Job’s book concludes with a surprise visit from God, but instead of comforting the sufferer, he interrogates him about his whereabouts while he (God) was busy creating. He doesn’t refer to Job’s suffering. He doesn’t answer any of Job’s questions or defend himself against any of Job’s accusations. He doesn’t explain why he was silent …
What is “Moral Injury” and What is to be Done For It? (Part 2 of 2)
Last time I introduced a newish psychological phrase, “Moral Injury,” which sociologists and psychologists are using to describe, “the damage done to one’s conscience or moral compass when that person perpetrates, witnesses or fails to prevent acts that transgress their own moral and ethical values and codes of conduct.” It was originally coined in reference …
Continue reading "What is “Moral Injury” and What is to be Done For It? (Part 2 of 2)"
What is “Moral Injury” and What is to be Done About It? (Part 1 of 2)
“Moral injury” is a phrase being bantered about these days. The banterers define it as “the damage done to one’s conscience or moral compass when that person perpetrates, witnesses or fails to prevent acts that transgress their own moral and ethical values and codes of conduct.” This is how Veteran’s Affairs hospitals refer to those …
Continue reading "What is “Moral Injury” and What is to be Done About It? (Part 1 of 2)"
Faith: Paradox or Packaged?
I don’t like living with mystery and paradox any more than the next person. I prefer maps over mystery. I like to know where I am and where I’m going. But life is ambiguous. It unspools in cycles in no predictable order—and for people of faith, there are a lot of loose ends. It’s easy …
The Blessing of Loneliness
A few short months before the lights went out, life had been good – not easy or by any means perfect – but reasonably good. I was healthy, married, pastoring, and gardening on my days off in the backyard of our dream house. It was as if I had gone to sleep one night and …
barney wiget 