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Last week, Christian social justice activist Ron Sider declared that he is quitting AARP because it's opposing changes to Social Security and Medicare that he finds reasonable: proposals that would ask more from wealthier seniors. There are a lot of ideas out there for shoring up Medicare and Social Security, ideas that should be given serious consideration. And I agree with Sider on several points.

“I’m having a wardrobe crisis!” “It’s just a retreat,” answered my sensible wife. “Saturday morning casual. How would you usually dress for a retreat?” “Usually I would be the pastor,” I replied. This was different. Today I was both the new girl and the pastor’s wife. What to wear? Who to be?

New today from the Century: The editors on immigration reform, Bob Francis on Ron Sider's comments on AARP, more.

The church of my childhood paid no attention to Lent. The season's words sounded too mystical to us, too strange and too Catholic.

Anyone who is familiar with Star Trek knows about the Borg, a seemingly soulless race of cyborgs. The Borg’s main task is to assimilate other species and bring them into the Collective. Science fiction geeks everywhere know the Borg’s catchphrase: “Resistance is futile.” Resistance is futile. Jesus is sitting around talking to a crowd when some Pharisees come by. Looking agitated, they make their way to Jesus.

Recently I did something for the first time: I attended the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington DC. Held annually since 1953, the breakfast is sponsored by the Fellowship (sometimes called “the Family”), a shadowy organization with connections especially to conservative members of Congress. I went with my crap detectors on high alert.

New today from the Century: John Buchanan on growing to appreciate Lent, Bromleigh McCleneghan on guinea pig memoirs, more.

In a guinea pig memoir, the intrepid narrator tries on a practice for a period of time, often a year, in the hope that the project will lead to personal or prophetic insight, renewed hope for the future—and a book deal.

The journals of Merton, Woolf and others encouraged me to see my birthday as a new beginning—and to live my 50th year as a year of jubilee.