Singing Along the Journey

healing

Lost angel recovered…

Off and on, all day long, I have sat with my silver cloth, cleaning years of tarnish from this little medallion. The nooks and crannies continue to defeat my efforts, a bit at least, but I think that I have finally achieved a level of clean that makes it wearable again. And tomorrow, I'll add it to a chain again and place it around my neck. That might seem a lot of intention for a tiny medal of angel, particularly for a person who does not consider herself to be an "angel" person. You know what I'm talking about. But I want to wear this medal tomorrow. I want to…
Read More

Everybody needs a little away time…

For the past few days, I have been out of town, taking a little time to work on a project that is close to my heart and soul. This trip is, for me, the first time that I have been away from home without my trusted pod companions since before the pandemic began. In fact, I can't remember the last time that I was away and on my own. I've been getting a lot done, and you will eventually hear more about that, when it is time. Today, though, I took some hours away from my efforts to enjoy the nature around me. That's right, even when you are doing…
Read More

Not really 9, just 8…

I planned this celebration of a day that I call my new birthday for months. And I was totally convinced that it was the 9 year anniversary of my aortic valve replacement surgery. I was completely convinced. In fact, I wrote these words along with the pictures I shared from our time in the mountains: Celebration day 3 comes to an end with a little walk in the woods. A seriously more enjoyable day than 9 years ago, but a day only made possible by that day 9 years ago. Grateful for a day full of sunshine and activity. Grateful for the science and the faith that made today possible.…
Read More

Hate has no home here…

And a happy Monday to all. I took a long walk in the morning beauty this morning but unlike many mornings I had an itinerary in mind. I wanted to see firsthand the response of the people of St. Marks Capitol Hill to an act of hatred in this peaceful courtyard (a noose was hung from one of the trees recently, apparently a far too often act in DC). The signs are a witness to love in the face of hate. I know, for many, this is a small action, but if you walk the perimeter ( as I did in the video) and this act of saying no to…
Read More

People, look East…the search for hope and wonder

People look East -- the first words of a familiar hymn often sung during Advent.  I'm having trouble leaving the words of this hymn confined within their traditional time frame.  The meaning of time has certainly changed for many of us these past months, and if 2020 changes anything, those changes call me to embrace the hope and preparation of Advent as a lifestyle, not a season. People look East, the time is near. Yesterday, as I rose at an hour all too early and all too cold for the end of December, again, I made my morning calculation -- which way will I walk?  Will I head to the…
Read More

March 21, 2020: The Question’s Answer

And good morning to you (a little late, I know, but there were waffles to make). Greetings from the Anacostia River Trail. #loveinthetimeofcovid #thesebootsweremadeforwalkin Looking back (July 9, 2021): And this was the answer to Joy's question. We walked along the river. It felt very risky to go walk along the river; in some places the sidewalks were narrow...it required leaving the "safe" zone that we had established for ourselves. But it was such a blessing to see something other than buildings. And to see the wide sky. And to see the birds and smell the watery air. These were days of great gratitude for the years of work that…
Read More

I had a plan this weekend…

I had a plan this weekend.  My experience is that these are dangerous words, and this weekend's result was no different. I thought that the plan was simple.  For weeks, I have been culling my closet for items that could have  a better, more useful home.  This was not a general pull and pitch -- I was gathering clothing to go to the group Suited for Change, an organization of women who lift up other women by providing them with office-suitable clothing at the moment they most need it, the moment when they take that step from recovery of any kind into the world of work.  I knew that I…
Read More

Grief and joy too personal for words…

If you have a minute, I would like to tell you a story.  It is my story to tell, and, I thought that I had told it.  But we cannot tell what we ourselves do not understand, even though we are in the midst of living it, no matter how many words we use. Let me begin with the punchline.  Healing, my friends, is not over when our bodies have knit themselves together after an accident or a treatment of some kind.  Healing may be the most powerful word-metaphor for the whole human condition, because, after all, isn't that really what most of us seek with each and every breath?…
Read More

Going plural…

I had never heard the phrase, until about a month ago.  And why would I?  Apparently it is a phrase that comes out of the Peter Drucker school of management theory -- not exactly my specialty.  There is even a consultancy manual to guide the executive towards diversification.  The friend who used the phrase in relationship to my life and the many and varied ways I am drawn in my life, said that they first heard it while travelling in Africa and believed it to be a cultural term, not a business one.  In my dreams, my research led me to anthropological tracts about the glorious of a natural, unsegmented…
Read More

Thistles, tea and transformation….healing as a practice

Some days, you just need a reminder that there are people in this world who follow God's breadcrumbs against all the odds and do the work needed to transform their little corner into a living expression of the Kingdom of Heaven in this world.  Last night I had the chance to listen to just such a person, the Rev. Becca Stevens, founder of Magdalene House, a residential program that "stands in solidarity with"  women who have survived lives of prostitution, trafficking, and drug addiction as they come in from the streets and changes their lives.   And next, out of a need to support these women and this work, and to…
Read More

Lost angel recovered…

Off and on, all day long, I have sat with my silver cloth, cleaning years of tarnish from this little medallion. The nooks and crannies continue to defeat my efforts, a bit at least, but I think that I have finally achieved a level of clean that makes it wearable again. And tomorrow, I'll add it to a chain again and place it around my neck. That might seem a lot of intention for a tiny medal of angel, particularly for a person who does not consider herself to be an "angel" person. You know what I'm talking about. But I want to wear this medal tomorrow. I want to…
Read More

Everybody needs a little away time…

For the past few days, I have been out of town, taking a little time to work on a project that is close to my heart and soul. This trip is, for me, the first time that I have been away from home without my trusted pod companions since before the pandemic began. In fact, I can't remember the last time that I was away and on my own. I've been getting a lot done, and you will eventually hear more about that, when it is time. Today, though, I took some hours away from my efforts to enjoy the nature around me. That's right, even when you are doing…
Read More

Not really 9, just 8…

I planned this celebration of a day that I call my new birthday for months. And I was totally convinced that it was the 9 year anniversary of my aortic valve replacement surgery. I was completely convinced. In fact, I wrote these words along with the pictures I shared from our time in the mountains: Celebration day 3 comes to an end with a little walk in the woods. A seriously more enjoyable day than 9 years ago, but a day only made possible by that day 9 years ago. Grateful for a day full of sunshine and activity. Grateful for the science and the faith that made today possible.…
Read More

