We may put on this facade because of social pressure, self-deception, or a theology that forgets that Jesus himself wept, suffered, and died. Then there is also the opposite temptation, to wallow in sadness, as if our Lord did not rise again from the grave. “Deck Thyself, My Soul, with Gladness” is a hymn that addresses these complex emotions with honesty, beauty, and authentic hope.
Encountering the Mystery of Anglicanism
A Bright Morning I grew up the son of a Southern Baptist pastor. My entire young life was spent in church. I would go with my dad to youth group from an early age. On the weekends, when I was old enough, I’d do church projects and even learned to drive an excavator! Every November,…
The Good Grief of Advent: Living in the Longing
For some, happiness is very elusive this time of year. Therefore, it’s appropriate that Advent is here to give voice to our melancholy.
