Be still and know that I am God. [Psalm 46:10]

Those are some words encouraging personal silence and solitude from the psalmist which I have written and taught on and practiced…sometimes. The traffic churning in one’s mind and the bloated personal calendar and chaotic world all get in the way of regular and meaningful solitude and reflection, don’t they. Not a bad idea to get back into the habit during Lent.

I can’t do better than the sentiments of twentieth-century author and theologian Howard Thurman: “Such periods (i.e., of silence and solitude) may be snatched from the greedy demands of one’s day’s work; they may be islanded in a sea of other human beings; they may come only at the end of the day, or in the quiet hush of the early morning. We must, each one of us, find [our] own time and develop [our] own peculiar art of being quiet.”

My sermon last week was on solitude’s close sibling “Reflection.”

For your reading accompaniment: “Be Still My Soul” (beautifully played by pianist William Joseph and cellist Zack Clark)
One of my favorite hymns with meaningful lyrics set to the tune of Sibelius’ “Finlandia.” “Be still my soul, the Lord is on your side.” Indeed he is!

I read the news today, oh boy

• Changing partners (religiously at least). According to a recent Pew Research study, more than one-fifth of all adults in 36 surveyed countries have left the religion that they were raised in. Two faiths, Christianity and Buddhism, are experiencing the largest percentage of losses.
  
  Some countries, like India, which I am very familiar with, have strict anti-conversion laws. And the penalties for both the new convert and the proselytizer can be quite severe. When a nation attempts to wed a religion (e.g., Hinduism) to its national identity, religious conversion becomes a perceived threat to that country’s persona. One more reason that “religious” nationalism (pick the religion and the nation) is a nasty arrangement.
• “Give and it shall be given to you,” Jesus said. One more comment on the Dr. Zollicoffer story. Dr. Z is the physician in one of the poorest neighborhoods in Baltimore who cares more about the wellbeing of his patients than their ability to pay him. It turns out he was recently diagnosed with cancer. And ironically, Dr. Z didn’t have insurance because of a paperwork problem with his Medicare plan. He had no way to pay for his radiation treatments. However, since one good deed deserves another, his patients returned the favor to their kind doctor. As one of his patients, Nykidra Robinson, said, “Whatever needs to be done to save Dr. Z, we’re going to do it—collectively.” Together they raised $100,000 in a community fundraising campaign. Today Dr. Z’s prognosis is good. His insurance snafu was corrected, so he now plans to give any leftover money back into the community.
• Sorry to hear about this: With orders from the federal government, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services are planning to shut down its Office for Long COVID Research.
  
  Many had and still do suffer symptoms long after having COVID. My daughter is among the 23 million who experienced this post-viral condition.
• Meanwhile, in Sudan: As our American news outlets’ global focus is primarily on Israel and Ukraine, we hear nothing of the brutal ongoing civil war in Sudan. In the last two years, an estimated 150,000 people were killed and over 11 million have been displaced. And sadly, Christians in Sudan face continued targeting and are victims of “heinous crimes” amidst this ongoing civil war which shows no signs of letting up.

I saw a film today, oh boy
Friday night, Sue and I took a shot and went to see The Penguin Lessons. The trailer and reviews made us optimistic. This delightful film did not disappoint. It is based on a true story about an ex-pat British professor who finds his way to a teaching position in Argentina during one of its many political upheavals (1976). This emotionally vacant, disengaged, and cynical instructor finds connection not only with students but also his past through a rescued penguin. Very much worth watching (it’s PG-13, probably appropriate for high schoolers and older).

My bad! A couple of Tuesday Afternoon’s ago I wrote about Mel Gibson’s sequel to The Passion of the Christ, coming out on Good Friday. Well, it is…in 2026. The Resurrection of the Christ is just beginning filming now with a target date of Good Friday 2026. Spoiler alert: The tomb is empty!

Speaking words of wisdom
“Opening Day is like Christmas, except it’s warmer.” Those were the words of Cincinnati Reds legend Pete Rose. There is something magical when the Major League Baseball season begins! And as a testimony to our famous weather, the schedule-makers didn’t give the Guardians their home opener until April 8. A week and a half after baseball begins…and it still might snow! Go Guards!!

(By the way, the “flubber” bats the Yankees are using are just plain wrong!)

“Outstanding leaders go out of their way to boost the self-esteem of their personnel. If people believe in themselves, it’s amazing what they can accomplish.” Sam Walton said these and many other positive things about the leadership and management of people. He would know. Walton, of course, was the successful businessman who started Sam’s Club and Walmart.

“You know what, I’m going to say something that may seem crazy as heck. I’m thankful that I got cancer, because I am the happiest man on the planet, no matter what the outcome. What we have shown, and why we’re sitting at this table right now, to show America: this is what you’re about! We are about giving! I can’t make it without them, nor can they make it without me.” Dr. Michael Zollicoffer’s simple and profound words resonate greatly. I think the Beatles said something like that: “And in the end, the love you take is equal to love you make.”

“Lord, give me grace to hold righteousness in all things
that I may lead a clean and blessed life and prudently flee evil
and that I may understand the treacherous and deceitful falseness of the devil.
Make me mild, peaceable, courteous, and temperate.
And make me steadfast and strong.
Also, Lord, give Thou to me that I be quiet in words
and that I speak what is appropriate.”
[John Wycliffe]