Rumors abound: of a sinful father,Or did she truly give birth without seed?You thus revealed to us by the water The truth of this most miraculous deed. Moving to completion, the Cross in sight,To make whole the cosmos, death trampled down.Prepared to endure all lashing and spiteBy double-birth for the world to renown. May weContinue reading “Festal Views”
Tag Archives: art
Theodicy as Tragedy or Evil?
The “problem of evil,” even if imprecisely named, remains the most powerful intellectual impediment to belief in God. The world contains extraordinary beauty, joy, and order—and yet also deep suffering. How can these coexist if there is an all-good, all-powerful, all-knowing God? This question is not a modern discovery. It already stands at the centreContinue reading “Theodicy as Tragedy or Evil?”
Of Macarius
Embracing hard desert sand,Where his eyes did see great truth;Of the first end for this land—Lost by error of our youth. Although man did stray, in Faith did he pray.The Lord he did not eschewDespite the loss of his love;His pain to reveal a clueAbout grand plans from above. Divine kept at bay, in FaithContinue reading “Of Macarius”
The Idea of Liberalism
For B. A. B., who continually asked for this to be written. ‘Liberalism’ was concerned [with what] I have called the menace of ‘sovereign’ authority and with constitutional devices to reduce it. If it had any theoretical understanding of a state it was that of an association in terms of assured ‘natural rights’ recognized asContinue reading “The Idea of Liberalism”
Afloat
Seeking among the sand: a proper stonethat might resist how gravity alwaysensures that downward pull. A smooth touch says,‘How about me?’ So fingers dig—unknownif appearance be but illusion shown.The rock reveals itself to thrower’s gaze,and then—if found worthy—in the hand staysas young lad finds waters calm, little known. The key to balance being in theContinue reading “Afloat”
Two Anecdotes About Family
When at the hospital for the birth of our son, I remember being unsettled by the fact that much of the medical staff kept referring to me as my wife’s “birthing partner.” This label struck me as deflating the stakes and investment I had (and have) in both my wife and child, and I likelyContinue reading “Two Anecdotes About Family”
Θεωρία (Theoría)
Your eyes that look beyond my own,Mere dye and egg upon bare wood,Reveal all that cannot be shown:Beauty giving the true and good. Mere dye and egg upon bare wood –To what do figures, still, attend?Beauty giving the true and good.With you, the past and future blend. To what do figures, still, attend?Both here withinContinue reading “Θεωρία (Theoría)”
Seven Days
Out of NothingnessComes the life-giving lightBy Your loving Hands Setting Your KingdomFar above and beyond hereOur humble dwelling Shaping splendidlyOcean and country preparedLife’s bloom may begin Two partners are madeBeacons for both night and dayIn celestial waltz Creatures emergingExploring both land and seaEarth now made a home To tend creationWants He a worthy servantFor thisContinue reading “Seven Days”
Friendship and Its Contexts
In his Nicomachean Ethics, Aristotle discusses the nature of friendship and its profound (and perhaps near primary) importance in a fulfilling human life. This claim in itself could and has been the subject of much discourse, but his development of this topic provides many other ideas that are worth pursuing in their own right. OneContinue reading “Friendship and Its Contexts”
Unknowns
There the mysteries lie waiting:In science of a cosmic whole,Numerous ideas, creatingAnswers for an erratic soul. In science of a cosmic whole,The Void threatens with her gallows;Answers for an erratic soulRequiring thought not so shallow. The Void threatens with her gallows –Numerous ideas, creating –Requiring thought not so shallow:There the mysteries lie waiting.
Hoping for Clarity 