our bedroom just before bedtime and collapses into my arms. “I am thinking about dying again,” the child says, and…

Sermons

“A Thousand Times More Frightening”

The Friday after the Charleston shooting, I met with my group of ministers—a monthly meeting that’s evolved over the past four years into what we call the Underground Seminary. We…

Parenting/The Full Catastrophe

Sermons

Love and Containers

My dog Stella went out hunting in our back yard last Friday. We watched her tear through the melting snow, disappearing out back behind the barn. We saw her reappear, crouch…

Music

Sermons

Gospel of John, Lennon: Darkness and Light

Can it really be thirty-five years ago that John Lennon was murdered? He was 40 at his death; soon he will be 40 years gone. I keep checking my math,…

Parenting/The Full Catastrophe

Sermons

Equinox

I am writing this during my September Equinox retreat. It’s already chilly–I put my wool socks on last weekend when we played the Turtle Hill Festival, and I haven’t traded…

Sermons

The Snag of Not Forever

It’s the last day in the studio, at least until September. Truthfully, we are almost done. I have to do vocals on the choruses of “Dave Hayes,” the chorus of…

Sermons

Weeds and Wheat and Suzuki Camp

My sermon today at West Cummington Church Elle and Jay and I spent the week at Suzuki Camp, lugging our violins, soccer ball and a gigantic cooler full of snacks…