One of America’s protective freedoms lies in the principle of “the separation of church and state.” My friends who are legal scholars tell me that the provision was initially made to protect churches from the government. This “freedom of religion” means that the government will not persecute anyone for practicing her faith. It also…
In M. Night Shyamalan’s movie “Unbreakable,” (2000) two characters are juxtaposed: Elijah Price (played by Samuel L. Jackson) and David Dunn (played by Bruce Willis). Elijah Price was born with Type I osteogenesis imperfecta (also known as “Brittle Bone Disease”) where his body does not make the kind of collagen that strengthens his bones….
How to Eat, Pray, Love “Here and Now.” Patheos asked several bloggers: When you can’t drop everything for a year-long spiritual pilgrimage, how/where do you seek spiritual renewal in times of personal crisis? Taking the pressure off means going to the restaurant that makes my favorite dish or getting to my Mama’s kitchen with childhood…
My Jewish friends have a mezuzah on the right side of the doorframes of their homes. The small container on the doorpost contains passages from the Sh’ma or V’ahavta, the central affirmation of Jewish faith. Mezuzot contain parchment inside the container with the words from Deuteronomy 6:4-9 and Deuteronomy 11:13-21. On the outside of many…
I first read the book Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse in high school. This short novel describes the spiritual journey of a boy in India. The protagonist, Siddhartha, leaves home in search of enlightenment. His life involves asceticism, wealthy business trade, love and finally a humble occupation as a ferryman. It was years before I understood…
“Jesus wept.” The biblical verse that the first kid spouts off in the Vacation Bible School line-up of children demonstrating that they have memorized at least one Bible verse. It’s short. It commits well to memory. And it leaves every other kid reaching into his or her mental arsenal for another verse to recite. “Jesus…
When I was in college, I was active in Christian Impact, my school’s local chapter of Campus Crusade for Christ. It was a wonderful experience where I bonded with others, learned new songs, and experienced discipleship and spiritual accountability for the first time. One of the core activities of this student organization was leading first-year…
Like most people I know, I have a very long to-do list. It seems that I add things faster than I cross them off. I use the list for my much-needed sense of accomplishment. I exact this need in all types of ways. For example, I refuse to let the servers in restaurants refill my…
I own a pair of crutches. I keep them in the hallway closet where I can grab them if I need them . . . because every so often I will. I have a knee condition where my kneecaps naturally dislocate. I can move my kneecaps with my hand, or they will naturally dislocate in…
I recently learned how to swim. I decided it was time to learn. I asked friends for a swim instructor referral, looked it up and enrolled in a class. A week later, I was swimming across the pool. It was that easy. In my own defense, I knew what to do. I just wasn’t very…
Dr. Monica A. Coleman is an award-winning scholar, writer, and minister dedicated to the intersections of faith, social justice, and transformation. Through speaking, consulting, and writing, she empowers individuals and organizations to navigate change with purpose and integrity.
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