Hate has no home here…

And a happy Monday to all. I took a long walk in the morning beauty this morning but unlike many mornings I had an itinerary in mind. I wanted to see firsthand the response of the people of St. Marks Capitol Hill to an act of hatred in this peaceful courtyard (a noose was hung from one of the trees recently, apparently a far too often act in DC). The signs are a witness to love in the face of hate. I know, for many, this is a small action, but if you walk the perimeter ( as I did in the video) and this act of saying no to…
Read More

People, look East…the search for hope and wonder

People look East -- the first words of a familiar hymn often sung during Advent.  I'm having trouble leaving the words of this hymn confined within their traditional time frame.  The meaning of time has certainly changed for many of us these past months, and if 2020 changes anything, those changes call me to embrace the hope and preparation of Advent as a lifestyle, not a season. People look East, the time is near. Yesterday, as I rose at an hour all too early and all too cold for the end of December, again, I made my morning calculation -- which way will I walk?  Will I head to the…
Read More

March 21, 2020: The Question’s Answer

And good morning to you (a little late, I know, but there were waffles to make). Greetings from the Anacostia River Trail. #loveinthetimeofcovid #thesebootsweremadeforwalkin Looking back (July 9, 2021): And this was the answer to Joy's question. We walked along the river. It felt very risky to go walk along the river; in some places the sidewalks were narrow...it required leaving the "safe" zone that we had established for ourselves. But it was such a blessing to see something other than buildings. And to see the wide sky. And to see the birds and smell the watery air. These were days of great gratitude for the years of work that…
Read More

I had a plan this weekend…

I had a plan this weekend.  My experience is that these are dangerous words, and this weekend's result was no different. I thought that the plan was simple.  For weeks, I have been culling my closet for items that could have  a better, more useful home.  This was not a general pull and pitch -- I was gathering clothing to go to the group Suited for Change, an organization of women who lift up other women by providing them with office-suitable clothing at the moment they most need it, the moment when they take that step from recovery of any kind into the world of work.  I knew that I…
Read More

Grief and joy too personal for words…

If you have a minute, I would like to tell you a story.  It is my story to tell, and, I thought that I had told it.  But we cannot tell what we ourselves do not understand, even though we are in the midst of living it, no matter how many words we use. Let me begin with the punchline.  Healing, my friends, is not over when our bodies have knit themselves together after an accident or a treatment of some kind.  Healing may be the most powerful word-metaphor for the whole human condition, because, after all, isn't that really what most of us seek with each and every breath?…
Read More

Going plural…

I had never heard the phrase, until about a month ago.  And why would I?  Apparently it is a phrase that comes out of the Peter Drucker school of management theory -- not exactly my specialty.  There is even a consultancy manual to guide the executive towards diversification.  The friend who used the phrase in relationship to my life and the many and varied ways I am drawn in my life, said that they first heard it while travelling in Africa and believed it to be a cultural term, not a business one.  In my dreams, my research led me to anthropological tracts about the glorious of a natural, unsegmented…
Read More

Thistles, tea and transformation….healing as a practice

Some days, you just need a reminder that there are people in this world who follow God's breadcrumbs against all the odds and do the work needed to transform their little corner into a living expression of the Kingdom of Heaven in this world.  Last night I had the chance to listen to just such a person, the Rev. Becca Stevens, founder of Magdalene House, a residential program that "stands in solidarity with"  women who have survived lives of prostitution, trafficking, and drug addiction as they come in from the streets and changes their lives.   And next, out of a need to support these women and this work, and to…
Read More

Lost angel recovered…

Off and on, all day long, I have sat with my silver cloth, cleaning years of tarnish from this little medallion. The nooks and crannies continue to defeat my efforts, a bit at least, but I think that I have finally achieved a level of clean that makes it wearable again. And tomorrow, I'll add it to a chain again and place it around my neck. That might seem a lot of intention for a tiny medal of angel, particularly for a person who does not consider herself to be an "angel" person. You know what I'm talking about. But I want to wear this medal tomorrow. I want to…
Read More

Everybody needs a little away time…

For the past few days, I have been out of town, taking a little time to work on a project that is close to my heart and soul. This trip is, for me, the first time that I have been away from home without my trusted pod companions since before the pandemic began. In fact, I can't remember the last time that I was away and on my own. I've been getting a lot done, and you will eventually hear more about that, when it is time. Today, though, I took some hours away from my efforts to enjoy the nature around me. That's right, even when you are doing…
Read More

Not really 9, just 8…

I planned this celebration of a day that I call my new birthday for months. And I was totally convinced that it was the 9 year anniversary of my aortic valve replacement surgery. I was completely convinced. In fact, I wrote these words along with the pictures I shared from our time in the mountains: Celebration day 3 comes to an end with a little walk in the woods. A seriously more enjoyable day than 9 years ago, but a day only made possible by that day 9 years ago. Grateful for a day full of sunshine and activity. Grateful for the science and the faith that made today possible.…
Read More

Hate has no home here…

And a happy Monday to all. I took a long walk in the morning beauty this morning but unlike many mornings I had an itinerary in mind. I wanted to see firsthand the response of the people of St. Marks Capitol Hill to an act of hatred in this peaceful courtyard (a noose was hung from one of the trees recently, apparently a far too often act in DC). The signs are a witness to love in the face of hate. I know, for many, this is a small action, but if you walk the perimeter ( as I did in the video) and this act of saying no to…
Read More

People, look East…the search for hope and wonder

People look East -- the first words of a familiar hymn often sung during Advent.  I'm having trouble leaving the words of this hymn confined within their traditional time frame.  The meaning of time has certainly changed for many of us these past months, and if 2020 changes anything, those changes call me to embrace the hope and preparation of Advent as a lifestyle, not a season. People look East, the time is near. Yesterday, as I rose at an hour all too early and all too cold for the end of December, again, I made my morning calculation -- which way will I walk?  Will I head to the…
Read More

