nirtog Why would people reject the teachings of Jesus because of the bad behavior of Christians? People who fail him do not demonstrate that his teachings are worthless. If we humans were good at keeping our priorities straight, we would never have come up with the idiomatic sentence: Don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater. … Read more
This post is a meditation on what makes you you and what makes me me. Where to start? Please excuse me while I mull. It took me just under three seconds to write that and inform my unconscious that I wanted it to gather information from previous experiences, list comparisons and contrasts, and begin to … Read more
Biographical sketches on Mind in Heart are meant to give glimpses into the lives of real people (ones like us) and their spiritual journeys. They may have had interesting experiences that did not impact them much spiritually, but who can tell? We each have opinions about things that most shaped us. The older we get, … Read more
Last week was Holy Week, and this, I just learned, is called Easter Week. Boy, did the disciples of Jesus learn something in those days! They didn’t learn everything, that’s for sure, because we humans can never learn everything. We constantly make the mistake of thinking we’ve got the entire picture. In our self-satisfaction, we … Read more
You can go to People Magazine for coverage of the famous ones, and there’s Instagram nowadays, not to mention many other ways. They call them VIPs, but I’ve always considered that to mean “Very Important Puppies,” such as the Basenjis, Kili, and Jaro. The lives of ordinary folks, we only learn about if we happen … Read more
I investigated several wildfire-ravaged landscapes during my career, and the Hermosa Creek watershed in Colorado was one of the most beautiful. This post is meant to show some of Earth’s more recent climate change challenges, not to be particularly political. Let me explain the catchy title. In Spanish, the word colorado means “colored red” or … Read more
No one has accused me of being out of touch with real life or being unable to imagine what truly downtrodden and suffering people must endure. But the accusation could be justified. Mine has been a cushy life. Not that I inherited wealth or was born with any amazing gifts. But white privilege has not … Read more
I offer you a metaphor of what it means to exist. Each of our lives is like this, maybe. But remember, a metaphor is a bridge to meaning. Not being the thing itself, a metaphor has limits. To use metaphor, keep what feels right and ignore the rest. Your life is like a river. Not … Read more
Among the oldest of the Hawaiian Islands is Kaua’i to the northwest of the Pacific island chain. Mount Waialeale (why-allay-allay), at 5148 feet elevation, has been known to be the wettest place on Earth. Called the Garden Isle, Kaua’i holds some of the most lush and diverse ecosystems in all of Hawaii. It has eroded … Read more
A spiritual confidant of mine inspired me to explore a new way to understand how Jesus has the power to be, in his own words, “the way, the truth, and the life.” Below, I’ll give you the broader context of what Jesus said, but I won’t cite chapter and verse. You will have no problem … Read more
I receive a steady stream of emails via this website that all assume I am trying to make money. They figure I’m a business, with the need for marketing my products and an incentive to pull traffic, get clicks, and attract eyeballs. examples from three separate prospecting emails: Drive targeted traffic to your website with … Read more
I want to describe an extended spiritual conversation with my friend, Sydney. We think so differently that one could suggest we come from different planets. But our attempts to communicate do not bring too much frustration to either of us. We seem to have a tolerance, bordering on love. The challenge of understanding causes us, … Read more
Twelve score and ten years ago, our forebears brought forth on this continent a new nation, conceived in liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all humans are created equal. Eight score and three years ago, one of our most capable presidents, Abraham Lincoln, called us to reaffirm our commitment to the values of that … Read more
Many of us avoid the news these days. We might check in now and then, but it is so consistently depressing that who can blame anyone for not subjecting themselves? Here’s a post to give you a little joy, maybe. Remember how Julie Andrews sang in The Sound of Music about her favorite things? When … Read more
Excuse me, ye sensitive ones, if the term “bullshit” offendeth, but remember that a rose by any other name would smell as sweet. Say “flim-flam” if you prefer. Either way, this smell is decidedly not sweet. We can observe today that the social media weather is hot and steamy. We baste in it until our … Read more
This travelogue covers driving to Havre, Montana, where a grandfather and two great-grandfathers had early twentieth-century homesteads, then down to Yellowstone National Park. A cousin suggested this trip, since he had been to neither place. His mother and my father were born in a little house on the high plains prairie north of Havre, about … Read more
On Sundays, many Christians go to worship services. They believe that expressing love and appreciation for their Creator is beneficial not only to themselves but also to the community. The various denominations differ in their forms of worship. Some mega-churches feature large bands and advanced audio equipment, accompanied by dynamic performances with talented singers. Some, … Read more
The Christmas song Joy to the World offers a glimpse of how Jesus will reign when he returns. The last stanza goes: “He rules the world with truth and grace and makes the nations prove the glories of his righteousness…” It says we will be amazed and wonder as we witness his love. This time, … Read more
In this post, I appeal primarily to Christians who underestimate the harm caused by the mistaken beliefs driving Intelligent Design. But this article may also be of interest to others, as it partially explains prevalent anti-science behaviors of today. What is Intelligent Design, and why does it matter? Wikipedia has several articles, but you could … Read more
Since I enjoy driving, I didn’t expect this long journey to cause any problems. It didn’t. The adventure was worth it. As usual with my travels, I knew that the trip would only whet my appetite to return for the many experiences we did not have time to investigate. We drove my 2019 Honda Accord, … Read more