The book of Esther may need a trigger warning. So be advised that Esther includes unexamined cultural practices and systemic injustices that include sexism, gender stereo-typing, sexual harassment, slavery, concscription, racism, and violence. I worry about telling this story, but Esther is in our Scriptures, one of three books with a female lead character, and […]

Wisdom shouts in the street; in the public square She raises Her voice.  Above the noisy crowd, She calls out.  At the entrances of the city gates, (where the Patriarchs pontificate) God speaks. She says: “How long will you clueless people love your naïveté, mocking insight and hating knowledge?” Look, God speaks, She says: “I’ll […]

Many Thursdays during seminary, I enjoyed a beautiful homemade Indian meal with Pramod and Ranjana in their tiny seminary village apartment. Each meal culminated in cups of lush Indian tea, artfully prepared in a large second hand pot. Ranjana carefully stirred in sugar and cream, never asking us how we liked it, but crafting a […]

Last summer, I found myself in a fast-food drive through line 5 minutes before opening. Lacking coffee, I struggled to navigate the orange cones and contradictory signage. The car behind me honked. Fast is in the name, fast-food, and deep in our expectations. At five minutes after 6, a yellow vested teenager started moving the […]