Black or white. Either/or. All or nothing. Win or lose. On or off. The list goes on and on. You get the idea. It’s binary thinking that keeps me from enjoying the full-spectrum life I’ve been given. I have come a long way in recent years with regard to how I see...
Yesterday evening a friend reminded me about a sermon I once preached in which I quoted from a variety of mystic poets. I hadn't thought about that sermon in a long time, so it was fun to look it up and revisit it. It was originally preached early in January, but...
I try to make a contribution in this world of ours by noticing bits and pieces of beauty, awe, and wonder - and then finding ways to share it with others, in the hopes of spreading it about. Mostly I do that with photos and poetry, but occasionally some other ways...
This morning I had an interesting memory pop up while making breakfast. That prompted a smile, followed quickly by an insight. After the water came to a boil I dropped the oatmeal into the pot, followed by the raisins. I like to cook the raisins with the oatmeal so...
Today was a new experience for me. Off and on for several years I have pondered the possibility, but today was the day I decided to actually do it. I intentionally spent Thanksgiving by myself. Except that I wasn’t by myself, because I was surrounded by the...
On this day set aside for giving thanks, I am spending it with all those in my life who matter to me. It’s a pretty long list. And yet they all fit around the table, because, as it turns out, there is an immense (immeasurable?) amount of room for such connection...
I am midway through my 69th trip around the sun, and only now am I even beginning to feel really comfortable in my own skin. There is so much more to learn. Of that I am sure. But lately, for what seems the first time, I find myself catching glimpses of my place in...
This morning I felt so small and insignificant. How can I possibly make a difference in the face of such darkness? And then I saw a shooting star, which got me wondering how far away that brilliant light was. Most meteors range in size from grains of sand to very...
How do I feel? What’s going on in my heart? To be honest I’m not sure. I came awake, heard the news, and started searching for words to describe my reaction. Heartbroken, disheartened, bereft, adrift, frightened, a loss of faith (in my country, in my fellow...