spiritual insights on religion, social justice and comparative theology
I was talking with a friend of mine who is an author. He works for a baseball franchise and he told me about a prospect who wasn’t working out for the team. He said the prospect was a good fielder but an exceptional hitter and this is why they signed him. When he arrived at … Continue reading Stand in the Box and Hit by William Klein
An Enduring Legacy Everyone wants to leave a legacy and Memorial Day reminds us of “the last full measure” of that promise. Whether we realize it or not, there is something to be done in this life and we hope to leave the world with a deeper understanding of what life means. In scripture Jesus … Continue reading An Enduring Legacy by William Klein
Watching Pope Francis’ funeral, I noticed something curious. There’s a debate about who had the “better seat” and was closest to the coffin that held the pope’s body. The Vatican noted that it broke protocol to accommodate Volodymyr Zelenskyy and his wife, a last-minute addition, who were seated in the front row, as was President … Continue reading Reaching Out to the Margins by William Klein
We have no idea what someone else is enduring. I recently saw a meme that held true for me as a teacher. The meme displayed a number of empty desks with labels on them telling what adversities the students are enduring. “Going to bed hungry,” “Parent in jail,” “Being abused,” “suffering from anxiety,” and so … Continue reading The DNA of Trauma by William Klein
I read a post on Facebook where someone said they will be “sleeping well tonight.” He was referring to Trump’s address of a joint session of Congress. A friend who is pretty objective and has railed against both sides Democratic and Republican asked “How can you sleep well when you know a country is divided?” This … Continue reading The Central Question by William Klein
Life is paradoxical and the earlier we learn that and embrace this complex concept, the more we grow in understanding. Light needs shades of darkness to make forms visible. Every tear of sadness has a wellspring of hope. Every death brings new understanding of life and resurrects within us a profound sense of curiosity that … Continue reading Valentine’s Day by William Klein
There’s a meme regarding the red card craze. The “red card” tells migrants of their rights. It shares what one should do if approached by ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement). Individuals are told to keep them on them in case of an emergency. The red cards are laminated cards with the following instructions: “I do … Continue reading Red Cards by William Klein
I’ve prided myself in teaching my students the value of working toward being a strong moral person. I once heard someone say, “All you have is your word, and your word is your honor.” There is no substitute for wisdom and, as I’ve aged, I’ve learned that’s true. I once worked at an affluent school and … Continue reading All You Have is Who You Are by William Klein
Sometimes we know. Sometimes we think we know but we don’t. Sometimes we don’t know, when we should. Sometimes we want to know, but can’t. Sometimes we deny the facts because we think it helps us to get along. Paul Simon wrote, “All lies and jest still a man hears what he wants to hear and disregards the rest.” Perspective … Continue reading Perspective by William Klein
Dominican priest, Father Gustavo Gutierrez, the father of Liberation Theology, passed away on October 22, 2024. Gutierrez’s ideas have shaped modern theology including that of Pope Francis. He believes that every modern theology points to the gospels and their relevance to our lives. Gutierrez grew up in Lima, Peru, where imperialism reared its head in … Continue reading Gustavo Gutierrez In Memoriam by William Klein
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