March 21, 2020: The Question’s Answer

And good morning to you (a little late, I know, but there were waffles to make). Greetings from the Anacostia River Trail. #loveinthetimeofcovid #thesebootsweremadeforwalkin Looking back (July 9, 2021): And this was the answer to Joy's question. We walked along the river. It felt very risky to go walk along the river; in some places the sidewalks were narrow...it required leaving the "safe" zone that we had established for ourselves. But it was such a blessing to see something other than buildings. And to see the wide sky. And to see the birds and smell the watery air. These were days of great gratitude for the years of work that…
Read More

I had a plan this weekend…

I had a plan this weekend.  My experience is that these are dangerous words, and this weekend's result was no different. I thought that the plan was simple.  For weeks, I have been culling my closet for items that could have  a better, more useful home.  This was not a general pull and pitch -- I was gathering clothing to go to the group Suited for Change, an organization of women who lift up other women by providing them with office-suitable clothing at the moment they most need it, the moment when they take that step from recovery of any kind into the world of work.  I knew that I…
Read More

Grief and joy too personal for words…

If you have a minute, I would like to tell you a story.  It is my story to tell, and, I thought that I had told it.  But we cannot tell what we ourselves do not understand, even though we are in the midst of living it, no matter how many words we use. Let me begin with the punchline.  Healing, my friends, is not over when our bodies have knit themselves together after an accident or a treatment of some kind.  Healing may be the most powerful word-metaphor for the whole human condition, because, after all, isn't that really what most of us seek with each and every breath?…
Read More

Going plural…

I had never heard the phrase, until about a month ago.  And why would I?  Apparently it is a phrase that comes out of the Peter Drucker school of management theory -- not exactly my specialty.  There is even a consultancy manual to guide the executive towards diversification.  The friend who used the phrase in relationship to my life and the many and varied ways I am drawn in my life, said that they first heard it while travelling in Africa and believed it to be a cultural term, not a business one.  In my dreams, my research led me to anthropological tracts about the glorious of a natural, unsegmented…
Read More

Thistles, tea and transformation….healing as a practice

Some days, you just need a reminder that there are people in this world who follow God's breadcrumbs against all the odds and do the work needed to transform their little corner into a living expression of the Kingdom of Heaven in this world.  Last night I had the chance to listen to just such a person, the Rev. Becca Stevens, founder of Magdalene House, a residential program that "stands in solidarity with"  women who have survived lives of prostitution, trafficking, and drug addiction as they come in from the streets and changes their lives.   And next, out of a need to support these women and this work, and to…
Read More

Lost angel recovered…

Off and on, all day long, I have sat with my silver cloth, cleaning years of tarnish from this little medallion. The nooks and crannies continue to defeat my efforts, a bit at least, but I think that I have finally achieved a level of clean that makes it wearable again. And tomorrow, I'll add it to a chain again and place it around my neck. That might seem a lot of intention for a tiny medal of angel, particularly for a person who does not consider herself to be an "angel" person. You know what I'm talking about. But I want to wear this medal tomorrow. I want to…
Read More

Everybody needs a little away time…

For the past few days, I have been out of town, taking a little time to work on a project that is close to my heart and soul. This trip is, for me, the first time that I have been away from home without my trusted pod companions since before the pandemic began. In fact, I can't remember the last time that I was away and on my own. I've been getting a lot done, and you will eventually hear more about that, when it is time. Today, though, I took some hours away from my efforts to enjoy the nature around me. That's right, even when you are doing…
Read More

Not really 9, just 8…

I planned this celebration of a day that I call my new birthday for months. And I was totally convinced that it was the 9 year anniversary of my aortic valve replacement surgery. I was completely convinced. In fact, I wrote these words along with the pictures I shared from our time in the mountains: Celebration day 3 comes to an end with a little walk in the woods. A seriously more enjoyable day than 9 years ago, but a day only made possible by that day 9 years ago. Grateful for a day full of sunshine and activity. Grateful for the science and the faith that made today possible.…
Read More

Hate has no home here…

And a happy Monday to all. I took a long walk in the morning beauty this morning but unlike many mornings I had an itinerary in mind. I wanted to see firsthand the response of the people of St. Marks Capitol Hill to an act of hatred in this peaceful courtyard (a noose was hung from one of the trees recently, apparently a far too often act in DC). The signs are a witness to love in the face of hate. I know, for many, this is a small action, but if you walk the perimeter ( as I did in the video) and this act of saying no to…
Read More

People, look East…the search for hope and wonder

People look East -- the first words of a familiar hymn often sung during Advent.  I'm having trouble leaving the words of this hymn confined within their traditional time frame.  The meaning of time has certainly changed for many of us these past months, and if 2020 changes anything, those changes call me to embrace the hope and preparation of Advent as a lifestyle, not a season. People look East, the time is near. Yesterday, as I rose at an hour all too early and all too cold for the end of December, again, I made my morning calculation -- which way will I walk?  Will I head to the…
Read More

March 21, 2020: The Question’s Answer

And good morning to you (a little late, I know, but there were waffles to make). Greetings from the Anacostia River Trail. #loveinthetimeofcovid #thesebootsweremadeforwalkin Looking back (July 9, 2021): And this was the answer to Joy's question. We walked along the river. It felt very risky to go walk along the river; in some places the sidewalks were narrow...it required leaving the "safe" zone that we had established for ourselves. But it was such a blessing to see something other than buildings. And to see the wide sky. And to see the birds and smell the watery air. These were days of great gratitude for the years of work that…
Read More

I had a plan this weekend…

I had a plan this weekend.  My experience is that these are dangerous words, and this weekend's result was no different. I thought that the plan was simple.  For weeks, I have been culling my closet for items that could have  a better, more useful home.  This was not a general pull and pitch -- I was gathering clothing to go to the group Suited for Change, an organization of women who lift up other women by providing them with office-suitable clothing at the moment they most need it, the moment when they take that step from recovery of any kind into the world of work.  I knew that I…
Read More

Grief and joy too personal for words…

If you have a minute, I would like to tell you a story.  It is my story to tell, and, I thought that I had told it.  But we cannot tell what we ourselves do not understand, even though we are in the midst of living it, no matter how many words we use. Let me begin with the punchline.  Healing, my friends, is not over when our bodies have knit themselves together after an accident or a treatment of some kind.  Healing may be the most powerful word-metaphor for the whole human condition, because, after all, isn't that really what most of us seek with each and every breath?…
Read More

