I have watched a lot of TV law shows over the years, but I never thought I would be in one. Yet, here I am, not in a TV drama, but standing in the real place, not in the highest court of the land, but a court that deals with matters of what the court... Continue Reading →
For Millions, ‘No Kings’ Is a Statement of Faith
By Guthrie Graves-Fitzsimmons Mar 27, 2026 - Via Sojourners The third No Kings Day this Saturday is shaping up to be the largest day of nonviolent protests in American history. There were more than 2,000 protests during the first No Kings Day in June 2025 and more than 2,700 at the second No Kings Day... Continue Reading →
I’ll be damned if Trump or Epstein or Chavez are going to steal my hope in the goodness of humanity — Anne Lamott
[Anne Lamott] We sing a hymn in church whose refrain ends, "and all around is sinking sand," and I have felt this since, oh, approximately November 2024. Everyone I know felt this, the existential instability, the sinking of our hearts. We did what we do — tried to take care of each other and not... Continue Reading →
Barricade
Another in the series: “Stories from Somewhere” by Ken Gray Barricade — (from French barrique 'barrel') is any object or structure that creates a barrier or obstacle to control, block passage or force the flow of traffic in the desired direction. The day has finally arrived. After many weeks of planning, our small group of... Continue Reading →
Iran — What it’s like on the ground
s Photo supplied by anonymous author who remains anonymous for obvious reasons [Anonymous opinion first published in The Guardian] I was at work last Saturday when I heard the blast. Since that moment, the world has been turned on its head. The school called asking me to come and pick up my child. I rushed... Continue Reading →
Meet my friend, Ruth
To those of you who already know Ruth, what is wrong with this picture? To those of you who do not know her, you need to know that Ruth is typically NOT the one eating, but more likely the one preparing and setting out the food. She is an extroverted personality who loves to welcome,... Continue Reading →
Theology in a time of war
Schoolgirls in Iran (Photo by Paul Keller via Creative Commons license, edits by the Century) Article Mac Loftin in The Christian Century, March 9, 2026 The brief biblical account of Herod’s slaughter of the innocents raises the question of what faith demands when politics fails to stop the killing. The massacre of the innocents is... Continue Reading →
Jazz, the Doctor of Democracy
Wynton Marsalis just stepped down as the managing and artistic director of Jazz at Lincoln Center, which he founded nearly 40 years ago. He shares his thoughts on the state of democracy in the US presently using the craft he knows so well, Jazz, to illustrate his points. TRANSCRIPT (Generated; check against delivery) [Wynton Marsalis]... Continue Reading →
Love, love, love . . . Canada?
Robert Reich on Substack - Mar 10, 2026 [Ken Gray] Robert Reich possibly exaggerates here. I know many unhappy camper Canadians, on both the right and left politically and relisiously. That said, he may have a valid point. See what you think. Why do Americans hate each other while Canadians love each other? Friends. A... Continue Reading →
We remain “battered and bruised, but not defeated.”
A Pastoral Letter from Archbishop Hosam Naoum, Primate of the Province of Jerusalem & the Middle East - 28 February 2026 Dear Beloved Brothers and Sisters in Christ, As you are all now painfully aware, in the early hours of this morning, February 28th, a coordinated and massive military assault was launched by the United... Continue Reading →