Posts by Betsy Schwarzentraub
Martin Luther
October 31st is Reformation Day! Back in 1517, the German professor, Augustinian monk, and hymn writer, Martin Luther, posted his “95 Theses” on a university door for academic debate. No doubt he expected lively debates, but ended up sparking the global Protestant Reformation. Luther also translated the Bible into German from Latin, so everyday Christians…
Read MoreEvelyn Underhill and the Heart’s Desire
One unofficial saint of mine, whom I hope helps shape my life, is Evelyn Underhill, a prominent Christian mystic. The marker on her grave in London says, “Christian – Scholar – Spiritual Guide.” She taught Anglican clergy about the importance of contemplative prayer, and was the first woman to lecture in theology at the University of…
Read MoreA Birthday Moment with Archbishop Desmond Tutu
October seventh is Archbishop Desmond Tutu’s birthday. He has long been a famous hero of mine, due to his justice work in South Africa that reverberated around the world. But The Book of Forgiving, which he co-wrote with his daughter, Mpho Tutu, showed glimpses of his soul. He said that “nothing is unforgivable” and “there…
Read MoreJohn Muir and “The Range of Light” 1
I’m personally grateful for the life and work of John Muir, who gave most of his life to let people know the value and majesty of the wilderness. He publicized the beauty of the wilderness, to persuade Americans to protect it from commercialization. Muir persuaded U.S. President Teddy Roosevelt to camp overnight in Yosemite with…
Read MoreDietrich Bonhoeffer
The writings of Dietrich Bonhoeffer (born on Feb. 4th) show the important interaction of faith, politics, and culture. A German-born theologian and activist in the Resistance Church, Bonhoeffer dared to counter National Socialism and the spread of Nazism. An advocate for the Jews and contributor to a group planning Hitler’s overthrow, he was imprisoned in…
Read MoreSpace: Both Mystery and Wonder
There are so many things in the universe that go beyond words to express and invite us to ponder. So I decided to start another blog category, called “Wonder and Mystery.” Maybe just a few glimpses of mine will invite you to think deeply about yours. Space brings instant wonder to me: not the crucial…
Read MorePoetry from Teresa of Avila
Do you enjoy poetry? I just discovered a new book of poems originally by an unofficial saint of mine, called Sweet Hunter: The Complete Poems of St. Teresa of Avila. I know, most people know Teresa of Avila (1515-1582) as the author of the book, The Interior Castle. But she also wrote mystic poems, and…
Read MoreCesar Chavez
These end-of-summer days are yielding an abundant grape harvest, grown especially juicy under the hot sun. But I’ll never look at a cluster of grapes without remembering Cesar Chavez and the many months’ long boycott that many of us had while he was negotiating with farmers for better working conditions. These days, March 31st is…
Read MoreJohn the Baptist a “Saint?”
No doubt John the Baptist didn’t look very “saintly,” the way we usually think of saints or of people with spiritual messages we might want to hear. After all, this John was known for his ascetic lifestyle, living in the wilderness, wearing strange clothes, and eating insects for food. But he’s also known for baptizing…
Read MoreDr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
These are increasingly terrifying times, especially to people considered on the margins or without the political clout to enforce their rights. So here are two important quotes from Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. that help me keep going forward: Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only…
Read MoreTolkien, Those Hobbits, and A Lot More
“God is the Lord of angels, and of [people]—and of elves. Legend and history have met and fused,” wrote J.R.R. Tolkien, the author of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings fantasy series. Each time I read from them, I see more connections with our modern-day world. – March 25th is National Tolkien Reading…
Read MoreLeslie Weatherhead, Inviting Christian Agnostics
Leslie Weatherhead, whose birthday is Oct. 14th, is another unofficial saint of mine. An English theologian in the liberal Protestant tradition, he was right up my alley.His book The Will of God changed my understanding of how God allows free will and works with us when we choose wrong. “God’s circumstantial will” can work with…
Read MoreFlesh and Blood Saints
“Saints” are not bloodless figures in stained glass windows. They’re real people in the past or present who have encouraged our personal faith. This weekend Christians are celebrating the saints in our lives. November first is “All Saints Day” for Protestants and November second “All Souls Day” for Roman Catholics: days to thank God for…
Read MoreAuthor Madeleine L’Engle
Author Madeleine L’Engle’s birthday is Nov. 29th. She was a vibrant writer and a strong person of faith, seen in both her fiction and nonfiction. A Wrinkle in Time and the rest of her science fiction books affirm children, their willingness to care, learn, and risk their lives for one another. Her nonfiction gives even…
Read MoreRabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel
“Radical amazement”—Rabbi Abraham Heschel may have coined that term. January first is his birthday. He was an incredible Bible scholar and theologian whom I first met through my seminary studies. Here’s his basic response to life and to God: Our goal should be to live life in radical amazement… Get up in the morning and…
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