Going plural…

I had never heard the phrase, until about a month ago.  And why would I?  Apparently it is a phrase that comes out of the Peter Drucker school of management theory -- not exactly my specialty.  There is even a consultancy manual to guide the executive towards diversification.  The friend who used the phrase in relationship to my life and the many and varied ways I am drawn in my life, said that they first heard it while travelling in Africa and believed it to be a cultural term, not a business one.  In my dreams, my research led me to anthropological tracts about the glorious of a natural, unsegmented…
Read More

Thistles, tea and transformation….healing as a practice

Some days, you just need a reminder that there are people in this world who follow God's breadcrumbs against all the odds and do the work needed to transform their little corner into a living expression of the Kingdom of Heaven in this world.  Last night I had the chance to listen to just such a person, the Rev. Becca Stevens, founder of Magdalene House, a residential program that "stands in solidarity with"  women who have survived lives of prostitution, trafficking, and drug addiction as they come in from the streets and changes their lives.   And next, out of a need to support these women and this work, and to…
Read More

Lost angel recovered…

Off and on, all day long, I have sat with my silver cloth, cleaning years of tarnish from this little medallion. The nooks and crannies continue to defeat my efforts, a bit at least, but I think that I have finally achieved a level of clean that makes it wearable again. And tomorrow, I'll add it to a chain again and place it around my neck. That might seem a lot of intention for a tiny medal of angel, particularly for a person who does not consider herself to be an "angel" person. You know what I'm talking about. But I want to wear this medal tomorrow. I want to…
Read More

Everybody needs a little away time…

For the past few days, I have been out of town, taking a little time to work on a project that is close to my heart and soul. This trip is, for me, the first time that I have been away from home without my trusted pod companions since before the pandemic began. In fact, I can't remember the last time that I was away and on my own. I've been getting a lot done, and you will eventually hear more about that, when it is time. Today, though, I took some hours away from my efforts to enjoy the nature around me. That's right, even when you are doing…
Read More

Not really 9, just 8…

I planned this celebration of a day that I call my new birthday for months. And I was totally convinced that it was the 9 year anniversary of my aortic valve replacement surgery. I was completely convinced. In fact, I wrote these words along with the pictures I shared from our time in the mountains: Celebration day 3 comes to an end with a little walk in the woods. A seriously more enjoyable day than 9 years ago, but a day only made possible by that day 9 years ago. Grateful for a day full of sunshine and activity. Grateful for the science and the faith that made today possible.…
Read More

Hate has no home here…

And a happy Monday to all. I took a long walk in the morning beauty this morning but unlike many mornings I had an itinerary in mind. I wanted to see firsthand the response of the people of St. Marks Capitol Hill to an act of hatred in this peaceful courtyard (a noose was hung from one of the trees recently, apparently a far too often act in DC). The signs are a witness to love in the face of hate. I know, for many, this is a small action, but if you walk the perimeter ( as I did in the video) and this act of saying no to…
Read More

People, look East…the search for hope and wonder

People look East -- the first words of a familiar hymn often sung during Advent.  I'm having trouble leaving the words of this hymn confined within their traditional time frame.  The meaning of time has certainly changed for many of us these past months, and if 2020 changes anything, those changes call me to embrace the hope and preparation of Advent as a lifestyle, not a season. People look East, the time is near. Yesterday, as I rose at an hour all too early and all too cold for the end of December, again, I made my morning calculation -- which way will I walk?  Will I head to the…
Read More

March 21, 2020: The Question’s Answer

And good morning to you (a little late, I know, but there were waffles to make). Greetings from the Anacostia River Trail. #loveinthetimeofcovid #thesebootsweremadeforwalkin Looking back (July 9, 2021): And this was the answer to Joy's question. We walked along the river. It felt very risky to go walk along the river; in some places the sidewalks were narrow...it required leaving the "safe" zone that we had established for ourselves. But it was such a blessing to see something other than buildings. And to see the wide sky. And to see the birds and smell the watery air. These were days of great gratitude for the years of work that…
Read More

I had a plan this weekend…

I had a plan this weekend.  My experience is that these are dangerous words, and this weekend's result was no different. I thought that the plan was simple.  For weeks, I have been culling my closet for items that could have  a better, more useful home.  This was not a general pull and pitch -- I was gathering clothing to go to the group Suited for Change, an organization of women who lift up other women by providing them with office-suitable clothing at the moment they most need it, the moment when they take that step from recovery of any kind into the world of work.  I knew that I…
Read More

Grief and joy too personal for words…

If you have a minute, I would like to tell you a story.  It is my story to tell, and, I thought that I had told it.  But we cannot tell what we ourselves do not understand, even though we are in the midst of living it, no matter how many words we use. Let me begin with the punchline.  Healing, my friends, is not over when our bodies have knit themselves together after an accident or a treatment of some kind.  Healing may be the most powerful word-metaphor for the whole human condition, because, after all, isn't that really what most of us seek with each and every breath?…
Read More

Going plural…

I had never heard the phrase, until about a month ago.  And why would I?  Apparently it is a phrase that comes out of the Peter Drucker school of management theory -- not exactly my specialty.  There is even a consultancy manual to guide the executive towards diversification.  The friend who used the phrase in relationship to my life and the many and varied ways I am drawn in my life, said that they first heard it while travelling in Africa and believed it to be a cultural term, not a business one.  In my dreams, my research led me to anthropological tracts about the glorious of a natural, unsegmented…
Read More

Thistles, tea and transformation….healing as a practice

Some days, you just need a reminder that there are people in this world who follow God's breadcrumbs against all the odds and do the work needed to transform their little corner into a living expression of the Kingdom of Heaven in this world.  Last night I had the chance to listen to just such a person, the Rev. Becca Stevens, founder of Magdalene House, a residential program that "stands in solidarity with"  women who have survived lives of prostitution, trafficking, and drug addiction as they come in from the streets and changes their lives.   And next, out of a need to support these women and this work, and to…
Read More

