The birdsong symphony starts early in the morning this time of year and I love it! From the moment the sun lightens the sky at 5 am, the orchestral warm ups begin. By 7:00 we have a full-on sonata that sooths my soul. I step outside into mother nature’s concert hall, water my garden, and breathe deeply. There’s just something soothing about birdsong, isn’t there?
Read MoreLast month, I shared my longing to “be where my feet are;" to be more fully present to God’s Presence in each moment. As I prepared for the Pilgrimage in the Belly of the Whale & Beyond at Flores del Camino Retreat Centre in Spain, I especially wanted to leave behind the constant pull of digital distractions. When I arrived, I set my phone to “do not disturb” and tucked it into its little cell phone sleeping bag as a reminder to stay grounded right where my feet were.
Read MoreIt feels like we live in a world of constant digital distractions. I can't even count the number of times each day that I pull my phone out of my pocket ... to check email, texts, social media, photos, or even just the upcoming weather! And yet every time I do, I feel a little less present. My attention shifts as I get pulled into what is going on somewhere else…
Read MoreFor the past ten years or so, I have enjoyed the spiritual practice of listening for a sacred word to accompany me into each new year. Some of the words that have been my companions over the years include: Trust. Fallow. Dance. Still. Play. Pilgrimage. And now - drum roll please - this year’s word is ENOUGH. Enough is a fascinating word…
Read MoreOn October 26 in Fort Worth, Texas a small group of humble Buddhist monks quietly began their 2,300 mile pilgrimage of peace toward Washington DC. Accompanied by their canine companion, Aloka, they have been walking and sharing their message of inner peace for over 100 days. They are now only days away from arriving at their destination….
Read MoreHave you ever tried walking by candlelight? If you walk too quickly, the flame immediately flickers out. To keep the light shining, you must walk slowly – perhaps even holding your hand up in front of the flame to protect it from the wind….
Read MoreI miss my dad. He had a way of making each person he was with feel seen, heard and valued. Even those who were nasty. Even those who disagreed with him. Even those who had hurt him in the past. He found a way to see the blessing of our common humanity even when it was hard to do so.
Read MoreI was summoned for jury duty last week and, if I'm being completely honest, I was feeling annoyed at having my carefully planned calendar upended. However, as I looked around at the faces of all those coming and going from the Justice Center, I realized that the lives of those involved in the cases we might be asked to hear had been upended a hundred-times more than my own short week of civic duty…
Read MoreI have long been puzzled by the fourth chapter of Jonah. The story could have have come to such a tidy ending after chapter three—Jonah ran, returned, preached, and the people of Nineveh repented. The end. But no, the writer surprises us with one more chapter about Jonah’s angry fireworks, God’s boundless grace, a curious parable about vine & worm, and a final compelling question…
Read MoreThe experience of Pentecost feels quite similar to my recent experience along the Camino de Santiago where pilgrims from all across the world - speaking many different languages - gather together along one path. Yet each person is on their own journey, walking at their own pace, and seeking their own sacred way. When pilgrims pass one another, their common bond is understood and honored with the simple greeting, "Buen Camino!"
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