Author: Dwight J. Friesen

Spring Trimester Begins Today

Spring trimester at The Seattle School of Theology & Psychology begins today. I will be serving as the guide along the course of three learning journeys. My three classes this trimester include: Integrative Project: Exploring the Future Intersections 3: Textual

Dwight J. Friesen April 26, 2021November 20, 2021

“Defund the Police” Anabaptist Curriculum

My spiritual lineage has is a pretty straight line back to the earliest days of the Anabaptist peace movement… often referred to as the “radical reformation” within Christianity. The older I grow the more I appreciate aspects of my heritage.

Dwight J. Friesen April 24, 2021November 7, 2022

“The Guest House” by Rumi

The Guest House by Rumi This being human is a guest house. Every morning a new arrival. A joy, a depression, a meanness, some momentary awareness comes as an unexpected visitor. Welcome and entertain them all! Even if they are

Dwight J. Friesen April 23, 2021November 20, 2021

Earth Day 2021

“We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.” Albert Einstein Happy Earth Day! You and I live somewhere. Faithful presence invites us to discover a way of living in harmony with all of life… people, animals, ourselves, and the earth. The acceleration

Dwight J. Friesen April 22, 2021September 26, 2022

Toward Justice

Thanks be to God, an American police officer was held accountable for murdering an African American man… George Floyd. The officer was found guilty of all three charges. May this nation not turn back from the much overdue reform of

Dwight J. Friesen April 21, 2021November 20, 2021

Mourning the Loss of Hans Küng

…every human being – without distinction of sex, age, race, skin color, language, religion, political view, or national or social origin – possesses an inalienable and untouchable dignity. Dr. Hans Küng Sadden to learn of the death of the great

Dwight J. Friesen April 7, 2021November 2, 2022

“Where I’m From” by George Ella Lyon

Where I’m From By George Ella Lyon I am from clothespins, from Clorox and carbon-tetrachloride. I am from the dirt under the back porch. (Black, glistening it tasted like beets.) I am from the forsythia bush, the Dutch elm whose

Dwight J. Friesen April 6, 2021November 20, 2021

Holy Communion Online

Last week during my school’s Wednesday Holy Communion & prayer time a student shared some beautiful words at the Table. It appears these words were first used at  Mt Hollywood Church in Los Angeles, California on Palm Sunday, 2020. If anyone

Dwight J. Friesen April 5, 2021November 2, 2022

Start Close In

Start Close In by David Whyte Start close in, don’t take the second step or the third, start with the first thing close in, the step you don’t want to take. Start with the ground you know, the pale ground

Dwight J. Friesen April 2, 2021November 21, 2021

Maundy Thursday… “Wash Before Dinner”

Blessed Maundy Thursday… …God’s invitation to, “wash up before dinner!” Imagine a God who doesn’t demand your worship, mindless obedience, or tithes but actually serves you out of love, simply because that’s who God is… Imagine a God, so located

Dwight J. Friesen April 1, 2021November 2, 2022

Mr. Rogers & Jeff Erlanger

How sad it is that we give up on people who are just like us. Fred Rogers Growing up in Canada when I did, I watched and loved the Mr. Dressup show. I’ve come to learn that Mr. Dressup was

Dwight J. Friesen March 31, 2021November 21, 2021

Standing Against AAPI Hate

The Asian American Christian Collaborative (AACC) is working with local churches and organizations to stand against Asian American & Pacific Islanders (AAPI) hate and to mourn the loss of the 8 precious image bearers who were massacred. Marches are already

Dwight J. Friesen March 21, 2021November 2, 2022

So Grateful to be Vaccinated & . . .

I am so grateful to be fully vaccinated from COVID-19. I was actually surprised at how hope-inducing the experience was. The teams of medical professionals and volunteers delivering the vaccine had an air of the elves in Santa’s woodshop and

Dwight J. Friesen March 20, 2021November 21, 2021

Poet: Spencer Reece

At Thomas Merton’s Grave by Spencer Reece We can never be with loss too long. Behind the warped door that sticks, the wood thrush calls to the monks, pausing upon the stone crucifix, singing: “I am marvelous alone!” Thrash, thrash

Dwight J. Friesen March 19, 2021November 21, 2021

Remembering Dr. John Polkinghorne

Quantum theory also tells us that the world is not simply objective; somehow it’s something more subtle than that. In some sense it is veiled from us, but it has a structure that we can understand. John Polkinghorne I’m grieving

