Poem: Hand and Cheek By W. Rian Adams Hand and Cheek is a poem about communication… well, let’s be honest, it’s really a poem about a girl!! A very pretty girl I call the love of my life. Over the years I’ve learned that love often communicates without the need for words. As we stare into the eyes of someone who loves us, their eyes will tell a story as old as time. Additionally, love is able to communicate through gentle or erotic touch. You can tell someone you love them and…
Healing Snakes: Christ and Healing from Bitterness By The Rev. Rian Adams The title says it all! Through the Christ and his love there is healing from bitterness. Today’s lesson is a prime example of how that can happen. When the image of a snake comes to mind it usually carries a negative connotation. I had many lessons as a child about the dangers of snakes. But Jesus, like so many things in the Gospel of John, flips the reader’s preconceived notions to the other side of the coin. Snakes can also be a…
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…
Freckles by Rian Adams I’m just another man who wants to be a poet when he grows up. I hope my words inspire you to find your hope. The joy of being a poet First of all, writing poetry is cathartic for my soul and helps me grow as a person. Another reason I enjoy it is that it helps me love with more purity. This poem engages how some of us love so deeply that we desire to notice the simple things. Hence, the inspiration for this poem came at the movies with my son. Because…
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…