I am an "Advent and Lent" priest, someone who appreciates the more intense focus on prayer and practice offered by the liturgical seasons. We need invitations to step outside of our normal routines and see with fresh eyes, and our liturgical calendar gives us time and space to look at the mystery of Christ--and our... Continue Reading →
The Figure: A Hesitant Reflection on Spiritual Experience
The Figure Eleven years ago something strange happened to me. I think of it especially this time of year as both Christmas and my daughter’s birthday draw near. I have only told a few folks about the encounter, but it has been enormously grounding for me for my daughter’s entire life. I cannot and... Continue Reading →
Homily for the Installation of the Rev. Sarah Fisher, St. Catherine’s, Marietta–the Feast of St. Margaret
I learned the hard way that Isaac Newton was right about his First Law: “an object at rest will remain at rest unless acted upon by an outside force.” I still say, some twelve years later, that it wasn’t my fault. The man didn’t give proper instructions. My wife still says he thought I had... Continue Reading →
The Hiddenness of Things: A Homily for the Feast of William Temple
One of the more interesting lies that my family told me as a child back in Arkansas was that the ghost of a twelve-foot tall headless woman haunted the woods around my grandparents’ house. She was known as “Tall Betty,” and there was a warped ritual that we did at night to call her spirit... Continue Reading →
Circles of Conversation: Introductory Video
Click below for the introductory video for the Circles of Conversation at Grace Episcopal Church. This "project" seeks to invite people into intentional conversations around three elements in understanding our experience of God: awareness, transformation, and desire. https://www.facebook.com/stuart.c.higginbotham/videos/10155837035023879/
The Moreness of Things: An All Saints’ Sermon
The Moreness of Things Perhaps I need to apologize this morning…in working on this sermon, it seems all I have to offer are snippets and glimpses of my own struggle in what I have encountered—what has encountered me—these past couple weeks… Looking toward this Feast of All Saints’ in the midst of the swirl... Continue Reading →
Bro. David Steindl-Rast: Mysticism and the Meaning of Life
Here is a remarkable video reflection by Bro. David, as he shares his thoughts on mysticism and the meaning of life. "A mystic is not a special type of person; rather, each person is a special type of mystic."