Category: Thoughts On Life
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On the Fifth Day of Christmas… A Forgotten Pope and What We Can Learn About Fostering Change in the New Year
Today marks the fifth day of Christmas and Saint Sylvester’s Day, honoring Pope Sylvester I, who led the Church during the Council of Nicaea. His legacy emphasizes quiet faithfulness amid change. As we enter the new year, we should reflect on…
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Instead of Resolutions, a Few Gentle Practices
The days after Christmas feel like an in-between space where time slows down and nothing quite makes sense. As one year closes and another begins, I am choosing a few gentle practices to carry forward, not as resolutions, but as ways of staying human while the calendar keeps moving.
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Pastors, Congregants, Friends, and the Complex Dynamics of It All
Pastoral relationships can be difficult to navigate, and friendships within their congregation of service are even more difficult.
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2025: What I Lost, What I Found, and What I Protected
In 2025, I learned to set meaningful boundaries rooted in self-care and emotional honesty. Letting go of unrepairable relationships and recognizing my role in past dynamics allowed for personal growth. Boundaries became essential for preserving my well-being, showing that love does not require unlimited availability, but rather, respect for oneself.
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A High and Holy Day
That was who Mike Codgill was. A giant. A steady witness of what it means to follow Jesus. A mentor who mentored by simply being fully himself. A professor who challenged, listened, and encouraged. Someone who believed deeply in the church, in thoughtful theological education, and in the kind of…
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Advent in Mister Rogers Neighborhood
As a child, I didn’t track just how important that was, but as an adult, I have come to realize that sitting in Mister Rogers’ living room each week was as formative for who I am today as any other regular experience in my childhood…
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Advent Two: Peace.
It is a word many of us hold close, yet often feel slipping through our fingers. We watch a world torn by conflict and cruelty and wonder if peace. . .
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Advent One: Hope
What is this first Sunday in Advent might bring the hope we need, even if we’re not prepared—or even looking—for it?
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Return of the Elves
I never intended to be the parent who moved tiny felt elves around the house every night, yet here we are, balloons, paragliders, and all. Somewhere along the way, those mischievous elves started teaching me something about joy, grace, and the quiet magic of Advent.
