Category: Life Lessons – Experience
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Curious Pilgrim Daily Office Reflection
June 24, 2026 Thus Far the Lord Has Helped Us Daily Office Readings: Psalm 101, 1 Samuel 7:2–17, Acts 6:1–15, Luke 22:14–23 If someone asked me to summarize today’s Daily Office readings in one sentence, I would simply say: Godly leadership is not about power—it is about integrity, faithfulness, service, and self-giving love. Each reading…
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The Curious Pilgrim
When God Opens Our Eyes This morning I read a social media post from a woman who had walked through PrideFest in downtown Springfield, Missouri. She described the experience as though she had walked into Sodom and Gomorrah. She seemed fearful, convinced that danger surrounded her. She was troubled that families and children were present.…
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The Sin We Often Forget
A Curious Pilgrim Reflection Tomorrow I will stand before the bishop at St. James Episcopal Church in Springfield, Missouri, and be confirmed as a member of the Episcopal Church. Today, during our confirmation class, we discussed the definition of sin found in the Book of Common Prayer: “Sin is the seeking of our own will…
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Why My Pilgrimage Led Me Home
A Curious Pilgrim Reflection On Sunday, June 7, 2026, I will kneel before the bishop and be confirmed as a member of St. James Episcopal Church in Springfield, Missouri. At seventy-six years old, some might wonder why anyone would make such a change. Others will understand immediately. Life is a journey. More importantly, life is…
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When Power Forgets Love
Politics, Religion, Economics, and the Courage to Remain Human A Curious Pilgrim Reflection on Romans 13:1–7 Daily Reflection Scripture: Romans 13:1–7 Few passages in Scripture have created more confusion, fear, debate, and misuse than Romans 13:1–7. For centuries these verses have been quoted to demand unquestioning obedience to rulers, governments, political systems, and even religious…
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Overcoming Evil With Good
Living Romans 12 in a Fractured World A Curious Pilgrim Reflection There are passages in Paul’s letter to the Romans that feel almost impossible when we place them beside the realities of modern life. Division. Anger. Political hostility. Religious conflict. Social media outrage. Family wounds. Violence. Loneliness. Fear. And yet Paul writes: “Live in harmony…
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Every Good Gift
The Epistle of James 1:17 says: “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.” I have thought about this verse from James often over the years as I remember the gifts God has given…
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A Conversation About Love
Two people—Will and Rex—found themselves sitting in that sacred space where words begin to rise out of the heart. Will spoke first:“Our love is natural, holy, and sacred. I feel peaceful, happy, content, blessed, honored, and amazed.” Rex responded quietly but firmly:“What we have is natural, eternal, and pure.” I listened to their words and…
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🌿 Bearing Burdens, Carrying Loads, and Leaving Judgment to God
A Curious Pilgrim Reflection 📖 Scripture for Today Galatians 6:2, 5“Bear one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.”“For all must carry their own loads.” Romans 14:7, 12“We do not live to ourselves, and we do not die to ourselves.”“So then, each of us will be accountable to God.”…
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🌬️ Breathed Into Life: The Spirit Within Us
“Then the Lord God formed man from the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and the man became a living being.” — Genesis 2:7 “Do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery; but be filled with the Spirit.” — Ephesians 5:18 “When he had said this,…
