I am because we are
A young woman with a very serious case of hives went to a specialist for relief. She had suffered for some time, living in continual pain because the hives covered much of her body. She needed healing, and hoped that the…
Carry one another home
On my walk this morning, I stop at the fence. My congregation, the sheep, are reclining contentedly in the grass. “Well,” their look asked me. “Do you have a story this week or not?”“It’s an old story,” I tell them.…
We belong to one another
On my walk this morning, I stop, and stand at the fence. My congregation, the sheep, don’t mind silence, which is nice and different from many churches I have visited. After a while, I tell them, “I need your help.…
Small gestures of grace
Andre Dubus wrote stories about regular people, like bartenders, mechanics, waitresses and the like. In 1986, after publishing several books of short stories, Dubus stopped to help a woman and a man stranded on the side of the highway, and…
Spilling good
“Granma said when you come on something good, first thing to do is share it with whoever you can find; that way, the good spreads out where no telling it will go. Which is right.” (The Education of Little Tree)On…
Restores my soul
Remember It’s a Wonderful Life? The Senior Angel says, “A man down on Earth needs our help.”And George Bailey’s (Jimmy Stewart) guardian angel Clarence says, “Splendid. Is he sick?”“No, worse,” the Senior Angel says. “He’s discouraged.” Our world is on tilt. I…
To heal the world we touch
“Oh the land of the cloudless day,” Willie sings. The music is cranked up, of course, to the level that makes your heart swell.And I smile big, thinking how I prefer my life and my stories that way; with cloudless…
Invitation to make space
This week I received email from readers about their illness from covid. And email about the death of loved ones, from covid. Email from people unsettled, tired and scared, looking for words. “Are we going to be okay? How do…
An awakened heart
Just for the record, “normal” has never been on my list of goals. Let alone an aspiration. Although, looking back, it would be easy to guess otherwise. I contorted myself to look the part. After all, what would they think?…
Take care of the now
It is Easter. The sun is shining. And I had a good day.I walked and read and wrote and gardened. Had a long talk with a friend (phone), answered email from SM readers, fed the birds, talked with Fred and…
