September 22, 2023 One of our greatest gifts is the ability to be surprised by wonder . . . and to pay attention to it. Hydrangeas in September You don’t expect itnot in September when the leavesare beginning their turningand hummingbirds prepareto migrate south.You don’t expect itwhile red squirrels scurryto bury nutsin your summer pottedContinue reading "Hydrangeas in September"
Brothers of Joseph
O Joseph, favored son of the radiant colored coat,see how all your brothers gather againin these strained and foreign days.Watch them tear at your garment, again,shredding it apart in their frenzied envy,destroying what they do not want othersto possess. They turn their backson ancient Jacob in his grief, their handssplattered with blameless blood.Joseph, your brothersContinue reading "Brothers of Joseph"
Reinventing Self
June 30, 2023 Some years ago, when I was active clergy and had been at my church for thirteen years, I found myself in a time of discernment about my future. A fellow clergy person with a thirty-year stay at his church suggested that the key to a long-term, fruitful ministry was to “reinvent” oneselfContinue reading "Reinventing Self"
Summer Solstice Sunrise
June 21, 2023 Sun Poem Shouldn’t there be a ritual for the rising of the suneach daywith candles lit and dancing,hands upheld in welcome,songs lifted in praise?Watch how the sky prepares itselfswathed in azure and violethow the trees await, limbs liftednaked and unashamed.The hilltop holds itself steadyas the first sliver of light appearsbehind it andContinue reading "Summer Solstice Sunrise"
Palm Sunday: The Final Stretch
April 2, 2023 “Rejoice greatly, O CHILDREN of Zion! Shout aloud, O CHILDREN of Jerusalem! Lo, your king comes to you; Triumphant and victorious is he, humble and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!”Continue reading "Palm Sunday: The Final Stretch"
When You Choose War: Again
February 24, 2023 Last year, the day after Putin invaded Ukraine, I wrote the poem, When You Choose War, below. Since that day, according to 1440 Daily Digest, a nonbiased digital news source, “Western intelligence suggests military casualties—those either dead or wounded—are nearing 200,000 for Russia and have reached 100,000 for Ukraine. International groups have confirmedContinue reading "When You Choose War: Again"
Sifting Ashes
February 22, 2023 For Christians, today marks Ash Wednesday, the beginning of the 40 day Lenten Journey when Jesus Christ’s walk to the cross is remembered and held in the heart. Ash Wednesday, with its invitation to fasting, repentance, and commitment to taking the journey, along with its emphasis on mortality, is something, quite honestly,Continue reading "Sifting Ashes"
A Poem for Turkey and Syria
February 8, 2023 Another Day What will I make of this new daywhile bodies (some with breath) lie entombedbeneath mortar, brick, wood, and stonewhere the earthshook and life collapsed?What will I do on this bright sunny day,all my limbs intact,my loved ones well,when the dirge of mourning snakes its waythrough plumes of dust and smoke—itsContinue reading "A Poem for Turkey and Syria"
A Blessing for Candles
February 2, 2023 While most of us in the States may be disappointed because our favorite groundhog, Punxsutawney Phil, saw his shadow today, which tradition says means six more weeks of winter, we might be consoled by remembering that, in the Roman Catholic Church, today is also Candlemas, the feast day of the Presentation ofContinue reading "A Blessing for Candles"
Epiphany: The Rest of the Rest of the Christmas Story
January 6, 2023 For many Christians, the Feast of Epiphany marks the end of the Christmas Season and is the culminating celebration of the Twelve Days of Christmas. The story of the Epiphany is found only in the Gospel of Matthew, Chapter Two, and it involves the non-Jewish wise men/kings/magi/astronomers (supposedly three, but no numberContinue reading "Epiphany: The Rest of the Rest of the Christmas Story"
Spirit Reflections 