Lost angel recovered…

Off and on, all day long, I have sat with my silver cloth, cleaning years of tarnish from this little medallion. The nooks and crannies continue to defeat my efforts, a bit at least, but I think that I have finally achieved a level of clean that makes it wearable again. And tomorrow, I'll add it to a chain again and place it around my neck. That might seem a lot of intention for a tiny medal of angel, particularly for a person who does not consider herself to be an "angel" person. You know what I'm talking about. But I want to wear this medal tomorrow. I want to…
Read More

Everybody needs a little away time…

For the past few days, I have been out of town, taking a little time to work on a project that is close to my heart and soul. This trip is, for me, the first time that I have been away from home without my trusted pod companions since before the pandemic began. In fact, I can't remember the last time that I was away and on my own. I've been getting a lot done, and you will eventually hear more about that, when it is time. Today, though, I took some hours away from my efforts to enjoy the nature around me. That's right, even when you are doing…
Read More

Not really 9, just 8…

I planned this celebration of a day that I call my new birthday for months. And I was totally convinced that it was the 9 year anniversary of my aortic valve replacement surgery. I was completely convinced. In fact, I wrote these words along with the pictures I shared from our time in the mountains: Celebration day 3 comes to an end with a little walk in the woods. A seriously more enjoyable day than 9 years ago, but a day only made possible by that day 9 years ago. Grateful for a day full of sunshine and activity. Grateful for the science and the faith that made today possible.…
Read More

Hate has no home here…

And a happy Monday to all. I took a long walk in the morning beauty this morning but unlike many mornings I had an itinerary in mind. I wanted to see firsthand the response of the people of St. Marks Capitol Hill to an act of hatred in this peaceful courtyard (a noose was hung from one of the trees recently, apparently a far too often act in DC). The signs are a witness to love in the face of hate. I know, for many, this is a small action, but if you walk the perimeter ( as I did in the video) and this act of saying no to…
Read More

People, look East…the search for hope and wonder

People look East -- the first words of a familiar hymn often sung during Advent.  I'm having trouble leaving the words of this hymn confined within their traditional time frame.  The meaning of time has certainly changed for many of us these past months, and if 2020 changes anything, those changes call me to embrace the hope and preparation of Advent as a lifestyle, not a season. People look East, the time is near. Yesterday, as I rose at an hour all too early and all too cold for the end of December, again, I made my morning calculation -- which way will I walk?  Will I head to the…
Read More

March 21, 2020: The Question’s Answer

And good morning to you (a little late, I know, but there were waffles to make). Greetings from the Anacostia River Trail. #loveinthetimeofcovid #thesebootsweremadeforwalkin Looking back (July 9, 2021): And this was the answer to Joy's question. We walked along the river. It felt very risky to go walk along the river; in some places the sidewalks were narrow...it required leaving the "safe" zone that we had established for ourselves. But it was such a blessing to see something other than buildings. And to see the wide sky. And to see the birds and smell the watery air. These were days of great gratitude for the years of work that…
Read More

I had a plan this weekend…

I had a plan this weekend.  My experience is that these are dangerous words, and this weekend's result was no different. I thought that the plan was simple.  For weeks, I have been culling my closet for items that could have  a better, more useful home.  This was not a general pull and pitch -- I was gathering clothing to go to the group Suited for Change, an organization of women who lift up other women by providing them with office-suitable clothing at the moment they most need it, the moment when they take that step from recovery of any kind into the world of work.  I knew that I…
Read More

Grief and joy too personal for words…

If you have a minute, I would like to tell you a story.  It is my story to tell, and, I thought that I had told it.  But we cannot tell what we ourselves do not understand, even though we are in the midst of living it, no matter how many words we use. Let me begin with the punchline.  Healing, my friends, is not over when our bodies have knit themselves together after an accident or a treatment of some kind.  Healing may be the most powerful word-metaphor for the whole human condition, because, after all, isn't that really what most of us seek with each and every breath?…
Read More

Going plural…

I had never heard the phrase, until about a month ago.  And why would I?  Apparently it is a phrase that comes out of the Peter Drucker school of management theory -- not exactly my specialty.  There is even a consultancy manual to guide the executive towards diversification.  The friend who used the phrase in relationship to my life and the many and varied ways I am drawn in my life, said that they first heard it while travelling in Africa and believed it to be a cultural term, not a business one.  In my dreams, my research led me to anthropological tracts about the glorious of a natural, unsegmented…
Read More

Thistles, tea and transformation….healing as a practice

Some days, you just need a reminder that there are people in this world who follow God's breadcrumbs against all the odds and do the work needed to transform their little corner into a living expression of the Kingdom of Heaven in this world.  Last night I had the chance to listen to just such a person, the Rev. Becca Stevens, founder of Magdalene House, a residential program that "stands in solidarity with"  women who have survived lives of prostitution, trafficking, and drug addiction as they come in from the streets and changes their lives.   And next, out of a need to support these women and this work, and to…
Read More

Lost angel recovered…

Off and on, all day long, I have sat with my silver cloth, cleaning years of tarnish from this little medallion. The nooks and crannies continue to defeat my efforts, a bit at least, but I think that I have finally achieved a level of clean that makes it wearable again. And tomorrow, I'll add it to a chain again and place it around my neck. That might seem a lot of intention for a tiny medal of angel, particularly for a person who does not consider herself to be an "angel" person. You know what I'm talking about. But I want to wear this medal tomorrow. I want to…
Read More

Everybody needs a little away time…

For the past few days, I have been out of town, taking a little time to work on a project that is close to my heart and soul. This trip is, for me, the first time that I have been away from home without my trusted pod companions since before the pandemic began. In fact, I can't remember the last time that I was away and on my own. I've been getting a lot done, and you will eventually hear more about that, when it is time. Today, though, I took some hours away from my efforts to enjoy the nature around me. That's right, even when you are doing…
Read More

Not really 9, just 8…

I planned this celebration of a day that I call my new birthday for months. And I was totally convinced that it was the 9 year anniversary of my aortic valve replacement surgery. I was completely convinced. In fact, I wrote these words along with the pictures I shared from our time in the mountains: Celebration day 3 comes to an end with a little walk in the woods. A seriously more enjoyable day than 9 years ago, but a day only made possible by that day 9 years ago. Grateful for a day full of sunshine and activity. Grateful for the science and the faith that made today possible.…
Read More

