In the summer of 2020, when the pandemic still had an air of novelty and our interest in redefining ourselves was at its peak, I bought a new razor. I dumped the old plastic Mach 3 with its overpriced cartridge blades and ordered a solid, wood-handled safety razor; the kind where you unscrew the head … Continue reading On Manhood
Author: Steven Gomez
Flowers
Spring is in evidence in this little corner of the planet. For most of my life I've been less than wild about the wild outdoors; hiking or camping are not my cups of tea, although I can enjoy a walk through the woods. But it is foolish to deny the life-brightening capacity of things that … Continue reading Flowers
Crossroads
As they led him away, they seized a man, Simon of Cyrene, who was coming from the country, and they laid the cross on him, and made him carry it behind Jesus. (Luke 23:26) Like every journey, it had unexpected crossroads and unpredictable turnings. I took the road in stride, my faith rewarded with safe … Continue reading Crossroads
Inheriting More Than Language
When the architects and craftsmen of medieval Europe built their churches—stone, wood, and stained glass—they designed them with names for the various areas and parts and structures. The area that was reserved for the congregation to gather in worship was called the ship. They didn't think it a strange name. For centuries, Christian writers had … Continue reading Inheriting More Than Language
Tears In A Bottle: C.S. Lewis’ “A Grief Observed”
You record my lamentation; put my tears into your bottle. Are not these things noted in your book? —Psalm 56 In April of 1956, C.S. Lewis was married to Joy Davidman in a registry office. On Lewis' part, it was largely meant as an act of charity, allowing Davidman and her two sons to escape … Continue reading Tears In A Bottle: C.S. Lewis’ “A Grief Observed”
You Are All My Friends: C.S. Lewis’ “The Four Loves”
In 1958, C.S. Lewis was asked by an American Christian radio station to record a series of talks. The subject he chose was Love. The talks were duly recorded, but—in an almost farcical irony—the Brit proved too liberal for the Americans; the Episcopalian bishops supervising the project were scandalized at how frankly Lewis had discussed … Continue reading You Are All My Friends: C.S. Lewis’ “The Four Loves”
The Particularity of Poetry
I recently took part in a conversation around the role of aesthetics in faith, and the famous (or infamous) piece "Footprints" came up. While there are people who take genuine comfort from it, most of my friends find it sentimental and cheesy. It's often the butt of jokes. But it's also possible that few of … Continue reading The Particularity of Poetry
Knowing Ourselves
The ancient Greeks held the Pythia, priestess of the temple of Apollo and commonly known as the Oracle of Delphi, in the highest regard. She occupied perhaps the most important religious position in the Greek world, said to be in direct communion with Apollo himself, delivering the god's responses to supplicants' questions in dactylic hexameters. … Continue reading Knowing Ourselves
St John the Baptist
I was asked to write a poem for the Advent candle lighting this past Sunday at church, with a focus on John the Baptist. I thought of him out in the desert, forging a path for his Messiah, then realized that he himself was probably being forged. We call Advent a time of preparation, not … Continue reading St John the Baptist
All That We Think Is Love: C.S. Lewis’ “Till We Have Faces”
It's almost a sure bet that if people have heard of C.S. Lewis, then they've read The Chronicles of Narnia. Occasionally they haven't, but such cases are rare enough that people generally assume others know the stories. When conversations about him start up the question that's usually asked is "Have you read the Cosmic Trilogy?" … Continue reading All That We Think Is Love: C.S. Lewis’ “Till We Have Faces”
Marginalia 