In.Sight

October 30, 2021November 7, 2021Uncategorized

Community in Real-Time

Henry David Thoreau went to the woods because he “wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life…” It is interesting that he thought he could only do this in nature, not in a city or populated place. Was it because there would be fewer distractions, or because confronting the essence of life was easiest when immersed in the life cycle of nature, or because he was pared down to only what is necessary to survive? Regardless, he is the epitome of the American bucolic desire for meaning and connection and the tendency to believe nature will provide it

October 1, 2021October 31, 2021Uncategorized

Stand By Me – sharing a listening, caring ear

Stand By Me

Sometimes, when I’m having a dark day and I can’t see the light…I don’t really need you to try and put it on for me…What I really need is for you to sit with me in the darkness ’till it passes. That’s all. ~ Anonymous

August 31, 2021August 31, 2021Uncategorized

The Dignity of Work

The Dignity of Work We are what we do Nearly every child has been asked “What do you want to be when you grow up?” It’s a standard query posed by adults without much thought. At closer look, the question presupposes adulthood as the summa of being, and that being is tied to occupation. […]

April 30, 2021April 30, 2021Uncategorized

Heritage: What roots us?

Heritage: What roots us? Culture is a nebulous word. Culture is a word we all toss around, but it has a depth of meaning that we seldom mine. Often it is used to designate the arts or an esoteric idea of elegance or sophistication. But culture has grit too, if we think of it in […]

April 1, 2021April 4, 2021Uncategorized

Miracles?

Miracles DO happen. There’s no such thing as a miracle! We are in the Easter season, centered on the greatest miracle of all – the Resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. It is THE article of faith. Faith seems to be a prerequisite for miracles – or is it? “Miracles DO happen!” “There’s no […]

January 31, 2021February 4, 2021Uncategorized

The Pursuit of Happiness

The Pursuit of Happiness America offers a siren song of opportunity. People don’t laud the Irish Dream or the Chilean Dream or the Norwegian Dream. But the American Dream and its mythos are known around the globe. What is it about this particular country that fosters dreams and inspires […]

November 29, 2020November 30, 2020Uncategorized

Self-Compassion: “Love your darkness and you shall know your light.”

Self Compassion: “Love your darkness and you shall know your light.” “It is not depression or anxiety that truly hurts us. It is our active resistance against these states of mind and body. If you wake up with low energy, hopeless thoughts, and a lack of motivation – that is a signal from […]

September 30, 2020September 30, 2020Uncategorized

In The Light of What They Suffered

In The Light of What They Suffered We struggle when confronted with suffering. Suffering is almost impossible to face head-on. When we see others experience it, we wince in sympathy but look away in dread. The imagined or remembered pain warns us to dodge it; while we feel for the person hurting, we don’t want […]

January 28, 2020February 8, 2020Uncategorized

When The Past Beckons

When the Past Beckons The Past is as Close as a Fleeting Thought What is it that sends us there? A word, a song, a scent, a feeling? It is instantaneous transportation to another level of consciousness – sometimes involuntary and sometimes willful pursuit. What that visit will be like depends on what we are […]

December 1, 2019December 5, 2019Uncategorized

It’s better to light a candle than to curse the darkness

Doing something to improve our circumstances is better than being angry and complaining. From our story “The Liar” by Tobias Wolff we learn that Mother was a “lighter of candles” and so were her two daughters and son Michael. Father loved to “curse the dark” and had great influence on his younger son James. This […]