I have called you friends

There is a whole wonderful realm of relational intimacy that our culture misses out on by loading all of its human-closeness eggs in the basket of specifically sexual intimacy.

Between cats

For much of the past decade, when I looked at the color patterns in our cats’ fur I saw the flourish of an artist.

On paying attention

“Let us attend!” This imperative in the Divine Liturgy caught my attention recently when I had occasion to worship with our Orthodox brethren.

Adoption, generosity, and the kingdom

Mutual restraint and generosity enabled this event to be plainly and obviously one of God’s own kingdom, where adoption is a dream for God’s people (Romans 8:23).

My love won’t find you

I really wanted (more than you know) a new TV; I really want a usable dining room table; I really want a good, stable job. Did I want my children with the same calculus of consumer desire? I hope the answer is no.

The commandment to love

Paul Nesta writes: "What is the greatest commandment? Jesus’ response to the Pharisees in Matthew 22 is direct and succinct, in a sort of unsurprising and underwhelming way."

What’s love got to do with it?

A few days ago I attended the annual meeting of the International Society for Psychological and Social Approaches to Psychosis. One speaker spoke of the role of love in recovery.

For the joy of marriage

When Christian teaching about marriage focuses primarily on the brokenness and hard work of marriage, we are throwing the baby out with the bathwater.