The Gathering Darkness Solstice will soon be with us. December 21 is the longest night of the year for those of us living in the northern hemisphere. As we grow closer, the sun sets earlier. Generally, I have ignored this season and just complained about driving home from work in the dark. This year I
We sometimes hear about the importance of gratitude and its benefits for our mental and spiritual health. And it seems like a really good idea. I, for one, could do more to be mindful of what I have in my life and truly appreciate it. But is giving thanks always a good thing? In the
In these days when we are wrestling with all of the issues brought to us by COVID-19, I find it helpful to remember Chapman’s past. Perhaps our connection to Chapman’s founders, the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) can help us reframe our present and point us into the future. This is not the first very
For over a year, an Islamic center has invited me to an evening program entitled “Coffee with the Shaykh,” an opportunity for new and re-committed Muslims to ask questions to Islamic scholars. I have noticed two things: most are women, and many are Latine. Their participation, deep questions about Islam, and the presence of
The month of September was filled with many of the most holy of Jewish holidays. Since the Jewish calendar is based on the lunar calendar, the High Holy Days (Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur) can arrive anywhere between early September and late October. When people say that the holidays are “early” or “late,” the classic
In a Chapman “State of Mind” As we embark upon the start of the academic year at Chapman and resume in-person learning and living, I feel the mix of excitement and apprehension on campus. As the Director of Wellbeing, I’m committed to advance programs and resources to foster the resilience and long-term wellbeing of our
My Juneteenth Reflection Brought to you by a Black Muslim In January 1865, the 13th Amendment formally abolished slavery in the United States. Nearly two years after President Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, General Gordon Granger and Union soldiers traveled to Galveston, Texas, to bring the news that the Civil War had ended and enslaved
It is finished. I mean no disrespect to Jesus, but this month I completed a project that has been four years in the making. Chapman is now the permanent home of the Heritage Edition of The Saint Johns Bible. In addition to the purchasing the Bible, my campus team of 10 went to Saint Johns
It is important to always learn new things and expand one’s knowledge. Whether that be a new language, a new book, a new recipe, planting a vegetable you have never planted before, watching a new genre of movies, or attending a master class. Intellectual wellness is a key component of the eight dimensions of wellness
As members of the Fish Interfaith Center staff, we are dedicated to furthering interfaith interaction and developing the spiritual resources for true listening, care, and dialogue. More than ever, we commit ourselves to mutual respect and joint action toward a world where none are subject to violence. We oppose increasing attacks against individuals in the