About two years after my husband and I began our co-ministry in western Massachusetts, I decided to put a small garden out in front of the Parsonage in which we lived. What I had not realized was how big the front yard was, and the garden I envisioned (and originally planted) looked like someone …
Many years ago, I discovered that Orthodox Jews have a prayer for every activity and event in the day, a short prayer of gratitude that acknowledges the wonder and grace of the unfolding moment: a prayer for awakening, for rising from bed, for washing hands, drinking water, preparing food, eating food, dressing. Literally everything. This …
Samhain is a rich spiritual season, comprising a panoply of holy days that vibrate with psychological paradox and dare us to risk confronting our deepest fears, most violent demons – and greatest hopes. The winter solstice is a month away, one of the highest of high holy days. For the community of faith that calls …
During my silent retreat — while I am disconnected from the internet — I have chosen three blogs from the past year to adapt and pre-post. This one is updated from the final Wednesday Reflection in Beltane (late July 2014). It is equally valid as a reflection during the liminal time passing from Lughnasadh into …
Welcome to Samhain. Saturday’s Musings (1 November 2014) contains an introduction to the winter quarter and the start of the Irish year in the old tradition, in case you missed it. During my retreat, I am editing and revisioning some older blogs from a time when there were only nine readers. I hope you find …
There are still a few tomatoes ripening (oh, so slowly) on the two surviving tomato plants on my porch. Growing anything is a miracle; growing things at the season edges seems even more miraculous and I am grateful for the wonder of possibility. Every night the tarp goes on to conserve the daytime heat through …
Many years ago, when my husband and I were preparing to take our first long trip together (which happened to be our honeymoon), I (re)discovered that not everyone prepares for travel the same way. At the time, he operated on the theory that there was no need to start packing until a half-hour before we …
Backstory, Part 1: On Sunday, the minister invited us to think of the difference between ‘God-shaped’ as an adjective and ‘God-shaped’ as a verb. This is a differentiation well worth pursuing. Backstory, Part 2: I was absolutely enchanted the first time I saw a word cloud and discovered how they work; they can unfold the …
Reminder: This is the last week to get an entry in the Lughnasadh Give-Away. This has been the easiest give-away ever since I don’t have a single entry for the drawing! Send the blog information to a friend. If he or she clicks through to read the whole blog, you could win a set of …
Reminder: The clock is ticking on the Lughnasadh Give-Away and, so far, I don’t have a single entry for the drawing! Send the blog link to a friend. If he or she signs up and then clicks through to read the whole blog, you could win a set of six hand-made cards. The harvest of …