James Derkits

I had heard about the Abundant Living Conference when I was in the Diocese of Texas. It is an annual event there, in March at Camp Allen . I never had the opportunity to attend, but I've been a fan of The Rev. Dr. Helen Appelberg for some time. When I arrived at Trinity by the Sea, I spoke to some of our older adults, who were looking for something to support them in their spiritual life, and I started dreaming of having the conference here. We've just completed the first Abundant Living Conference in the Diocese of West Texas, and it was a wonderful experience. Plans have begun to have another next September (September by the Sea, March in the Piney Woods!) It is a conference for people over 60, who are engaged in the second half of life, and about encouraging them to live a life full of meaning, and growth. The alternative is what some people do when they retire: feel that life is over, and go about the business of deteriorating. I had the special privilege of attending b...

My son Eli's current favorite Bible story is David vs. Goliath. For him it ranks right up there with a good Star Wars story. We normally read it from one of the illustrated children's Bibles, but recently I read the whole uncut story. Well, uncut may not be the best phrase, since David does, in the end cut off Goliath's head. That part isn't usually in the children's version. Sometimes another detail is left out: that David picked up five stones. I hope Eli will remember that there were five stones, and that he only had to sling one to knock down Goliath. Those little details may become important some day for him, even though the meaning behind them isn't that important, nor interesting to him right now. Some day, he may learn about the history and composition of the Bible, and then recognize that there are five books of Moses, the Torah. Maybe he will make a connection to those five stones. Maybe it's not about rocks after-all, maybe it's about dep...