This question has echoed through centuries, and it still stirs hearts today: Can religion or faith be separated from politics? As someone who reaches out and serves the community in many ways, through worship, outreach, and everyday presence, I find myself living this question, not just pondering it. The Ideal: Separation for Freedom In many … Continue reading Can Faith Be Separated from Politics?
Spirituality
Be the Church: Ten Shifts Toward Kingdom Living:
Instead of coming to church, be the churchLet your presence be felt in kitchens, sidewalks, and quiet conversations Instead of serving in the church, serve the communityBring dignity and care to places that rarely see it Instead of waiting for the Kingdom, strive for the Kingdom comeLive the values of heaven here and now: justice, … Continue reading Be the Church: Ten Shifts Toward Kingdom Living:
🌬️ “Every Breath Is a New Birth”: Richard Gere’s Reflection on Impermanence and the Hope of Renewal
In July 2025, during a tribute to the Dalai Lama’s 90th birthday, actor and Buddhist practitioner Richard Gere shared a quietly profound insight: “For the Dalai Lama and his teachings, every day, every breath is a new birth.” On its surface, it’s poetic. But within it lies the essence of impermanence — the idea in … Continue reading 🌬️ “Every Breath Is a New Birth”: Richard Gere’s Reflection on Impermanence and the Hope of Renewal
The Gentle Art of Letting Go: A Reflection on Impermanence, Interbeing, and Selflessness
There’s a quiet wisdom in pausing to breathe and smile. Gary Gach’s gentle nudge toward mindfulness reminds us that spirituality isn’t about grand revelations—it’s about tuning into the present with eyes, heart, and soul wide open. In his book Pause, Breathe, and Smile, Gach highlights three jewels of spiritual insight: impermanence, interbeing, and selflessness. Together, … Continue reading The Gentle Art of Letting Go: A Reflection on Impermanence, Interbeing, and Selflessness
🌿 Let Go, Let Them, Let God, Let Me, Let Us
Five Gentle Invitations for Healing and Wholeness “These five ‘let’ statements weren’t born in a single moment of inspiration—they were shaped by decades of book reading, reflection, living, pastoring, counseling, listening, caring, serving, and contemplating. I’ve watched them rise from the quiet corners of my own journey and unfold in the lives of those I’ve … Continue reading 🌿 Let Go, Let Them, Let God, Let Me, Let Us
No Shopping Carts at the Door of the Heart: Practicing Intention Without Expectation
In Pause, Breathe, Smile, Gary Gach challenges us with a radical invitation: to live with pure intention, without bargaining for results. He asks, “How can we protect our seed intention of awakening from being tainted by our inclination of predicting profit, calculating our gains?” The imagery is vivid — the moment we act with expectation, … Continue reading No Shopping Carts at the Door of the Heart: Practicing Intention Without Expectation
走向中心，也歸向主：明陣與歸心禱告的同行
今晚飯後，我再次走入明陣(labyrinth)。雖然不是第一次，但每一次踏上這條彎曲的路徑，都像重新踏上一段靈魂的朝聖之旅。 這條路不是直線的，也不由我操控。它讓我一次又一次繞行，彷彿提醒我，生命從不只是「到達」，而是「經歷」。有時我以為已經接近中心，心中一喜，卻發現自己又被引導到外圈，仿佛還要多走幾步。這不是挫敗，而是一種邀請，是在過程中覺察、等候與信任的邀請。 在這段緩慢的行走中，我操練歸心禱告(centering prayer)。我輕輕地坐下來，安靜呼吸，把注意力從外界收回到內心深處。只用一句簡單的詞語，如「主啊」、「愛」、「在祢內」來安住我的心。若我的思緒飄走，我不責備自己，只是溫柔地將心再帶回那詞語，回到與主同在的中心。 這是一場內外同時展開的旅程。 明陣讓我的身體回應靈魂的渴望。歸心禱告讓我在寧靜中向神的愛開放。我發現，走進明陣，就是走進內心。每一個彎路都在對我說：安靜下來，主在這裡。每一次歸心，也像是對主說：我來了，我願意與祢同住。 中心不只是圖案的中心，更是神在我心中的居所。
Salvation Beyond the Script – Jesus Meets People Where They Are
In traditional settings, we’ve often reduced salvation to a moment: a prayer, a decision, a confession. But in The Dinner Church, Verlon Fosner reminds us that Jesus saw things differently. His way of welcoming people into grace was relational, patient, and wide. Fosner writes, “The only problem is that Jesus embraced many people who did … Continue reading Salvation Beyond the Script – Jesus Meets People Where They Are
Embracing “Always Here, Always Now”: Gary Gach’s Path to Presence
Gary Gach's book, Pause, Breathe, Smile, offers a profound yet accessible approach to mindfulness, centered on the idea that "Wherever we go, we’re always here. Whenever we’re there, it’s always now." This statement underscores the core of his teachings: the essence of presence. The Power of Being Present Gach's philosophy emphasizes that our experience of … Continue reading Embracing “Always Here, Always Now”: Gary Gach’s Path to Presence
When the Light Is Hidden: Reflections on the “Darkness” Chapter in Framing Faith
Darkness has always unsettled us. It disrupts clarity, confronts control, and forces us to face what we often avoid—grief, doubt, brokenness, and vulnerability. But in his chapter titled “Darkness” from Framing Faith, Matt Knisely offers a grace-filled invitation: to see the dark not as absence, but as a place where God is deeply present and … Continue reading When the Light Is Hidden: Reflections on the “Darkness” Chapter in Framing Faith
