Stand up. Stay Woke.
This past week we remembered Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Four years ago I stood in the kitchen of the Dexter Avenue Baptist Church Parsonage, the home to Dr. King and his family from 1954 to 1960. By the time the…
Tonic for the soul
Mary had grown up knowing that she was different from the other kids, and she hated it. Born with a cleft palate, Mary would hear the jokes and tolerate the stares of other children (some cruel, others, simply curious) who…
Gratitude opens the heart
In 1819, a blind soldier named James Holman, was invalided out of the British Navy. His reaction? He promptly set out to "see" the world. He traveled alone, except for one brief stint with a deaf man. James spoke none of the languages he encountered, and moved about by public transit. When he…
Live with a large soul
A friend shared her recent conversation with a four-year old. “Happy New Year Julian.” “We get a new one?” “Yep, we get a new one.” I’m guessing that most of us are ready. I know I am. I saw a…
Hope in No Man’s Land
'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house. Not a creature was stirring, because I’ve been sick. A little too gloomy? Fair enough. Perhaps needing a healthy dose of anticipatory enchantment? Got it. This I do know; when you are…
No restrictor plate in our soul
Going through his five-year-old son's backpack, a father found a picture of a little boy standing under a rainbow crying. His first thought was, "Oh God, my son is having some serious problems." When he asked his son about the picture, the little boy told his father that he had been playing…
Small graces are enough
Toad said, “My list tells me that we will go for a walk.” “All right,” said Frog. “I am ready.” Frog and Toad went on a long walk. Then Toad took the list from his pocket again. He crossed out: Take a…
Your 84th problem
A farmer once came to see the Buddha, to seek advice, to get help with his problems. The farmer had many problems and he told the Buddha, in great detail, all about how they made his life very difficult. The weather…
Everything is holy now
So, what are your plans for the Holidays? It seems to be the standard question to begin conversation. I didn’t know plans were required. But I give it a go. I’ll enjoy Pumpkin pie for breakfast for as long as…
Indefinitely preparing to live
Here in the PNW, winter is announced with storms. No, nothing compared to Maria. Or Jose, Irma or Harvey. But there is enough to rearrange your plans, now spending some days clearing downed trees from the driveway, and cutting up…