Author: cgreenwaldwrite

Writer, thinker, coffee drinker. Mental health therapist. Seminary graduate. Mother. Striving for truth and integrity with a heavy dose of compassion.

Review: The Disfiguration of Nature: Why Caring for the Environment is Inherently Conservative

Krueger’s book is a thin volume but very densely and academically written. It is not for the faint of heart if you fear being challenged, inspired, and even angered all in the same chapter. I do not agree with all of what he has written, yet I still want to shout the underlying message from the rooftops: Conservation is not an inherently liberal issue! Conservatives need to take up the issue of conservation! We have no time (or land, or water, or air) to waste!

A new tagline; a clarified mission

this weekend I realized that the tagline I had for my blog is misleading. Not intentionally, of course, but rather because I thought it was what I was about - or what I was supposed to be about. My tagline was "thoughtful explorations of spirituality, psychology, and their intersections," as you may recall. After all, I'm a counselor, and I feel myself to be spiritually inclined and want to write about it. So that's what I do, right? Actually, no.

Intra- and inter-faith conversation in an age of division

I strongly believe one of the best antidotes to fear and hatred of the other is having actual person-to-person contact with the other, or at least taking the opportunity to be directly educated by the other. Strouse points out that we must not compare our best with their worst, but our best with their best. In an era seeming beset by division and skepticism about the “other side,” I wish that we could all be as humble and gracious to learn from others different us, yet as grounded in our own tradition to teach others the best of our best.

License to interpret: the Bible and same-sex relationships

It will be four years this June since the Supreme Court declared same-sex marriage legal in the United States. This post might feel a little behind the times given all the societal changes going on already. But as many of you know all too well, the church often drags its feet when it comes to change, coming kicking and screaming into relevance -- if it isn’t already too late when it gets there.

A relational and reflective new year resolution

What's coming alive to you? What is life-giving to you right now? What is challenging you, draining you or taking your life away? How is your purpose for the common good showing up? (What am I here for, what is my vocation, what gift do I have and how can I use it to help heal the community? Your gift is often where your wound was. How am I leaning into this and how am I running away from it?) Having heard what we've heard, how can we help each other? (whether practical or existential; economical or spiritual)

A monk, a monastery, and a picture book?!

The day is rare when I give an unqualified “that was so good!” review for the Speakeasy books I read and review. Well, Brother John most certainly deserves such an accolade. Just a taste of the gorgeous illustrations. I selected this book to review because my heart loves the Abbey of Gethsemani, monks in general, … Continue reading A monk, a monastery, and a picture book?! →

“Confessions of a Funeral Director” whaaat?

This sounds like a morbid post, but hang in with me here. This book is a memoir of sorts of 6th generation funeral director Caleb Wilde. He shares his thoughts about death, life, love, and heaven – but perhaps not in the way you might think. If you think about it, the descent into fall … Continue reading “Confessions of a Funeral Director” whaaat? →