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Last week I learned that my spiritual director, Donita Harris, died from cancer.

About two and a half years ago I decided I would try spiritual direction again after a long hiatus. Donita was recommended to me, and after our first conversation it was clear she was someone from whom I could learn much.

A good spiritual director helps you listen to the deepest parts of yourself, and Donita was good.

We would meet every couple months in her home on the southeast side of Columbus. I loved the room. The artwork on the walls spoke of the African and feminine cords...

New nativities

‘Tis the season for creative adaptations of the familiar nativity scene and Christmas story.

Not long after Eve and Lily were born I first saw this one:

...

These Holy Days

This year I’ve been trying to stop myself whenever I refer to the Friday after Thanksgiving as “Black Friday.” Sometimes it just comes out, but each time it does, I find that it catches in my throat. When the words tumble out, I pause and consider how the “biggest shopping day of the year” has gained status alongside the many other holy days of this season.

This is not a rant about consumerism. Full disclosure: I bought something last Friday. It was something I was planning to buy anyway but waited until that day so that I could save around $300. But even if that weren’t true...

Land acknowledgement

For the last several months we have included this statement at the top of our worship bulletin:

We acknowledge we are gathering on land where Miami, Osage, Shawnee, and other Indigenous peoples have lived and worked and loved. We continue to work and pray for justice and conciliation.

The inclusion of such statements is a growing practice for institutions, and at the beginning of conferences, meetings, and worship services. Several of us at CMC had experienced gatherings where this was included and were moved by its power. We’ve also attended workshops such as...

Reporting from DC

These last two days I’ve been in Washington, DC
with other members of the National Sanctuary Collective. This is a group
of 8-10 people in sanctuary and their supporters that Edith has been
communicating with regularly. The Collective shares a common strategy of
being very public with their stories as a way of gathering broad support and
catching the attention of elected officials. This time in DC builds on
previous advocacy efforts with members of both parties to use their influence
in whatever way possible to improve the chances of each person...

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