The inspiration for our message this morning comes courtesy of Jean Ann, who earlier this week sent me a couple of texts with stunning pictures of beautiful birds. The colors of their feathers were remarkable—so amazing they didn’t seem possible—and exquisitely detailed. One fancy chicken had feathers with what appeared to be scalloped edges. Just […]
Read more "Living Masterpieces"Well, Friends, here we are at the end of a very long, very challenging, and for far too many, a very painful year. 2020 has brought hardships on just about every level you can imagine—physical, emotional, occupational, financial, and relational. All across the country and around the world, we have lost loved ones, we’ve lost […]
Read more "Choose Well"Greetings on this Ash Wednesday, Friends. We have created a simple daily reflection calendar of much-loved phrases from early Friends’ writings for the season of Lent. Please download and share as you feel so led. Praying for peace, health, love, compassion, unity, and transformation for all beings. http://www.noblesvillefriends.org/reflections-for-lent.php *Post title from a lovely phrase Pope […]
Read more "We, beloved dust of God’s dreams*"Well, Friends, unfortunately the light-hearted, easy message I had planned for us today (and already half finished) has been pre-empted by something else that felt more important to say this morning. If you’ve been following the news this week, you’re aware of the rising tensions and military action that resulted in the death of an […]
Read more "A Call for Prayer"For many of us here today, this quiet, peaceful morning time may represent the calm before the storm that will start soon—if it hasn’t started already–as we begin the cooking and preparing and wrapping and visiting that has become so much a part of Christmas. This time of year, our traditions are very important, steeped […]
Read more "Calm and Bright"Happy Mother’s Day! Whether you are a mother or you have or had a mother—which should pretty much cover us all—I hope you feel especially loved and appreciated—and grateful–on this day that is set aside to recognize the gifts of love, nurturance, and care that have been part of all our lives. If you’re on […]
Read more "Mom’s Rules"I’m glad to tell you that Gloria is here, and I’m totally in love with her. She is soft, sweet, playful, doing what puppies do—chewing and jumping and tugging, spilling water bowls (or splashing in them with her chubby paws). And oh my goodness the innocence that just pours out of her, as she experiences […]
Read more "Perfectibility, Not Perfectionism"It’s taken me about 45 Christmases, but I think I’m finally ready to accept and admit and make my peace with the fact that I am not very good at wrapping presents. When I begin, I always envision this beautiful box wrapped in brightly colored paper—it has smooth sides and sharp pointy corners, and paper […]
Read more "Emmanuel!"Once in a while, if you’re lucky—and careful, and discerning—you can find something really inspiring on social media. For me this week it was a mesmerizing video of soap bubbles freezing in real time in St. Paul, Minnesota. Now before you start thinking I must have too much time on my hands, which I don’t, […]
Read more "Tiny Miracles"This message was written and given by Adriana Cavina. Thanks, Adriana! One of my most beloved books of Quaker spirituality begins with these words: “Meister Eckhart wrote: As thou art in church or cell, that same frame of mind carry out into the world, into its turmoil and its fitfulness. The Quaker author comments: “Deep […]
Read more "A Life without Lack"
The Space between the Words 