Category Archives: spirituality

The Eyes of Wabi-Sabi

September 1, 2021 I recently was introduced to the Japanese Buddhist tradition of Wabi-sabi.  According to Leonard Koren, “Wabi-sabi is a beauty of things imperfect, impermanent, and incomplete.  It is a beauty of things modest and humble.  It is a beauty of things unconventional”  (Wabi-Sabi for Artists, Designers, Poets, and Philosophers).  Wabi-sabi has an ancientContinueContinue reading “The Eyes of Wabi-Sabi”

An Invitation to See

August 19, 2021 I recently came across a quotation from John O’Donohue that made me stop.  He wrote, “Many of us have made our world so familiar that we do not see it anymore.  An interesting question to ask yourself at night is, ‘What did I really see this day?’” What did I really seeContinueContinue reading “An Invitation to See”

“Looking” on the Prayer Path

July 20, 2021 On the spiritual journey, it helps to remember that we are created to be spiritual beings as well as human doings.  Life isn’t all about what we produce.  It also involves who we are becoming, and if we believe we are made in the image of Something Bigger than us, of aContinueContinue reading ““Looking” on the Prayer Path”

President Biden & Holy Communion

In my early years of ministry, I found myself in a life-changing position for all involved.  A teenager and her mother came to me for direction because the single teen (I will call her Beth) was pregnant.  Beth had the support of her mother for whatever decision she made, but it was clear that whatContinueContinue reading “President Biden & Holy Communion”

Do All Religions “Suck”?

A couple of days ago, I happened to find myself a lane over and behind a compact car that sported two identical bumper stickers which read:  “All Religions Suck.”  I guess the driver wanted to make her or his point twice.  I wished at that moment that I could have stopped the car and goneContinueContinue reading “Do All Religions “Suck”?”

Attic Wisdom

If you’ve ever expected a child, then you know something about the “nesting” period when suddenly you realize, instinctively, that the time is NOW to finish getting the nursery in order, counting the diapers, tidying up the house, and putting extra meals in the freezer because something waiting to be born is coming.  Lately, I’veContinueContinue reading “Attic Wisdom”

Lakes, Chapels, God, and Prayer

We recently returned from western North Carolina where we had the opportunity to visit Lake Junaluska, situated in the heart of a Methodist Camp and Conference Center and surrounded by the Blue Ridge Mountains and numerous old shade trees.  If ever there were a place to commune with the Divine, by whatever name one callsContinueContinue reading “Lakes, Chapels, God, and Prayer”

Showing Up When Life Gets Hard

“Life is difficult.”  That three-word truth is the sentence that opens The Road Less Traveled, M. Scott Peck’s well-known book integrating spiritual and psychological insights.  It doesn’t sound like a welcoming beginning, though it certainly sets the stage for an exploration into spiritual and psychological growth.  Admit it.  Life is difficult.  Once we have admittedContinueContinue reading “Showing Up When Life Gets Hard”

Let There Be Light

In the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth, the earth was a formless void and darkness covered the face of the deep, while a wind from God swept over the face of the waters.  Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light. So begins the story of creation in the Judeo-ChristianContinueContinue reading “Let There Be Light”