I am struck, today, by the passage from the Hebrew Bible. If you recall, last week we heard the story of Moses and the burning bush, when he was called out by God to lead the Exodus from Egypt—to help enact God’s desire to free the Hebrew people from slavery and bondage. Fast forward nine chapters and nine horrible plagues, and we find ourselves at the night of the first passover....

To build up the body of Christ, God has gifted the saints with a great diversity of skills. “Some would be apostles, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers,” to quote Ephesians. But in God’s great creative generosity, the gift giving did not end there. In addition to those gifts one might classify as vocational, it seems God has bestowed upon us many other, more subtle gifts that refine and color our personalities....

‘Tis the season for the Tour de France. This is the legendary bicycle race throughout some of Europe’s most dramatically beautiful countryside. And just as the scenery is breathtaking, so is the riding. About 100 cyclists, at peak athletic ability, ride for twenty-one days, averaging around 100 miles each day, at speeds of 30 to 40 miles per hour. For the uninitiated, these are jaw dropping statistics, only achievable by the best of the best....

Last month my son, Luke, and I travelled to Oregon to visit his godmother, Karen. Karen is a priest, and is a treasured seminary classmate of mine; we were formed as Christians and as clergy together. Although we haven’t visited in person often, we have kept in touch regularly over the years through Zoom and by holding each other and our families in prayer. Karen has had a difficult few years....

Just about every Sunday morning I grab my coffee, climb into my car, and begin my journey from Little Rock to one of our 54 Episcopal churches somewhere out there in the diocese. As the canon in the bishop’s office, it’s part of my job to keep up connections with the flock beyond Little Rock. It’s usually a pleasant drive; if it’s a clear morning, I get to see the sunrise....