The epicenter of recent events is Silicon Valley Bank (SVB), which took most of its deposits from venture capital related private companies, especially in the past two years, and invested those short-term demand deposits in long-term Treasury and agency securities. Depositors began last week to make substantial withdrawals of their funds at SVB based apparently in part on rumors in Silicon Valley about SVB’s stability. SVB’s own cash and capital needs accelerated due to losses on sales of its securities to fund the customer withdrawals. In other words, we have seen a classic “run on the bank.” The same concerns of depositors also triggered similar behavior at a few other smaller banks.

 Rev. Bruce G. Epperly, PhD

The Celtic spiritual tradition is replete with stories of monks, who set off on the high seas in small boats, coracles, in search of their place of resurrection. Without a rudder, they depended on God’s grace alone to guide them in the winds and waves and provide a way to their true spiritual home, the place where they could experience eternity in the world of living and dying.

 Rev. Bruce G. Epperly, PhD

Lent is a time of letting go, similar to retirement. We look at our lives, consider our relationship with God and our neighbor, and prune away everything that prevents God’s energy of love from flowing into our lives and to the world around us.

 Rev. Bruce G. Epperly, PhD

Without a vision, we become directionless. With a too structured agenda, we succumb to worry and busyness. Read Bruce Epperly’s answer to poet Mary Oliver’s question, ““What is it that you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?”

 Rev. Bruce G. Epperly, PhD

In my first piece in this series (March 2022), I began with a quote from United Nations Secretary-General Dag Hammarskjold (1953-1961), whose book Markings I read each year, either on New Year’s Day or my Fall birthday. This year I read it on my seventieth birthday.