“Now for the next exercise, you are to go outside, find a tree, and invite God into your consideration of it. Write in your journal as you go, and be back here in an hour.” These were instructions I was given as part of a spiritual retreat some years back. And they left me more…

On Wednesday this week, I was conversing with someone I know in Denmark. In the midst of chitchat, they remarked how they had to make sure they went to the grocery store because everything would be closed the next day. I quickly scanned my brain and could not come up with any reason for a…