Jon C. Swanson's Blog, page 45

A respite.

Respite is a break, a short break, from hard work. When we are caring for someone, and we need a break, and someone else provides care for a bit, that’s a respite.

The work still needs to be done. But the people involved need a break.

Sabbath is a kind of respite. A nap is a kind of respite. A meal with a friend, a phone call with a  loved one, a short break from screens to look at flowers are all kinds of respite.

Jesus understood the need. As Mark writes, “Then, because so many peo...

A wind of breath.

We’re about 40 days from Pentecost Sunday. That’s the day that the church celebrates the consistent, persistent, whispering, rushing arrival of the Holy Spirit. But when Nancy gave me the word “wind” for today’s post, I was happy to jump ahead of the liturgical calendar. (Actually, she gave me this word six years ago, but I still pray these prayers.)

Recently, I’ve talked with God about wind on behalf of people struggling with breath. “In the same way you are the breath of God,” I say, “b...

A nudge

Rich Dixon is learning all the time.

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I promised a field trip – our leaders arranged a guided tour of the National Underground Railroad Freedom Museum.

Cincinnati was a major stop on the “Underground Railroad” that helped escaped slaves on their dangerous journey north to freedom. Our guide was a soft-spoken Black gentleman whose grandparents began their lives as slaves.

Sadly, slavery has always been a part of human history. Our tour traced that horrible story from ancient tim...

Thomas didn’t get fired.

Part two of Sunday’s reflection on John 20:19-31.

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And we say, “But what about Thomas’ statement when he heard about the night?” He says, “unless I see his hands and side, and I touch him, I won’t believe.”

That’s the sure sign of a doubter, right?

May I ask a question? Who is he doubting? Jesus? Or is he doubting Peter? The man who had said he would stick with Jesus and then denied him. Is he doubting Nathaniel, who had been the original doubter of Jesus? Is he doubting the w...

Not so doubting Thomas.

Some of us heard about Thomas yesterday. The text was John 20:19-31. Here’s part one of my reflection.

In our reading this morning, we heard about a disciple named Thomas. People who never knew him have labeled him “doubting Thomas” and he’s had to bear that label for millennia. But I’m pretty sure that’s not what his friends would have called him.

At the time he was also called Didymus. The twin. There’s no record of who his twin was. None at all. And it’s only in John that we see him...

A prayer for the second Sunday of Easter

God.

We are cautious.

At least many of us are.

Except about what we like and share.
And even then we make choices more cautiously than people know.

We make decisions out of an abundance of caution.
We are cautiously optimistic.
We are cautious about who we trust or what we commit to do.

Because our hearts have been betrayed, our minds have been deceived.

And we aren’t going to let that happen again.

And so, when John writes us a letter and says, “God is light; in him there i...

Prayer and humility

Prayer is SO key to true success in our life, family and work.

And humility is the key to sincere prayer. How can we ask for God’s help and provision unless we know we can’t do it on our own?

Our business world today is built around the upward path. You start out at the bottom and work your way up by managing more people. Leading means not following. That’s the opposite of the way God wants us to think. We are called to follow Him.

I’d love to blame our current time for moving downhi...

Remembering a particular sheep.

I think we wonder sometimes if Jesus knows we are in the hospital. The shepherd unaware of the sheep who are here. 

Because if he knew, he’d be here, right? 

Climbing the stairs, two at a time. 

Holding up a hand to stop the protestations of public safety. 

Winking at the RN, asking the tech for a blanket, and then telling the patient, telling you, to stand up and walk. 

After a month of tests, after a decade of illness, after a day of the tiniest of NCU breaths, a miracle. 

...

Learning About Justice

Rich Dixon is learning all the time.

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Last time, we headed to Cincinnati to meet our team.

When we arrived, a couple of things became apparent. This group of young folks was remarkably committed and gracious. We were clearly outliers. but they welcomed us with open arms.

It was also clear I wouldn’t be able to ride with the group. We had to travel 500 miles in six days over what could charitably be described as “hilly” terrain. No way I could keep up with that pace. But our te...

Talking with God all there is to do.

I wrote this more than a decade ago. It seems helpful to consider again.

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A friend and I were talking about the work we have to do. He walked to a whiteboard and listed some of the roles and commitments and challenges that he is facing. He said, “I can’t do all that.”

I hadn’t made a list like that, not exactly. But I could. So could you. Most of us are facing long lists of expectations and goals, challenges and opportunities. Except that sounds really abstract. So let’s be honest...