I was watching a cooking show and thought about the ingredients of faith.  A good meal consists of a variety of tastes, textures, aromas that sit well and leaves an effervescent aftertaste. Faith consists of the same ingredients in its own way.  The way we respond to our experience is cultivated in the dish of … Continue reading Ingredients of Faith by William Klein →

In Christian art there is a common motif of saints and holy figures standing on the heads of reptiles.  We see it with Mary, conquering the serpent as the second coming of Eve. Jesus tells his disciples, “See, I have given you authority to tread on snakes and scorpions, and over all the power of … Continue reading The Dragon We Conquer by William Klein →

One of the classic themes of literature is the “sins of the parent visiting the child” and how we respond to the indiscretions of those who went before us.  Biblically speaking we see this in the story Exodus 34. Moses has destroyed the tablets when he returns to deliver the Ten Commandments to his people.  … Continue reading The Sins of Our Forebearers by William Klein →

I’ve been studying black literature earnestly this summer, reading old and new authors – James Baldwin, Toni Morrison and Colson Whitehead to name a few.  I want to understand what is happening in African American culture.  I guess, as a teacher of predominantly African American students I want to understand their history so I can … Continue reading We Are All Beloved by William Klein →

“While man blames another for causing him harm, the wise man first takes himself to task.”  Hazrat Inyat Khan “Attend to self reform and social reform will take care of itself.”  Ramana Maharshi Jesus said it another way, “Judge not lest you be judged.” Matthew 7:1. We’re all guilty of judgment as this is part … Continue reading Speak Less, Listen More by William Klein →

Premillennialist thinking is alive and well. This was a movement in the early 20th Century.  The movement supported the idea that the end of the world was coming and one should worry about the salvation of one’s soul. Millennium relates to a period of time of one thousand years. Premillennialism centered its theology on the … Continue reading The Strife of Politics and Religion →

I often return to the work of the great Irish mystic poet John O’Donahue.  O’Donahue said, “Behind every face is a secret life.” Paraphrasing him, O’Donahue states, “We never really see our own faces and we rely on others to reflect back to us who we are.”  Mirrors only reflect an image of who we … Continue reading What the Mirror Projects by William Klein →

There’s a large stamp outside of city hall in Cleveland that says, “Free” on it. Some people say that the stamp is symbolic of all the free services and giveaways the government has provided over the years, but the real reason is deeper. “Free” was the stamp that was used for those who were first … Continue reading The Free Stamp by William Klein →

As famed psychologist Eric Fromme has pointed out, “Human history begins with an act of disobedience.” He notes that Adam and Eve are disobedient and it is part of the human condition. This is an interesting precept as we move through these trying times.  What is disobedience but an attempt at honoring the act of … Continue reading History Is Watching Us by William Klein →

We are failing our children in real time. We are watching the destruction of our country by a disease that is ravaging our citizens’ health.  People can’t breathe. It is also wreaking havoc on our mental faculties by imposing fear and uncertainty into the mix. We are watching the injustice of a black man (George … Continue reading Truth In Real Time by William Klein →