Ash Wednesday on the Doorstep of War

An Ash Wednesday reflection in the shadow of war:

It’s 3 a.m. and I’m on Twitter impatiently refreshing, looking for news from Ukraine. I check over on Ukrainian President Zelensky’s account, too, looking for signs he’s still alive and Russia hasn’t managed to find him yet. Probably a lot of you reading this are doing the same. Death looms large this Ash Wednesday, situated amidst the first global-level conflict of the Internet era.

Mercy Not Strained (November 1, 2021)

As we conclude our exploration of Solomon’s prayer of dedication for the temple, we’ve returned multiple times to our failures and need for forgiveness. Solomon also speaks of justice. How do we balance justice and mercy?