What do you think is going on inside cocoons right now? Here in the early days of warmer weather, edging toward spring, we know that all of nature is preparing for a new chapter of life, a new season of growth and blossoming just ahead. Some spring flowers are already poking green shoots up into […]
Read more "The Cocoon of Grace"This year in honor of Valentine’s Day, which is coming up on Tuesday, I felt inspired to get out the old autograph books I inherited from my great-grandfather Hugo’s early school life. The year was 1888, and Hugo was 12 when his classmates had written—in their best, fancy penmanship—short verses and bits of wisdom in […]
Read more "The Allness of Love"In my work as a hospice chaplain, I am blessed to be able to spend time talking with people about the best—and sometimes the hardest—times of their lives. Folks often enjoy looking back, savoring the wonderful things they were able to do and enjoy and feeling some sense of accomplishment that they made it through […]
Read more "Finding the Blessing"Have you ever noticed how good it feels to love? Whether we are spending time with our favorite people, cuddling with our four-footed beloveds, or doing something we just thoroughly enjoy doing, when we are loving, we are happy. Our hearts feel warm, our faces beam, our minds are calm. For those moments, when are […]
Read more "Loving Fearlessly"Ever since I was a little girl, I have loved wandering around in empty places. I think one of the reasons I love them is that they never feel empty to me. There is a spaciousness, a reverence, the presence of peace. I have a good memory of going to school over on Conner Street […]
Read more "Sanctuary of the Heart"Have you ever tried baking your own bread? If not, I highly recommend it. Yes, it’s messy. And there’s often a lot of kneading involved. Your hands may get tired. You will certainly get flour everywhere. And it takes a lot of time, maybe all afternoon, if you do it right. But there’s quite a […]
Read more "Bread of Life"This seems like a good query for the start of 2023: How often do you really praise God? Like, I mean really. With your whole heart full of gratitude, just spilling out in thanks. Let me give you an example of what I mean. This week I was waiting a bit anxiously to see whether […]
Read more "Bless the Lord, O My Soul"Well, happy New Year, Friends. I hope you’re feeling hopeful and looking forward to all that 2023 will bring. As one year transitions to the next, it’s a natural time for us to reflect on what we’ve just lived through—we take a moment to look back, so we can move forward a little wiser, with […]
Read more "Starting with a Clean Heart"A Christmas message. Christmas is always a funny mix of old and new. We love and look forward to our familiar traditions year after year. We get out our decorations, we wear our holiday clothes. We may go to Christmas events in the community like YuleTide or Newfields and of course our Candlelight service is […]
Read more "Come and See"Well, Friends, here we are, headed into the last leg of the Christmas countdown—six days and a wake-up will bring us to Christmas morning. On a practical level, it’s the goal and destination of all our plans, efforts, recipes, and wrapping paper. Do you still have a lot to do? If you’re having a house […]
Read more "The First Motion of Love"
The Space between the Words 