Singing Along the Journey
Thoughts about faith and wholeness set to the soundtrack of life

Laugh of the day…

I didn't know that I needed a laugh on my walk this morning, but something knew I was out of sorts and provided one. Always remember to look up when you see that movement on the periphery of your vision, both physical vision and that other kind...
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

Were you there?

I've had the computer screen open for 30 minutes now.  Nothing.  And yet my head and heart are so full of the things...all the things, in modern phraseology.  Finally, I decided to take my own advice, the advice that I give to my writing students -- just write.  You can always change it later; after all, this is a digital world. I want to tell you all about something and I am struggling.  I suppose that is the nature of the topic.  No, it is not some earth-shattering, life-altering personal news...or is it?  Hmm...but my topic for today, the one that I cannot put down, is this: witness.  Being a…
Read More

Actually, this is my home…

Sunday morning as I walked the now well-worn path around the neighborhood, chasing the sun rise and spending a little time with the abundance of birds that fill the holly bushes that seem to be everywhere, I stopped because I heard the loud clang of a bell.  While it was Sunday, but it was early and I was nowhere near St. Peter's Catholic Church, one of the few churches in the neighborhood that still rings a bell at 7 a.m. to call the faithful to worship.  I had already heard the sounds of Reveille from the Marine Parade ground on the other side of the expressway. I was puzzled --…
Read More

With the click of a mouse…

As I was putting the finishing touches on some hopeful, forward pointing thoughts for 2021, planned for release on the Feast of the Epiphany, the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol began.  That event, the culmination of forces at play in our world for much longer than an election cycle, happened just six blocks from my home.  Needless to say, the events of January 6 and the continued tension in which we are living change some of what I had written, but not all.  And so, now for some amended thoughts about the turning of the calendar, because, in so many ways, January 1, 2021, was hardly the first day of…
Read More

Epiphany, you too?

Yes, that is right.  Epiphany, like Christmas, is a season in the life of the spirit, not just a day in the church year.  You might ask, what is it about you and this season vs. day idea?  Well, thank you for asking. Celebrating or marking something as a season, instead of a single day on the calendar, gives us that most precious commodity -- time.  If Christmas is just a day, then it becomes easy to let it be about carols and presents and one really fantastic service to mark the event.  But if it it is a season, I have a chance to think, to pray, to savor…
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

Le Noël des Oiseaux: Recording by Susan Sevier & Cheryl Branham

Usually, right at this moment, I am at one of many locations in my neighborhood, outside.  Walking.  Rain or shine, cold or heat, I have been walking.  Looking at the sunrise, watching the clouds, observing the few other socially-distancing dog walkers or runners or the occasional package pirate on a scooter streaming away with their prize. There is supposed to be snow falling outside my window right now, but I live in the great DC Snow Hole, so what we have instead is freezing wind with the promise of freezing rain as the invisible sun moves on its invisible journey around the planet. But, in the expectation of snow, I…
Read More

Let us break bread together…

I had a plan.  Since the beginning of Pandemic Times, I have not managed to sit down and write at all.  On a good day, maybe I have strung together a few thoughts on Instagram to go with the photography practice that has helped me maintain a slight hold on the thread of life, but words?  This many?  No.  This has not been possible. A few weeks ago, though, having survived my first video choral project, feeling like there might be some music left in this tossed and tumbled old soul, I thought to myself, I'll begin a series of essays.  I'll write about different pieces of music that I've…
Read More