[Painting, “Mary Magdalene at the Crucifixion” by Francesco Hayez] For Christians, Easter is a miraculous promise of love kept, because Jesus resurrected, as foretold, three days after his undeniable death by crucifixion. Yet, as if coming back to life isn’t enough, here’s an added kicker for me. Jesus chose to appear first to a woman. […]
The age-old angry question is, “If there is a God, then why do horrible things happen?” A new movie, The Shack, based on the book by William P. Young, goes further. “How does one get past unspeakable tragedy and relentless pain?” The Shack is a visual parable that answers both questions. Mack Phillips (actor Sam […]
In Cambodia, David and I stand among teeming crowds to watch the sun rise over Angkor Wat, a 12th century temple. It’s 6:00 a.m. and already onlookers line the edges of a moat filled with blooming waterlillies. I hear a woman say, “I thought if I came early, I’d have the place to myself” and […]
I am in Vietnam where Americans are warmly welcomed. Odd. I’m 62 and I recall TV images of brutal jungle warfare. From 1964 to 1973 about 2 million tons of American bombs were dropped. As a teenager, I learned about napalm and Agent Orange. Most of all, I remember the anti-war protests. Apparently, so do […]
[Photo: The Cathay Pacific Airlines Lounge at Hong Kong airport] Feb. 1-2, 2017: I’ve just spent hours binging on movies and eating when I’m not even hungry. Familiar home behavior except that I’m en route with David to Vietnam and Cambodia. Are we desperate to escape a Boston winter or what? At the Logan Airport, […]