Eyes and Soul: Poetry by Rian Adams The poem Eyes and Soul is a take on William Shakespeare’s quote, “The eyes are the window to the soul.” I think something spiritual happens when we observe eyes staring back at us in wonder. In essence, it reminds us that we are truly alive. Even Matthew, the Gospel writer, says this, “The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy then your whole body is filled with light.” Matthew’s message is clear, when our eyes are fixed on beauty…
Unity: The Spirituality of Jesus’s High Priestly Prayer by Rian Adams Unity. We don’t know what it is, but we certainly know what it’s not. Unity is not connectivity. We have plenty of connections these days… Facebook, Twitter, Instagram… even connections at church. The list goes on and on. But are we any closer to real unity with God and one another? I think this week’s lectionary reading confronts a longing deep inside of us for a oneness of heart and soul. Most agree, “sure we need unity…
Lectionary Gospel: John 10:11-18 Fourth Sunday after Easter, Year B Mercy By W. Rian Adams I’ve always found “Good Shepherd Sunday” a bit forced. In my experience the church uses this Sunday to show, prove even, that we are in the hands of a good God. A God who will take care of us. The message is, we are the sheep in the Christian fold and Jesus is the good shepherd. While this message is heartwarming and filled with nostalgia, it seems to overlook a small portion of the passage, the “other sheep.” It piques my…