Blog
Poverty, Chastity, and Obedience
“The vow of poverty is the practice of inner emptiness… so that the soul is capable of receiving from above the revelation of the word, the life, and the light.” Valentin Tomberg This weekend I took vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience. I was...
Just tell me I’m not alone
“God split Godself into all these little beings so we could experience God as self and self as God.” - Bridget Querns I woke suddenly from my lucid dream, heart pounding and cold sweat forming on my chest. It was happening again. Though it hadn’t...
A Pruning
Sometime in the past year, the plant had spilled out of its container, tossing its new leaves every which way. Some were pressed up against my bedroom window like eager children’s faces gawking at some scene outside the school bus. Dozens of...
Holy Ground
“...you stand already upon holy ground and dwell in the consciousness and presence of the Creator.” L/Leema For most of my life I’ve believed that goal setting is crucial to success. As a teacher, I mastered the art of crafting SMART goals -...
I’m sick
“I’m sick,” my seven-year-old bluntly stated. “I’m not going to school tomorrow.” He was positive. “That’s nice,” I quipped, fully aware he was completely healthy. However, this exchange unlocked a powerful recognition for me. Children afford us...
95% UNintentional
I want to tell you about a deceptively simple yet powerful tool I use for co-creating with the Universe. It is as straightforward as intuitively choosing a single-word intention on which to focus. I use it as a ritual at the beginning of every new...
All is (not so) calm
CW: mental health, depression In my full-time line of work, I spend the weekdays with elementary kiddos. This usually means I’m marinating in a petri dish of germs. So, when I finally went down with the flu this past week, it really didn’t come as...
As above…
When I was young, one of my favorite toys was a matryoshka (Russian nesting doll). I was fascinated by this ornately painted set of wooden figurines. One of the details I found so captivating was the way in which every detail of the largest doll...
Nothing left to give
I woke up at 5:45 a.m. with a headache that felt like someone was taking a wood splitter to the top of my head. In a fog of sleep and pain, I shuffled to the medicine cabinet for some pain reliever. I was too sleepy to process the fact that this...
Cut off
If you’ve been listening to my podcasts long enough, you know I’m a word nerd. There are a few words to which I refer regularly when discussing etymology. “Re-member” is probably my favorite for its connotation of putting oneself back together (and...
No[thing exists in] isolation
Today I’m contemplating liminal space – boundaries, fields, and separation. I was listening to a podcast recently on which the host mentioned the illusion of touch. We never actually come into contact with anything, except in a scenario I’ll...
A Man With a Plan(k)
I’ve been extra observant lately. I find that when I pause more often to look up, be still, and make eye contact with others, miraculous things unfold. Sometimes I feel the nudge to look a certain way as I’m driving, which is what happened this...
No birthday presents
I’d like to take you back to your last memorable birthday, if you celebrate birthdays. If not, let’s travel to any occasion marked by the exchange of gifts. What are you feeling as you look at all the beautifully wrapped presents? Is it eager...
Bobby
My children manifested this beautiful little being. I am convinced that it was through their great faith and persistence that he came into our lives. We got a new puppy not too long ago. His name is Bobby. We picked him up when he was just eight...
Living Stories
I grew up at a time when we lived moments at a slower pace. The sweetness was in living the story, not getting to the end. I specifically relish the memory of the monumental undertaking that was my senior thesis on music therapy. I savored the...
The French are onto something…
I’m the kind of person who, when visiting a restaurant where I’ve eaten many times, will frequently order a meal I’ve had and loved. I don’t often take much time to scour the menu. On a recent trip to a local brewpub, I did something unusual. I...
The Fishing Field
I was driving through the rolling hills of central New York state on my way to pick up a very special superhero mask for my children. Before you ask, yes, we love Halloween; possibly more than any other holiday. If they could, my children would...
Authentic by Nature
I love nature. I feel completely at peace in a tree. I feel wholly seen and loved when an animal chooses to draw near to me. I feel so much gratitude when I see the vibrant foliage and blossoms of a plant. Nature is simple. Nature is always...