Hate has no home here…

And a happy Monday to all. I took a long walk in the morning beauty this morning but unlike many mornings I had an itinerary in mind. I wanted to see firsthand the response of the people of St. Marks Capitol Hill to an act of hatred in this peaceful courtyard (a noose was hung from one of the trees recently, apparently a far too often act in DC). The signs are a witness to love in the face of hate. I know, for many, this is a small action, but if you walk the perimeter ( as I did in the video) and this act of saying no to…
Read More

People, look East…the search for hope and wonder

People look East -- the first words of a familiar hymn often sung during Advent.  I'm having trouble leaving the words of this hymn confined within their traditional time frame.  The meaning of time has certainly changed for many of us these past months, and if 2020 changes anything, those changes call me to embrace the hope and preparation of Advent as a lifestyle, not a season. People look East, the time is near. Yesterday, as I rose at an hour all too early and all too cold for the end of December, again, I made my morning calculation -- which way will I walk?  Will I head to the…
Read More

March 21, 2020: The Question’s Answer

And good morning to you (a little late, I know, but there were waffles to make). Greetings from the Anacostia River Trail. #loveinthetimeofcovid #thesebootsweremadeforwalkin Looking back (July 9, 2021): And this was the answer to Joy's question. We walked along the river. It felt very risky to go walk along the river; in some places the sidewalks were narrow...it required leaving the "safe" zone that we had established for ourselves. But it was such a blessing to see something other than buildings. And to see the wide sky. And to see the birds and smell the watery air. These were days of great gratitude for the years of work that…
Read More

I had a plan this weekend…

I had a plan this weekend.  My experience is that these are dangerous words, and this weekend's result was no different. I thought that the plan was simple.  For weeks, I have been culling my closet for items that could have  a better, more useful home.  This was not a general pull and pitch -- I was gathering clothing to go to the group Suited for Change, an organization of women who lift up other women by providing them with office-suitable clothing at the moment they most need it, the moment when they take that step from recovery of any kind into the world of work.  I knew that I…
Read More

Grief and joy too personal for words…

If you have a minute, I would like to tell you a story.  It is my story to tell, and, I thought that I had told it.  But we cannot tell what we ourselves do not understand, even though we are in the midst of living it, no matter how many words we use. Let me begin with the punchline.  Healing, my friends, is not over when our bodies have knit themselves together after an accident or a treatment of some kind.  Healing may be the most powerful word-metaphor for the whole human condition, because, after all, isn't that really what most of us seek with each and every breath?…
Read More

Going plural…

I had never heard the phrase, until about a month ago.  And why would I?  Apparently it is a phrase that comes out of the Peter Drucker school of management theory -- not exactly my specialty.  There is even a consultancy manual to guide the executive towards diversification.  The friend who used the phrase in relationship to my life and the many and varied ways I am drawn in my life, said that they first heard it while travelling in Africa and believed it to be a cultural term, not a business one.  In my dreams, my research led me to anthropological tracts about the glorious of a natural, unsegmented…
Read More

Thistles, tea and transformation….healing as a practice

Some days, you just need a reminder that there are people in this world who follow God's breadcrumbs against all the odds and do the work needed to transform their little corner into a living expression of the Kingdom of Heaven in this world.  Last night I had the chance to listen to just such a person, the Rev. Becca Stevens, founder of Magdalene House, a residential program that "stands in solidarity with"  women who have survived lives of prostitution, trafficking, and drug addiction as they come in from the streets and changes their lives.   And next, out of a need to support these women and this work, and to…
Read More

Lost angel recovered…

Off and on, all day long, I have sat with my silver cloth, cleaning years of tarnish from this little medallion. The nooks and crannies continue to defeat my efforts, a bit at least, but I think that I have finally achieved a level of clean that makes it wearable again. And tomorrow, I'll add it to a chain again and place it around my neck. That might seem a lot of intention for a tiny medal of angel, particularly for a person who does not consider herself to be an "angel" person. You know what I'm talking about. But I want to wear this medal tomorrow. I want to…
Read More

Everybody needs a little away time…

For the past few days, I have been out of town, taking a little time to work on a project that is close to my heart and soul. This trip is, for me, the first time that I have been away from home without my trusted pod companions since before the pandemic began. In fact, I can't remember the last time that I was away and on my own. I've been getting a lot done, and you will eventually hear more about that, when it is time. Today, though, I took some hours away from my efforts to enjoy the nature around me. That's right, even when you are doing…
Read More

Not really 9, just 8…

I planned this celebration of a day that I call my new birthday for months. And I was totally convinced that it was the 9 year anniversary of my aortic valve replacement surgery. I was completely convinced. In fact, I wrote these words along with the pictures I shared from our time in the mountains: Celebration day 3 comes to an end with a little walk in the woods. A seriously more enjoyable day than 9 years ago, but a day only made possible by that day 9 years ago. Grateful for a day full of sunshine and activity. Grateful for the science and the faith that made today possible.…
Read More

Hate has no home here…

And a happy Monday to all. I took a long walk in the morning beauty this morning but unlike many mornings I had an itinerary in mind. I wanted to see firsthand the response of the people of St. Marks Capitol Hill to an act of hatred in this peaceful courtyard (a noose was hung from one of the trees recently, apparently a far too often act in DC). The signs are a witness to love in the face of hate. I know, for many, this is a small action, but if you walk the perimeter ( as I did in the video) and this act of saying no to…
Read More

People, look East…the search for hope and wonder

People look East -- the first words of a familiar hymn often sung during Advent.  I'm having trouble leaving the words of this hymn confined within their traditional time frame.  The meaning of time has certainly changed for many of us these past months, and if 2020 changes anything, those changes call me to embrace the hope and preparation of Advent as a lifestyle, not a season. People look East, the time is near. Yesterday, as I rose at an hour all too early and all too cold for the end of December, again, I made my morning calculation -- which way will I walk?  Will I head to the…
Read More

