Good morning... A longtime friend texted our monthly book group, sharing with us a poem from her Advent readings -- a compilation, Sacred Journeys, by Jan L. Richardson. ****** "Annunciation” This was the minute no one speaks of, when she could still refuse. A breath unbreathed, Spirit, suspended, waiting. _________________________ She did not cry, “I cannot, I am [...]
Good morning... As we savor memorable moments from this holiday week, what experiences will leave a lasting mark? Unexpected joys. Life-shaping conversations. Painful realizations. Leftover feelings. Learning to love through whatever "is" allows us to process our part in this mystery called life. To savor means to enjoy the full flavor of something, especially by digesting every ounce [...]
Good morning... A short poem greets me in the middle of this full-bellied night. ****** One on Thanksgiving one hand opens in grief the other in gratitude pressing them together to pray —Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer ****** All across the globe, we open one hand in grief, missing those missing from our homes. Our other hand holds gratitude for [...]
Good morning... On a last minute walk yesterday, a friend shared with me the quote above. "God will take you where you hadn't intended to go in order to produce in you what you could not achieve on your own. It's uncomfortable, but it's grace." A few minutes later, we noticed a spider dangling precariously close to the [...]
Good morning... For many of us the Thanksgiving holiday involves people, lots of imperfect people. Well-meaning and flawed, imperfection is baked into our human nature. To prepare myself for the stretching hours ahead, I return now to wisdom found on page 184 in The Great Spiritual Migration by Brian McLaren. [...]
Good morning... Two tiny pounds. The smallest puppy I ever snuggled weighed two tiny pounds. Yesterday, our finger-to-fur time was free, and his soft little licks were precious, just precious. And puppy breath, wow, it's one of the best scents on earth. Fitting in the palm of my hand, this new creature of God was a source of [...]
Good morning... One recent evening, I was feeling blue. Swirling, muted worries shaded my inner world. Then, I looked outside our window. The sky seemed to match my mood. Stepping out into it, I took myself on a walk at dusk. As the black silhouette criss-crossed the painted sky, new [...]
Good morning... As the Spirit of God carries us through our daily lives, we naturally, collectively migrate toward the all-inclusive, never-ending, gracious love of God. Our great spiritual migration mirrors a mysterious phenomenon called murmuration. A murmuration is large group of birds, usually starlings, that all fly together, swooping, dipping, changing direction unexpectedly. As starlings return to their [...]
Good morning... Yesterday morning, I happened upon a poem by Jan Richardson in her book The Cure for Sorrow. I was touched by Jan's wisdom and texted these words to a few close friends. Friends who are grieving the slow loss of a loved one with Alzheimers. Friends who have gracefully lived on while mourning the death of [...]
Good morning... In our therapeutic community group on Tuesday, I learned a brand new "F" word. Fecundity. According to the Free Dictionary.com, fecundity is a noun with two distinct meanings: 1. The quality of producing abundantly; fruitfulness or fertility. 2. Productive or creative power. Using yogurt, various fruits and granola, we were asked to create an editable piece [...]
