Author Archives: watchwordsblog

As a Christian, I’m passionately opposed to American pretensions that we have special standing with God; to political office-seekers who play on our religious differences; and to the religious arrogance that says, ‘Our truth is the only truth.’ Parker Palmer Meditation: Jesus embodied and taught the inclusion of all. He questioned all those who believedContinue reading “Religious Arrogance and Pretense…”

I try to live my life like my father lives his. He always takes care of everyone else first. He won’t even start eating until he’s sure everyone else in the family has started eating. Another thing: My dad never judges me by whether I win or lose. Ben Roethlisberger Meditation: The day after theContinue reading “Like My Father…”

The power of the future lies not in the hands of those who believe in scarcity but of those who trust God’s abundance. Walter Brueggemann Meditation: Our German church suffered three major losses recently. Three of our engaged and faithful council members had to move away, some with their spouses and children. These were nineContinue reading “Grief and Joy at the Same Time…”

Beauty is when you can appreciate yourself. When you love yourself, that’s when you’re most beautiful. Zoe Kravitz Meditation: Yesterday I walked the dog and my daughter came along with her long board. She usually rides down the sloped parts of the street. This time I walked all around the neighborhood. When we got toContinue reading “Beauty is…”

Be content with what you have; rejoice in the way things are. When you realize there is nothing lacking, the whole world belongs to you. Lao Tzu Meditation: When a storm interrupts our life, we are stopped cold in our tracks. For three days all schools closed in Atlanta, as we never had a coastalContinue reading “Being Content and Grateful…”

The greatest gift you can give someone is the gift of inspiration. Cornel West Meditation: There are times when a person says something or does something in our presence that opens up a whole new world for us. We get inspired! I remember such pivotal moments when mentors who had gotten to know me wellContinue reading “The Gift of Inspiration…”

This is the moment when we must come together to save this planet. Let us resolve that we will not leave our children a world where the oceans rise and famine spreads and terrible storms devastate our lands. Barack Obama Meditation: Our current government has declared “There is no global warming”. Nature proved them otherwise.Continue reading “This is the Moment…”

It is not our differences that divide us. It is our inability to recognize, accept, and celebrate those differences. Audre Lorde Meditation: My teenage daughter said today: “Mom, I am different from you! I need pressure to work at my best. I am not like you working days in advance. I just need that time pressure.Continue reading “Being Different From Our Children…”

A higher rate of urgency does not imply ever-present panic, anxiety, or fear. It means a state in which complacency is virtually absent. John P. Kotter Meditation: As several hurricanes are approaching our land, all of us are on high alert. While those in the path of the storms probably flee with much anxiety, others around them areContinue reading “The Urgency of Our Times…”

The willingness to consider possibility requires a tolerance of uncertainty. Rachel Naomi Remen Meditation: I remember a time when my children were younger. They would often ask me if they could have or do something. Looking back I often responded in a very “German way”, always immediately either saying “yes” or “no”. Often that causedContinue reading “Endless Possibilities…”