I first read Rachel Carson’s seminal work, Silent Spring, as an assignment for my seventh-grade school newspaper Earth Day edition. It was a bit above my head as reading material goes, so there was a lot of skimming involved. However, the parts I did take in (and have remembered my whole life) have informed my…
I am praying for far off places Praying for their safety For their healing For peace and protection I am praying for far off places I may go only in prayer To the Spirit Bear Rainforest Every fern, water drop, bear, bird, and tree held lovingly in prayer Where might we go together in prayer?…
Something in the glow of late afternoon in the stark winter woods whisks me away to warm fires and years of stories and dreams, memories so potent they transport me to other realms, and friends, friends, friends. Deeply treasured, profound friendships give contour and meaning to life. Whenever I wander through the woods at this…
Peruse news headlines—local, national, international. What do you sense? Division? Exclusion? Inclusion? Violence? Interconnection? Peace? Local? Global? Our hope and prayer; sacred texts Bible, Torah, Quran; liturgical seasons, solstice and equinox rhythms; … continually invite us to metanoia, meaning “a change of heart.” Take heart! Transformation is as close to us as the tip of…
Growing up in West Michigan, I attended a small congregation that is part of the Reformed Church of America. I was blessed to have two incredible pastors—a married couple who put their souls into the church and each of its members. (34 years later, one of them still serves as pastor there.) Some of my…
“Am I working at my regular capacity? No, but am I prioritizing and taking care of the most important tasks? No. But am I at least taking care of myself and my mental health? Also no.” —Elizabeth Teng, on Twitter I laughed aloud as I read this tweet from Elizabeth Teng when my sister sent…
Have you ever read Alice Walker’s book of poetry, The World Will Follow Joy: Turning Madness into Flowers? I remember when I found that book (or maybe the book found me). It was a handful of years ago when the new Cedar Rapids Public Library had just opened. I found my way to the upstairs…
Lent began last Wednesday in Western Christian traditions—”Ash Wednesday.” It is so called because the ashes received on the forehead signify a time for penitence, for abstinence, fasting, almsgiving and prayer. This annual journey begins with heartfelt lament from the prophet Joel, “Gird yourselves, O priests, and weep” (Joel 1:13). The great mystery of sadness…
“We are not human beings having a spiritual experience. We are spiritual beings having a human experience.” —Pierre Teilhard de Chardin It’s easy to set a goal and hard to reach it. Progress toward anything meaningful or worthwhile is fraught with challenge, obstacle and frustration. No one will make it out of this place without…
There is battle raging within me. The two sides in this war are the importance of speaking up about issues that matter versus loving a friend unconditionally, being vocal versus being neutral, taking a stand versus holding a hand. I strongly believe that, as Desmond Tutu famously said, “If you are neutral in situations of…