April 12, 2025 Vermont Night “If the stars should appear one night in a thousand years, how would men believe and adore.” Ralph Waldo Emerson Somewhere outside of Montpeliermiles from the lights of townwith autumn approachingbut not yetI stand under the night skyand gaze up.Such a simple actraising my face to nightmy sight to lightafterContinueContinue reading “Vermont Night”
Category Archives: poetry
Spring Ephemerals
Spring wildflowers, March 19, 2025 Ephemerals(plants that flower briefly once in the spring) I walk the woods seeking spring’s ephemerals,turning leaf and rock like a child seeks treasures, here in the woods of the Creek, the Cherokee,here where the creek clatters freely down limestone. Here mottled trilliums blanket the floor;hepatica’s white petals blanket the moss.ContinueContinue reading “Spring Ephemerals”
The God-kiss
March 11, 2025 Some years ago, a term came to my mind that describes the serendipitous, often unnoticed, gifts that Love provides us. I call them “God-kisses.” They’ve always been, always will be, yet how often we miss them. Yesterday, I received such a kiss, though I almost stepped on it. I was walking throughContinueContinue reading “The God-kiss”
Advent 2024: Candlelight
Advent Day 16, December 16, 2024 “Light your candles quietly, such candles as you possess, wherever you are.” Father Alfred Delp If you’ve followed my blog at all these past few years, you can’t miss the fact that I love candlelight. In fact, I deLIGHT in the light, especially in these dark winter months. This morningContinueContinue reading “Advent 2024: Candlelight”
Advent 2024: Gaudete Sunday
Advent Day 15, December 15, 2024 For those who incorporate an Advent wreath into their Advent traditions, today is the day to light the pink candle, the Joy Candle. Known by its Latin term, Gaudete Sunday, this third Joyful Sunday in Advent reminds us that we are almost “there,” that the waiting for the Christ-LightContinueContinue reading “Advent 2024: Gaudete Sunday”
Advent 2024: Notice
Advent Day 11, December 11, 2024 I am currently walking with a group through the book, The First Christmas: What the Gospels Really Teach about Jesus’ Birth, by theologians Marcus Borg and John Dominic Crossan. It definitely isn’t Christmas Hallmark movie reading. Yet in spite of its scholarly depths, the authors make some intriguing observationsContinueContinue reading “Advent 2024: Notice”
Advent 2024: Waiting with Birds
(Photo courtesy of (c) Turner Matthews, Decatur, Alabama, USA) Advent Day 10, December 10, 2024 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Philippians 4:8 Some two thousand years ago, in a politicalContinueContinue reading “Advent 2024: Waiting with Birds”
Advent 2024: Look
St. Naum at Monastery of St. Naum, Macedonia, (c) T. Brett McMahan Advent Day 5, December 5, 2024 You Reading This, Be Ready ~ by William Stafford Starting here, what do you want to remember?How sunlight creeps along a shining floor?What scent of old wood hovers, what softenedsound from outside fills the air? Will youContinueContinue reading “Advent 2024: Look”
Advent 2024: Silence
Advent Day 4, December 4, 2024 Lo, in the silent nightA child to God is bornAnd all is brought againThat ere was lost or lorn. Could but thy soul, O man,Become a silent night!God would be born in theeAnd set all things aright. Whoever wrote this 15th century verse knew a truth about the giftContinueContinue reading “Advent 2024: Silence”
The Waiting: A Poem of Advent
Advent Day 2: December 2, 2024 The Waiting ~ A Poem of Advent “For I, the Lord your God, hold your right hand; it is I who say to you, ‘Do not fear. I will help you.'” (Isaiah 41:13) O, Isaiah, ancient prophet of doom, prophet of ancient hope,your proclamations resound like cymbalsjarring this stillContinueContinue reading “The Waiting: A Poem of Advent”
Spirit Reflections 