Framing Faith: Learning to See the Sacred in Everyday Moments
In our fast-paced, hyperconnected world, moments often slip by unnoticed. We rush from one thing to another, rarely pausing long enough to reflect, let alone truly see. Matt Knisely’s book Framing Faith is a soulful invitation to resist this hurried way of living. With the heart of a seeker and the eye of a photojournalist, … Continue reading Framing Faith: Learning to See the Sacred in Everyday Moments
We Are Born of Love: Love Is Our Mother – A Reflection for Mother’s Day
"We are born of love; Love is our mother."Rumi As Mother’s Day approaches, we pause to honor the women who brought us into the world, nurtured us, guided us, and shaped us with their strength and tenderness. This day is not only a celebration of mothers but also a reflection on what motherhood represents: love … Continue reading We Are Born of Love: Love Is Our Mother – A Reflection for Mother’s Day
Reading People, Not Pages: What the Human Library Taught Me About Courage, Connection, and Change
This past weekend in Richmond, British Columbia, I took part in something quietly radical. I wasn’t giving a lecture or leading a workshop—I was being read. Not from a pulpit or a printed page, but as a “book” in the Human Library. If you’ve never heard of the Human Library before, the concept may sound … Continue reading Reading People, Not Pages: What the Human Library Taught Me About Courage, Connection, and Change
Beyond the “Great Time”: Reclaiming the Outward Heart of Easter and Our Churches
The airwaves and social media feeds are once again filled with invitations to Easter Sunday services. Local pastors, with welcoming smiles and uplifting music, promise inspiring messages, engaging programs for children, and a generally "great time." And while the desire to create a positive and accessible experience is understandable, a deeper question lingers: Are our … Continue reading Beyond the “Great Time”: Reclaiming the Outward Heart of Easter and Our Churches
Be the Light in a World of Darkness
Sometimes, there is a lot of darkness in this world. As I see it, you have two choices. You can be a part of that darkness, or you can be light. Be the light. – Tom Giaquinto Every day, the news bombards us with reminders of the darkness in the world—violence, injustice, division, and suffering. … Continue reading Be the Light in a World of Darkness
A Broken Table: Reflections on Communion and Unity
The table is set. Bread is broken, and wine is poured. It is a simple meal, yet it holds the weight of centuries, the very presence of Christ. We, his followers, gather to remember, to receive, to be made one. But the table is not whole. It is fractured by our divisions, our differing interpretations, … Continue reading A Broken Table: Reflections on Communion and Unity
The Peril of Labels: Why We Need to Move Beyond “Us vs. Them”
In today's world, it seems everyone is picking sides. Left, right, middle, far left, far right, liberal, conservative, progressive, traditionalist... the list goes on. We've become a society obsessed with labels, both political and religious, and it's doing more harm than good. This tendency to categorize and divide isn't new, but the digital age amplifies … Continue reading The Peril of Labels: Why We Need to Move Beyond “Us vs. Them”
When the World Spins, Just Give Me Jesus
In a world that feels increasingly like a whirlwind of uncertainty, disappointment, and conflicting information, it’s easy to feel lost. I’ve been uttering a simple yet profound prayer: “Just give me Jesus.” It's not a complicated plea. It's a raw, honest cry from a heart weary of navigating the chaos. It’s a yearning for something … Continue reading When the World Spins, Just Give Me Jesus
Letting Go: A Path to Freedom and Renewal
"Breathe deeply and allow yourself to let go. If you were able to let it into your world, you are able to let it go." — Seed & Song Letting Go is an act of trust, a surrender to the natural rhythm of life. It is not about forgetting or disregarding what we have experienced … Continue reading Letting Go: A Path to Freedom and Renewal
The Good News Within Us: A Reflection on Anne Frank’s Enduring Hope
Everyone carries within them a piece of good news. The good news is that you may not realize how great you can be, how much you can love, what you can accomplish, and the depth of your potential. This inspiring message, often attributed to Anne Frank, conveys hope, resilience, and self-discovery. While the exact source … Continue reading The Good News Within Us: A Reflection on Anne Frank’s Enduring Hope