Evelyn Underhill was a wonderful spiritual writer and teacher from a century ago. Last year during Advent I greatly enjoyed a little book called Advent with Evelyn Underhill. Here’s just a sample:
In the Stillness of the Night: A Christmas Story
In 2014 I published a book of Christmas stories entitled Twenty-One Candles. To mark the beginning of Advent, what follows is an excerpt from my favorite story in that collection, “In the Stillness of the Night.” All you need to know is that the main character, Paul, is falling in love with a Polish woman, Agnieszka.
The Castle and the Shed: A Parable
A man lived all alone in a beautiful castle. His fortress had sturdy walls of stone, many towers with fine turrets, a moat and drawbridge, and a parapet with a long walkway.
Saint Dave: Memories of a Childhood Friend
My childhood friend, Dave Raymond, died at 67, having spent his last decade struggling with a rare neurological disorder called Primary Progressive Aphasia (PPA), which gradually destroys a person’s ability to understand language. When Dave finally lost all ability to communicate either with spoken or written words, he became a prisoner in his own body.
Unknown Martyrs: Saint Mehdi (Iran)
Artist Paul Hobbs has produced a series of thirteen ‘icons’ honoring Unknown Martyrs: ordinary Christians who have been persecuted for their faith.
Predestined to Freedom: A Poetic Parable
Here’s my attempt to resolve, in a poetic parable, that old riddle of predestination versus free will. See what you think. (By the way, alia iacta est is Latin for “the die is cast”.)
Sadhu Sundar Singh: Indian Christian Mystic
I’ve been reading Sadhu Sundar Singh, the great Indian Christian mystic and evangelist. Here is a selection from his luminous devotional writings:
The Mystery of Marriage Interview, Part 2
Here is Part 2 of my recent Zoom interview with Cynthia Tolbert on my book The Mystery of Marriage.
The Mystery of Marriage: An Interview
Here is a link to Part I of a recent Zoom interview I did on my book The Mystery of Marriage. It turned out quite well, I think. Part II will follow later this month.
The Lover’s Hermitage: A Poem for Karen
On August 7 Karen and I celebrated our 39th anniversary. Those of you familiar with my book The Mystery of Marriage will know that when I first met my wife-to-be, I was seriously considering entering a monastery.