Against the grey of a cloudy day,Where shadows dance and drift away,Beside the twisted limbs of the huckleberry tree,Rough in bark, wild and free. There, in stark and vibrant red,A cardinal perched, its majesty spread.Its feathers a flame against the somber hue,A burst of life in the morning dew. I sat enamored, silent, in awe,In … Continue reading A Moment in Crimson
How often do you walk or run? I enjoy walking. On my best days, I walk twice: I walk in the afternoon for exercise and then in the evening for pleasure with my wife. Both walks enrich my life. In recent days, the evening walk has been regular; the afternoon walk has been more sporadic. … Continue reading The Joy of Walking
How do you relax? Sabbath. Every Friday is a day set aside for personal rest. The key to keeping it relaxing is to keep myself from forming some list of items that must be accomplished on that day. Relax and release are closely related words for me. Most of the days of my week seem … Continue reading A Day Without Agenda
I find it meaningful to begin my day in gratitude. So I have a gratitude practice. Gratitude Practice (summarized) Open my journal. Close my eyes and “breathe myself here.” Open my eyes and say, “I am thankful for…” Write name by name what arises from that statement. When I reach a “stopping point,” repeat out … Continue reading Joy of Being Thankful
What TV shows did you watch as a kid? There were three notable shows that immediately come to mind from my childhood. The first was Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom, a show about nature and the realities of animals. I remember looking forward to the show weekly even when it was a repeat. Marlin Perkins … Continue reading Life As It Is and Could Be
I spent the last several days spinning in frustration. After all, I have had a meditation practice for more than 10 years and little things are not supposed to trip me up. Hadn't I arrived at some deeper place? That is what happens when I start to imagine I have arrived and move from a … Continue reading A Good Failure at “Little Things”
