Scripture

Jefferson Bethke’s poem, “Why I Hate Religion But Love Jesus,” has gone “viral,” as they say, and with all youtube videos come comments, both positive and negative, hopeful and discouraging.

First, I was just plain sad. Even though I’d never met Hitchens, I felt a connection with him. His books and lectures, though difficult, helped me think critically about my faith in a way I’d never done before. I hoped and prayed I’d be able to tell him that someday, as I hoped and prayed that a miracle would happen and he would embrace Jesus in all His beautiful irrationality. So when Hitchens died, I was sad.

I love the fall harvest season. The farmer’s market turns into a veritable cornucopia of fruits and vegetables, cheese, honey, baked goods, and homespun yarns. There’s a celebratory feeling in the air.

As I helplessly watched the market go up and down this summer, I thought a lot about my old friend Habby. He died 2,500 years ago, penniless as far as I know.