March 21, 2020: The Question’s Answer

And good morning to you (a little late, I know, but there were waffles to make). Greetings from the Anacostia River Trail. #loveinthetimeofcovid #thesebootsweremadeforwalkin Looking back (July 9, 2021): And this was the answer to Joy's question. We walked along the river. It felt very risky to go walk along the river; in some places the sidewalks were narrow...it required leaving the "safe" zone that we had established for ourselves. But it was such a blessing to see something other than buildings. And to see the wide sky. And to see the birds and smell the watery air. These were days of great gratitude for the years of work that…
Read More

I had a plan this weekend…

I had a plan this weekend.  My experience is that these are dangerous words, and this weekend's result was no different. I thought that the plan was simple.  For weeks, I have been culling my closet for items that could have  a better, more useful home.  This was not a general pull and pitch -- I was gathering clothing to go to the group Suited for Change, an organization of women who lift up other women by providing them with office-suitable clothing at the moment they most need it, the moment when they take that step from recovery of any kind into the world of work.  I knew that I…
Read More

Grief and joy too personal for words…

If you have a minute, I would like to tell you a story.  It is my story to tell, and, I thought that I had told it.  But we cannot tell what we ourselves do not understand, even though we are in the midst of living it, no matter how many words we use. Let me begin with the punchline.  Healing, my friends, is not over when our bodies have knit themselves together after an accident or a treatment of some kind.  Healing may be the most powerful word-metaphor for the whole human condition, because, after all, isn't that really what most of us seek with each and every breath?…
Read More

Going plural…

I had never heard the phrase, until about a month ago.  And why would I?  Apparently it is a phrase that comes out of the Peter Drucker school of management theory -- not exactly my specialty.  There is even a consultancy manual to guide the executive towards diversification.  The friend who used the phrase in relationship to my life and the many and varied ways I am drawn in my life, said that they first heard it while travelling in Africa and believed it to be a cultural term, not a business one.  In my dreams, my research led me to anthropological tracts about the glorious of a natural, unsegmented…
Read More

Thistles, tea and transformation….healing as a practice

Some days, you just need a reminder that there are people in this world who follow God's breadcrumbs against all the odds and do the work needed to transform their little corner into a living expression of the Kingdom of Heaven in this world.  Last night I had the chance to listen to just such a person, the Rev. Becca Stevens, founder of Magdalene House, a residential program that "stands in solidarity with"  women who have survived lives of prostitution, trafficking, and drug addiction as they come in from the streets and changes their lives.   And next, out of a need to support these women and this work, and to…
Read More

Lost angel recovered…

Off and on, all day long, I have sat with my silver cloth, cleaning years of tarnish from this little medallion. The nooks and crannies continue to defeat my efforts, a bit at least, but I think that I have finally achieved a level of clean that makes it wearable again. And tomorrow, I'll add it to a chain again and place it around my neck. That might seem a lot of intention for a tiny medal of angel, particularly for a person who does not consider herself to be an "angel" person. You know what I'm talking about. But I want to wear this medal tomorrow. I want to…
Read More

Everybody needs a little away time…

For the past few days, I have been out of town, taking a little time to work on a project that is close to my heart and soul. This trip is, for me, the first time that I have been away from home without my trusted pod companions since before the pandemic began. In fact, I can't remember the last time that I was away and on my own. I've been getting a lot done, and you will eventually hear more about that, when it is time. Today, though, I took some hours away from my efforts to enjoy the nature around me. That's right, even when you are doing…
Read More

Not really 9, just 8…

I planned this celebration of a day that I call my new birthday for months. And I was totally convinced that it was the 9 year anniversary of my aortic valve replacement surgery. I was completely convinced. In fact, I wrote these words along with the pictures I shared from our time in the mountains: Celebration day 3 comes to an end with a little walk in the woods. A seriously more enjoyable day than 9 years ago, but a day only made possible by that day 9 years ago. Grateful for a day full of sunshine and activity. Grateful for the science and the faith that made today possible.…
Read More

Hate has no home here…

And a happy Monday to all. I took a long walk in the morning beauty this morning but unlike many mornings I had an itinerary in mind. I wanted to see firsthand the response of the people of St. Marks Capitol Hill to an act of hatred in this peaceful courtyard (a noose was hung from one of the trees recently, apparently a far too often act in DC). The signs are a witness to love in the face of hate. I know, for many, this is a small action, but if you walk the perimeter ( as I did in the video) and this act of saying no to…
Read More

People, look East…the search for hope and wonder

People look East -- the first words of a familiar hymn often sung during Advent.  I'm having trouble leaving the words of this hymn confined within their traditional time frame.  The meaning of time has certainly changed for many of us these past months, and if 2020 changes anything, those changes call me to embrace the hope and preparation of Advent as a lifestyle, not a season. People look East, the time is near. Yesterday, as I rose at an hour all too early and all too cold for the end of December, again, I made my morning calculation -- which way will I walk?  Will I head to the…
Read More

March 21, 2020: The Question’s Answer

And good morning to you (a little late, I know, but there were waffles to make). Greetings from the Anacostia River Trail. #loveinthetimeofcovid #thesebootsweremadeforwalkin Looking back (July 9, 2021): And this was the answer to Joy's question. We walked along the river. It felt very risky to go walk along the river; in some places the sidewalks were narrow...it required leaving the "safe" zone that we had established for ourselves. But it was such a blessing to see something other than buildings. And to see the wide sky. And to see the birds and smell the watery air. These were days of great gratitude for the years of work that…
Read More

I had a plan this weekend…

I had a plan this weekend.  My experience is that these are dangerous words, and this weekend's result was no different. I thought that the plan was simple.  For weeks, I have been culling my closet for items that could have  a better, more useful home.  This was not a general pull and pitch -- I was gathering clothing to go to the group Suited for Change, an organization of women who lift up other women by providing them with office-suitable clothing at the moment they most need it, the moment when they take that step from recovery of any kind into the world of work.  I knew that I…
Read More

Grief and joy too personal for words…

If you have a minute, I would like to tell you a story.  It is my story to tell, and, I thought that I had told it.  But we cannot tell what we ourselves do not understand, even though we are in the midst of living it, no matter how many words we use. Let me begin with the punchline.  Healing, my friends, is not over when our bodies have knit themselves together after an accident or a treatment of some kind.  Healing may be the most powerful word-metaphor for the whole human condition, because, after all, isn't that really what most of us seek with each and every breath?…
Read More

