Religion

In the last four months, three of my friends have either moved away or announced that they’ll be leaving soon. It’s strange how quickly “drinks at our usual spot” becomes “let’s catch up on Zoom sometime.”

Ahead of the holidays, Salvation Army’s food bank is running dangerously low.

This past Thanksgiving, while millions gathered for the traditional four 'f's' — food, family, festivities and football — I found myself in a different space. The holiday season that began with turkey day has become less about consumerism and celebration, and more a period of peaceful pause and prayer.

I committed journalism’s cardinal sin this year: I put a blue “Harris for President” sign in my yard.

It was heartfelt, emotional and long past due.

In a recent statement, Diocese of Spokane Bishop Thomas Daly reportedly said he plans to confront Catholic hospitals and clinics that offer gender-affirming care to children.

Pope Francis recently called on us to remember the people of Haiti, saying, “I ask everyone to pray for the cessation of all forms of violence and, with the commitment of the international community, to continue working to build peace and reconciliation in that country, always defending the dignity and rights of all.”

Mike Strock remembers driving from Sandpoint to Spokane Valley last winter to go to a wedding at the region’s only Latter-day Saints temple when a fluke storm blew in, bringing with it hail so strong it split his windshield.

I’m an old learner and hope to keep it going for a while, to wrinkle my brain at the rate of my skin. It’s not a bad hobby if you can get into it; there’s always something to learn about. The trick is to not confuse knowledge with wisdom. I call it the Curse of Socrates, who said, “The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing.” The humility of humanity is right here.

Note: This is one of Paul Graves’ occasional letters to his grandchildren.

WASHINGTON – When the House of Representatives convened at the Capitol on Friday, the opening prayer was delivered not by the House chaplain but by a Spokane pastor who prayed for national healing in a divisive time for the United States.

Sometimes we cross paths with souls so pivotal they redefine our existence. For me, my former journalism professor, Patti Dobson, was one of those people.

This month, Sravasti Abbey in Newport, Washington, will be hosting an online series featuring prominent Buddhist scholars to honor the legacy of Jeffrey Hopkins, renowned Tibetologist and former interpreter for the Dalai Lama, who died on July 1.

Before the official start of autumn on Sept. 22 there’s a special season that many Christians – including us at the Center for Benedictine Life at the Monastery of St. Gertrude – will be celebrating.

Jesus said this to the followers of John the Baptist: “Neither is new wine put into old wineskins; otherwise, the skins burst, and the wine is spilled, and the skins are destroyed; but new wine is put into fresh wineskins, and so both are preserved” (Matthew 9:17, NRSV).

Recently, I wrote about the Religion Reporting Class I launched at Washington State University, offering students a hands-on approach to understanding faith communities. The course combines classroom learning with guest speakers and field trips to local houses of worship, providing aspiring journalists with firsthand experiences of religious practices and traditions.

In a June backyard interfaith discussion, we were trying to decide what topic to take on next when our attention was caught by freshly popped orange-red poppies. “I see God in such a beautiful display,” said one in our group. So, we decided to focus on beauty.

She didn’t say a word until just before our group conversation was over. A small group of Christians and non-Christians gathered in Spokane to explore some of the implications of one of my recent Faith and Values columns, “Indifference makes a difference.”

Growing up I never really yearned for the same things my friends did.