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Thursday, February 13, 2025

Paul Graves

Paul Graves is a retired and re-focused United Methodist pastor and a long-time resident of Sandpoint, Idaho, where he formerly served on city council and mayor. His second career is in geriatric social work, and since 2005 he's been the Lead Geezer-in-Training of Elder Advocates, a consulting and teaching ministry on aging issues. Since 1992, Graves has been a volunteer chaplain for Bonner Community Hospice. His columns regularly appear in The Spokesman-Review's Faith and Values section, and he also writes the Dear Geezer column for the Bonner County Daily Bee and is the host of the bi-weekly Geezer Forum on aging issues in Sandpoint.

Prophetic Grace in a Manger

Try to imagine what Joseph and Mary felt as he laid the baby Jesus into the manger. They both knew what angels had told them about this newborn child. Their joy could have been overwhelmed with panic -- at the very least, bewilderment.

Making Friends With Grief

Do you find yourself dreading holiday seasons like Christmas because you don’t want your grieving memories to “ruin” the holiday? If I may be so bold: consider an alternative way of dealing with your grief this Christmas.

Sowing Seeds of Gratitude

Each day between now and including Thanksgiving Day, be very conscious of the little things for which you are thankful – in your home, at work, with friends, even with strangers.

We Must Be Partners With Creation

Everywhere we look, from majestic mountains or sunsets to the tiniest stamen in a flower, we need to be increasingly aware of how our world is nourished by every living organism around us.

Jesus Wasn’t A Zero-Sum Game Player

“I win, you lose!” Or “I lose, you win!” That’s the essential message in the Zero-sum Game.

Grateful for the Grief That Comes with Downsizing

Because, you see, any grief I experience in this downsizing of our collective sermons is borne out of a deeper gratitude.

Listening is a Healing Art

For me, hearing refers to the capacity to hear a sound; while listening refers to the capacity to identify a meaning behind the sound.

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