With Open Hands
At a recent memorial service, I heard a daughter marvel at how her mother was able to let go of her things with each move: beloved furniture, inherited dishes, favorite books, unneeded clothing. This journey of relinquishment comes to all of us. For those who understand it as preparation, the journey can be full of […]
Radiant Wholeness
As Lent approaches, I am watching the slow miracle of orchids opening on my windowsill. Fleshy green leaves brush the chilled glass as a third flower opens from the line of buds. Amid other mementos on the sill, deep crimson stipples the white petals and a golden throat opens. Its radiance stuns me awake. Outside, […]
Near As the Leaf on a Tree
Leaves are swirling in the wind as I write, and tight buds for next year are visible against the naked sky. Darkness is coming earlier and cold keeps us inside. The slow work of winter curls inward as Advent begins. It is a season for hibernation and gestation too. Gayle Boss has become my guide […]
For All the Saints…
Although our definition of saints may vary widely, All Saints Day is a time to remember those who have inspired and shaped our lives in a Jesus-direction. The news that Fr. Thomas Keating died on October 25 seemed somehow fitting. At 95, he was ready. As a Trappist monk and worldwide contemplative teacher, he was […]