Going plural…

I had never heard the phrase, until about a month ago.  And why would I?  Apparently it is a phrase that comes out of the Peter Drucker school of management theory -- not exactly my specialty.  There is even a consultancy manual to guide the executive towards diversification.  The friend who used the phrase in relationship to my life and the many and varied ways I am drawn in my life, said that they first heard it while travelling in Africa and believed it to be a cultural term, not a business one.  In my dreams, my research led me to anthropological tracts about the glorious of a natural, unsegmented…
Read More

Thistles, tea and transformation….healing as a practice

Some days, you just need a reminder that there are people in this world who follow God's breadcrumbs against all the odds and do the work needed to transform their little corner into a living expression of the Kingdom of Heaven in this world.  Last night I had the chance to listen to just such a person, the Rev. Becca Stevens, founder of Magdalene House, a residential program that "stands in solidarity with"  women who have survived lives of prostitution, trafficking, and drug addiction as they come in from the streets and changes their lives.   And next, out of a need to support these women and this work, and to…
Read More

Lost angel recovered…

Off and on, all day long, I have sat with my silver cloth, cleaning years of tarnish from this little medallion. The nooks and crannies continue to defeat my efforts, a bit at least, but I think that I have finally achieved a level of clean that makes it wearable again. And tomorrow, I'll add it to a chain again and place it around my neck. That might seem a lot of intention for a tiny medal of angel, particularly for a person who does not consider herself to be an "angel" person. You know what I'm talking about. But I want to wear this medal tomorrow. I want to…
Read More

Everybody needs a little away time…

For the past few days, I have been out of town, taking a little time to work on a project that is close to my heart and soul. This trip is, for me, the first time that I have been away from home without my trusted pod companions since before the pandemic began. In fact, I can't remember the last time that I was away and on my own. I've been getting a lot done, and you will eventually hear more about that, when it is time. Today, though, I took some hours away from my efforts to enjoy the nature around me. That's right, even when you are doing…
Read More

Not really 9, just 8…

I planned this celebration of a day that I call my new birthday for months. And I was totally convinced that it was the 9 year anniversary of my aortic valve replacement surgery. I was completely convinced. In fact, I wrote these words along with the pictures I shared from our time in the mountains: Celebration day 3 comes to an end with a little walk in the woods. A seriously more enjoyable day than 9 years ago, but a day only made possible by that day 9 years ago. Grateful for a day full of sunshine and activity. Grateful for the science and the faith that made today possible.…
Read More

Hate has no home here…

And a happy Monday to all. I took a long walk in the morning beauty this morning but unlike many mornings I had an itinerary in mind. I wanted to see firsthand the response of the people of St. Marks Capitol Hill to an act of hatred in this peaceful courtyard (a noose was hung from one of the trees recently, apparently a far too often act in DC). The signs are a witness to love in the face of hate. I know, for many, this is a small action, but if you walk the perimeter ( as I did in the video) and this act of saying no to…
Read More

People, look East…the search for hope and wonder

People look East -- the first words of a familiar hymn often sung during Advent.  I'm having trouble leaving the words of this hymn confined within their traditional time frame.  The meaning of time has certainly changed for many of us these past months, and if 2020 changes anything, those changes call me to embrace the hope and preparation of Advent as a lifestyle, not a season. People look East, the time is near. Yesterday, as I rose at an hour all too early and all too cold for the end of December, again, I made my morning calculation -- which way will I walk?  Will I head to the…
Read More

March 21, 2020: The Question’s Answer

And good morning to you (a little late, I know, but there were waffles to make). Greetings from the Anacostia River Trail. #loveinthetimeofcovid #thesebootsweremadeforwalkin Looking back (July 9, 2021): And this was the answer to Joy's question. We walked along the river. It felt very risky to go walk along the river; in some places the sidewalks were narrow...it required leaving the "safe" zone that we had established for ourselves. But it was such a blessing to see something other than buildings. And to see the wide sky. And to see the birds and smell the watery air. These were days of great gratitude for the years of work that…
Read More

I had a plan this weekend…

I had a plan this weekend.  My experience is that these are dangerous words, and this weekend's result was no different. I thought that the plan was simple.  For weeks, I have been culling my closet for items that could have  a better, more useful home.  This was not a general pull and pitch -- I was gathering clothing to go to the group Suited for Change, an organization of women who lift up other women by providing them with office-suitable clothing at the moment they most need it, the moment when they take that step from recovery of any kind into the world of work.  I knew that I…
Read More

Grief and joy too personal for words…

If you have a minute, I would like to tell you a story.  It is my story to tell, and, I thought that I had told it.  But we cannot tell what we ourselves do not understand, even though we are in the midst of living it, no matter how many words we use. Let me begin with the punchline.  Healing, my friends, is not over when our bodies have knit themselves together after an accident or a treatment of some kind.  Healing may be the most powerful word-metaphor for the whole human condition, because, after all, isn't that really what most of us seek with each and every breath?…
Read More

Going plural…

I had never heard the phrase, until about a month ago.  And why would I?  Apparently it is a phrase that comes out of the Peter Drucker school of management theory -- not exactly my specialty.  There is even a consultancy manual to guide the executive towards diversification.  The friend who used the phrase in relationship to my life and the many and varied ways I am drawn in my life, said that they first heard it while travelling in Africa and believed it to be a cultural term, not a business one.  In my dreams, my research led me to anthropological tracts about the glorious of a natural, unsegmented…
Read More

Thistles, tea and transformation….healing as a practice

Some days, you just need a reminder that there are people in this world who follow God's breadcrumbs against all the odds and do the work needed to transform their little corner into a living expression of the Kingdom of Heaven in this world.  Last night I had the chance to listen to just such a person, the Rev. Becca Stevens, founder of Magdalene House, a residential program that "stands in solidarity with"  women who have survived lives of prostitution, trafficking, and drug addiction as they come in from the streets and changes their lives.   And next, out of a need to support these women and this work, and to…
Read More