Last night our women’s spirituality group at the North East Reintegration Center in Cleveland finished up our study of Praying with Jonah: Practices for Imperfect Pilgrims. I never cease to be amazed by the depth of wisdom and faith that the women so openly share. Recently, one of our friends in the group made this poignant observation:
“Do you know what IP stands for here in the prison?” she asked.
Read More“No, I’m sorry, I don’t. But I’m curious,” I replied.
As many of you know, I love silence. I look forward to a silent spiritual renewal retreat with the same enthusiasm as a sports fan with tickets to the Super Bowl!! Go team silence!
And yet, as we know all too well, it can be tough to find time to step away from the responsibilities of everyday life and claim that special "set apart time" for a silent retreat.
So, I wonder...is it possible to bring a bit of that sweet silence home and weave it into the activities of our daily lives?
Read MoreI love children’s picture books. They offer beautifully illustrated lessons for children and a picture window for adults to see the world through new eyes. One of my favorites, which I read over and over to my children when they were young, is I Love You the Purplest by Barbara Joosse…
Read MoreThe 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.
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