Someone asked me the other day how I was doing. I paused, looked at the person and said, “I choose to be okay today.” We may not have a choice on things that happen beyond our control, such as the weather or what someone else might...
Read More
Our world is rapidly changing. There is no way any one person or even a small group can see the totality of what’s happening. We see only in part, cloudy by our own limited understanding....
Read More
The poetry of Mary Oliver speaks volumes to my soul. One of her short pieces provides a motto by which I try to live. Short, simple and to the point: Instructions for living a life.Pay attention.Be astonished.Tell about it. Pay Attention. How often I go through my...
Read More
This weekend we celebrate the Fourth of July. There will be picnics, parades, and lots (and lots) of fireworks. As I reflect on the history of the 4th and of our country, I am led to wonder how we define freedom. Per Websters Dictionary, freedom is...
Read More
Last week marked a historic event known as Juneteenth. It has now become a Federal holiday marking "freedom" for African Americans that is long overdue. I invite you to read more about the history of this Juneteenth "freedom" and reflect on it as we approach the...
Read More
Receiving Angels Unawares: Meeting Asylum Seekers at Nashville’s Greyhound Bus Station “Ustedes son unos angeles!” (Y’all are angels) responded the smiling woman to my “Welcome to Nashville” greeting (which left me speechless, not expecting this). She was traveling with her 10-year-old son and had a stop-over...
Read More
I was recently on a zoom Lectio Divina with friends in Colorado, Kansas, and Oregon (gotta love the expansiveness of Zoom!) The poem for reflection led to a fruitful discussion of those places in which we feel we are right. "The Place Where We Are Right"...
Read More
Several years ago, while listening to NPR, I heard an interview with singer/songwriter, Carrie Newcomer. She has since become one of my favorite artists for her insightful words and music. https://www.carrienewcomer.com/ In addition, Carrie is working with Quaker theologian and Educator Parker Palmer for concerts and...
Read More
June is Pride Month. As with many groups for whom we dedicate a month, or a day, the celebrations were borne out of a history of injustice and the need for education and awareness among the broader public....
Read More
Since this is Memorial Day weekend, I’d like to offer a bit of history for reflection. The significance of Memorial Day goes back two centuries and brings us the sober reminder that life is a precious gift we sometimes take for granted. Memorial Day was born out...
Read More