The following article was first published by The Christian Science Monitor. You can read and share it HERE. Each year since 1971, the people of Nova Scotia have gifted Boston a majestic Christmas tree. The annual tree lighting in the Boston Common attracts thousands, although not all are familiar with the history behind the gift. Canada’s generosity is attached to a century-old thank-you for Boston’s first response to a disaster some have compared to the scale of 9/11. In December 1917, Continue Reading
Break Down Walls of Bigotry with Love
This article was originally published by The Christian Science Monitor. You can read and share it HERE. When former inmate and skinhead gang member Michael Kent was assigned to an African American probation officer, his life took an unexpected turn. His new officer didn’t judge him, but she encouraged him to surround himself with positive symbols, not hateful ones. “If she believes in the good in people, I know I can, too,” he said in an interview with ABC News. He now refers to her as Continue Reading
Bring Out the God-Colors in the World
Today's post is written by guest blogger, Kim Shippey: The founder of the Church of Christ, Scientist, Mary Baker Eddy, never for a moment left anyone in doubt about the source of her inspiration. She spoke of the Bible as her “sole teacher,” insisting that it contains “the recipe for all healing.” She also said: “The Bible has been my only authority. I have had no other guide in ‘the straight and narrow way’ of Truth (Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, pp. viii, 406, 126). I Continue Reading
Yielding That Opens the Way for Healing
The following article was originally published by The Christian Science Monitor at csmonitor.com: Yield signs on the road require drivers to slow down and look both ways. Sometimes, the traffic is clear and you can get moving right away. Other times, you have to be very patient and wait until the way opens up. This simple traffic lesson can be a metaphor for prayer. I’ve found that when challenges arise, turning to God for answers often requires patient listening for and yielding to the Continue Reading
The Power of Prayer in the Aftermath of a Hurricane
This blog was originally published on Huffington Post. You can read and share it HERE. The outpouring of generosity and kindness from neighbors near and far during the recent hurricanes in the US is a strong reminder of the inherent goodness and strength in each one of us during challenging circumstances. Often dealing with the aftermath of a storm can be more trying than the storm itself. News reports have indicated that Puerto Rico is entirely without power after the recent hurricane. Continue Reading
Is it possible to find peace in an age of anxiety?
The following blog post is written by guest writer, Kim Shippey. The June 12 edition of ABC TV’s Good Morning America cautiously asked: “Are we living in an age of anxiety?” The program referenced several studies concluding that forty million adults in the United States suffer from anxiety. It also noted that Google searches into anxiety have doubled in the past eight years. “This is not fluff,” warned ABC’s senior medical correspondent, Jennifer Ashton. “It’s a legitimate medical and Continue Reading
Books that Transform Our Lives
The following blog post is written by guest contributor Kim Shippey: Every five years I thumb through the books on my shelves and cull about thirty percent of them, which I donate to our local library. What I notice is that year after year the same well-explored books escape the purge and return to their joyful task of inspiring those who turn their pages. They include: The Greatest Thing in the World (Henry Drummond, 1911): “Is life not full of opportunities for learning Love?” Continue Reading
Wonder Woman Film Busts Stereotypes And Got Me Thinking Spiritually
This blog was originally published on Huff Post. You can read and share it HERE. When I was seven, my mom dressed up as Wonder Woman for a costume party. A photo of her taken that night was taped to our family’s refrigerator for years. There she stood striking her best superhero pose in knee-high boots, hands placed confidently on star-studded shorts with a gold band on her forehead and cuffs around her wrists. This image served as a symbolic reminder to me that, costume or not, I could Continue Reading
Do You Love the Way Jesus Loved?
Today's post is written by guest blogger Kim Shippey: How well I remember the 1990s when friends who were on the brink of Christian commitment latched on to the slogan “What Would Jesus Do?” They stuck the letters WWJD on bracelets, shirts, caps, notebooks, and bumper stickers. Even before they understood Jesus’ contribution to religious history and the role his teachings might play in their lives, those friends felt good when they responded to the call to try to be Christlike (as far as they Continue Reading
From Panic to Peace in a Tokyo Train Station
The following article was originally published by The Christian Science Monitor. You can read and share it HERE: A blur of bustling commuters rushed past me in the middle of the Tokyo train station. Everyone knew where they were going except me. Although my friends had given me detailed directions, I couldn’t remember my train connection in that moment. (This was before Google Maps!) I felt panicked and alone. I had been in Tokyo for the weekend, and the next day I was supposed to fly Continue Reading