Dwight J. Friesen March 18, 2021November 6, 2022

Sanctity of Life & Dignity of All

Declaring The Sanctity Of Life & The Dignity Of All We come together as senior religious leaders, academics, and lay leaders from around the world to affirm the sanctity of life and dignity of all. We affirm that all human

Dwight J. Friesen March 17, 2021December 19, 2022

Abraham Joshua Heschel – New Documentary

A documentary looking at the life of Abraham Joshua Heschel was released at the end of last month… I can’t wait to see it. I’ve been rereading Heschel’s The Sabbath in preparation for a spring course I’ll be teaching at

Dwight J. Friesen March 11, 2021November 22, 2021

Faithful Presence in Bend Oregon

“The Spirit teaches us how to participate with God in the restoration of all things; maybe the more common term for this would be mission…[I]t’s a mission which connects our unique desires to the work of the Spirit to keep

Dwight J. Friesen March 5, 2021November 22, 2021

Jim Gaffigan Nearly Killed Me!

“I’m not a foodie; I’m an eatie. I don’t have anything against foodies. I just don’t have the time or the interest to do that much research.” Jim Gaffigan Stand-up comedy can be – among other things – prophetic. I

Dwight J. Friesen March 4, 2021November 2, 2022

It’s My Birthday!

52 years ago today Ben & Rosella and my older sister Michelle (my younger brother – Dallas – wasn’t yet on the scene) welcomed me into the world. It was the same year humans first stepped on the moon; the

Dwight J. Friesen March 3, 2021October 28, 2022

“The Old Lie”

Dulce et Decorum Est  By Wilfred Owen Bent double, like old beggars under sacks, Knock-kneed, coughing like hags, we cursed through sludge, Till on the haunting flares we turned our backs, And towards our distant rest began to trudge. Men

Dwight J. Friesen March 2, 2021November 22, 2021

March is Women’s History Month

March is Women’s History Month. Women’s History Month is an annual declared month set aside to highlight the contributions of women to events in history and contemporary society. What we now know as the month long observation in the USA, began

Dwight J. Friesen March 1, 2021September 26, 2022

Opening in Bellevue

Last fall Seattle’s legendary drive-in burger joint announced their intent to open a new restaurant location on the Eastside. Granted, I may be way too excited about this announcement, but yesterday I heard the news that Dick’s Drive-In will be

Dwight J. Friesen February 26, 2021November 22, 2021

“It’s My Corner After All”

I love the opening scenes of the 1995 “Smoke” by film makers Wayne Wang and Paul Auster. Among others, the movie features Harvey Keitel, William Hurt, Stockard Channing, Harold Perrineau Jr., and very young Forest Whitaker. The story begins as a local business owner is

Dwight J. Friesen February 24, 2021November 22, 2021

Today! “Interfaith Perspectives on Loving Our Neighbors”

Today The Parliament of the World’s Religions is joining organizers and community leaders in Chicago as part of the City’s Together We Heal initiative by hosting a series of virtual programs to foster conversation and share tools on healing and

Dwight J. Friesen February 23, 2021September 26, 2022

The Grammar of our Lives

Phuc Tran offers an insightful TED talk inviting us to attend afresh to the grammar of our lives. So good! Peace, dwight

Dwight J. Friesen February 22, 2021November 22, 2021

Knowing Through Unknowing

I’ve been reading, rereading, and listening to others’ reading many of Meister Eckhart’s works over the past year. I have come to sense that reading – especially out loud – is itself a great hermeneutical act. I love hearing other

Dwight J. Friesen February 18, 2021November 22, 2021

Lenten Journey Begins

Today is Ash Wednesday; the first day of Lent. My school’s Scared Space, Office of Students & Alumni, and my Life Together class sent out Lenten observation kits to any current students, staff or faculty who wanted one. Today’s chapel

Dwight J. Friesen February 17, 2021November 22, 2021

“This is My Story”

My love of jazz  began when I was in junior high.  My older sister often let me hang out with her and her high school friends… one of her many generosities.  One of her friends played trumpet in a jazz

Dwight J. Friesen February 15, 2021November 22, 2021

“God Would Kneel Down”

GOD WOULD KNEEL DOWN by St. Francis of Assisi I think God might be a little prejudiced. For once He asked me to join Him on a walk through this world,and we gazed into every heart on this earth, and

Dwight J. Friesen February 14, 2021November 22, 2021