There is beauty in the blessing of the simple everyday things, even on passing a graveyard. In his book, To Bless the Space Between Us: A Book of Blessings, John O’Donohue encourages us to slow down and discover the sacred in the everyday. On November 2nd, All Soul’s Day honors the souls of the departed …Read More
Category: Spirit
Story of Halloween
October 31st is All Hallows’ Eve in some Christian traditions. Today, we shorten the name to Halloween. This begins the 3-day festival of All Hallows’ Tide. What is a Hallow? The word means “holy” as in “hallowed ground” and is another word for Saint (a holy person). Just as Christmas Eve precedes Christmas Day, All …Read More
Wanting Memories
I am sitting here wanting memories to teach me to see the beauty in the world through my own eyes. — Ysaye Barnwell, Wanting Memories These haunting lyrics were written by Ysaye Barnwell and originally recorded by the African-American all-women a capella group, Sweet Honey in the Rock. Since then, many groups have recorded the song, including …Read More
NPR Tiny Desk Concert: Cantus
NPR Tiny Desk Concerts brings amazing singers right into your home. Be inspired by music and musicians. These concerts provide a small intimate setting that creates a personal experience. The next best thing to a live concert, NPR Tiny Desk Concerts are recorded live at the desk of the host of NPR’s All Songs Considered. …Read More
The Color Purple
“I think it pisses God off if you walk by the color purple in a field somewhere and don’t notice it. People think pleasing God is all God cares about. But any fool living in the world can see it always trying to please us back.” ― Alice Walker, The Color Purple Gratitude From one of my …Read More
The Dance by Oriah Mountain Dreamer
“What if the question is not why am I so infrequently the person I really want to be, but why do I so infrequently want to be the person I really am?” — Oriah Mountain Dreamer, The Dance: Moving to the Rhythms of Your True Self In her prior book, The Invitation, Oriah Mountain Dreamer …Read More
Nobody Can Make It Out Here Alone
Alone ~by Maya Angelou Lying, thinking Last night How to find my soul a home Where water is not thirsty And bread loaf is not stone I came up with one thing And I don’t believe I’m wrong That nobody, But nobody Can make it out here alone. Alone, all alone Nobody, but nobody Can …Read More
Two Ways to Be Rich
“There are two ways to be rich. Make more or want less.” I saw this quote on a surfer’s T-shirt in Hawaii many years ago. Since then, I’ve seen many variations attributed to different authors. As a goal-oriented person, the words just took me into the present moment. I can be “rich” right now. Excitedly, …Read More
Dear Sugar’s Advice on Life and Love
Dear Sugar, WTF, WTF, WTF? I’m asking this question as it applies to everything every day. Best, WTF This is the letter that launched the “Dear Sugar” advice column on TheRumpus.net as something new and different. In an uncharacteristic style for an advice column, Sugar begins with deep personal sharing and “radical empathy.” She walks …Read More
Poem: I Will Keep Broken Things
I Will Keep Broken Things —by Alice Walker I will keep Broken Things: The big clay Pot With raised Iguanas Chasing Their Tails; Two Of their Wise Heads Sheared Off; I will keep Broken things: The old Slave Market Basket Brought To my Door By Mississippi A jagged Hole Gouged In its sturdy Dark Oak …Read More