I call myself a “Skeptical panentheist liberal Christian Unitarian Universalist with humanist and Earth-centered sympathies.” A panentheist believes that the divine is present everywhere and in everything. This differs from pantheism (everything IS the divine) and omnipresence (ALL of the divine is simultaneously present everywhere). My 3rd grade Methodist Sunday School teacher told us that … Continue reading Rev. Ruth’s Reflections – September 29th, 2023

Bill, Angus, and I went to get flu shots at a local clinic a few days ago. For the first time, the nurse wanted to take my adult son Angus back by himself, and I had to explain that he requires a family member with him because he can’t see and he can’t talk. So … Continue reading Rev. Ruth’s Reflections – September 22nd, 2023

I watched a video about how hermit crabs in Belize come ashore together periodically for an RV swap. They actually line up according to size and when sufficient neighbors are assembled, the swap begins. The largest pulls its abdomen out of its shell and moves into to a bigger empty one. Then the next crab … Continue reading Rev. Ruth’s Reflections – September 15th, 2023

My elder child starts back to school today. We’ll be in registration, meetings, and then moving him in. It will take most of the day. He’s already had some frustrations and disappointments, and there are also things coming up which are new and exciting. No institution, program, or plan is perfect. Things don’t always go … Continue reading Rev. Ruth’s Reflections – September 8th, 2023

So another hurricane has come and gone and missed us. Whew! In Birmingham, we heave a sigh of similar relief when tornadoes pass by. In the wake of such events, we may hear comments such as, “God protected me and my family!” or “God was with us this time!”! Does that mean God abandoned those … Continue reading Rev. Ruth’s Reflections – September 1st, 2023

Our air conditioning went out. It teased us with lesser complaints for several weeks and then presented a burned-out blower motor – an expensive, slow repair and right during our nasty heat-wave. After one horrendously sultry night at home, we were extremely grateful to move in with my sister-in-law! We expect to be here at … Continue reading Rev. Ruth’s Reflections – August 25th, 2023

My first-born and I watched the sunset last night sitting on the beach. I have enjoyed a lot of beach time with Liam during his 22 years. He still likes to grab a little bucket and spade from the “borrow bin” so he can dig in the sand and look for shells or catch things … Continue reading Rev. Ruth’s Reflections – August 18th, 2023

My baby brother Michael turned fifty this week. It has been a bit disconcerting. My parents adopted him from Vietnam and he arrived in Birmingham in April of 1975, just a few days before Saigon fell. Dad emerged from the airline gate holding my new 21-month-old brother who was sound asleep, and I rushed forward … Continue reading Rev. Ruth’s Reflections – August 11th, 2023

I am beginning to feel a bit like an aging Snow White to whom all the little woodland creatures come for solace and song. You may remember my past stories about frogs, lizards, birds and bunnies. Well, we now have a new and totally unexpected addition. I went to the kitchen about 2am for cold … Continue reading Rev. Ruth’s Reflections – August 4th, 2023

My parents approached vacations differently. My dad loved his work and tended to over-commit. So he put in 70-80 hour weeks during my childhood, and we didn’t see much of him. When Mom convinced him to take some time off, he then felt a kind of obligation to fill up our vacations with as much … Continue reading Rev. Ruth’s Reflections – June 30th, 2023