A reverence for life

Even the simplest things —

the white fish swimming in her tank —

awaken in us a reverence for life;

for its astonishing resilience, complexity, and beauty...

Humble gifts

It’s not about the value

of the gifts we bring the world,

But rather the humility

with which we offer them.

Seek the light

In these dark days of winter,

our job is simply to seek and reflect the light.

Simple traditions

For 26 years now, the star our daughter made in preschool

has topped our Christmas tree.

Like Christmas, and the holidays, it always makes me smile:

simple traditions are the best!

Bracing for the storm

Facing into the new year,

not knowing what’s to come,

we drop anchor and brace ourselves

as best we can for the inevitable storms.

What matters more than achieving your dreams

It’s important to have dreams, but I’m

no longer convinced that it’s a failure

if we don’t reach our objectives.

It’s what we see and learn as we press

forward to achieve them that truly matters.

Merry Christmas!

As Christmas Day dawns, clear and bright,

we find, rising within us like the sun,

a fervent wish for peace, and hope, and health

for all with whom we share this precious life.

The best present

A spirit of welcome and acceptance

Is truly the best present you can give.

(Sculpture by Anita Feng)

Calm at the center

As the craziness of the holidays reaches its peak,

may you continue to find the bright calm

at the center of the storm...

What lies beneath

Don’t be fooled by surface impressions—

There might be something surprisingly different

Lurking just beneath...

Seeking the holy

Having seen the great light,

We follow the star

In hopes of discovering yet again

The holy that lies resting in the ordinary.

Staying engaged

Just because it’s cold outside

Doesn’t mean you stop outdoor activity.

What will you do today

To stay engaged with Mother Nature?

What flows through you

There’s a gift that flows through each of us.

Be still, and listen:

What is it that you’re meant to bring

into the world today?

Obstacles as opportunities

Do not be daunted by the obstacles

Thrown into your path.

Think of them as opportunities

To test your mettle and learn new skills.

May the sky keep us humble

Look up, and let the vast, evolving,

Magnificent immensity of sky

Keep us ever humble

And filled with gratitude.

Invitation to wholeness

The world lies waiting before you,

an open invitation to wholeness and completion.

Triumph of the Light

Know this: no matter what threatens

to overwhelm you,

your innermost light will triumph over all,

its power fed by the one eternal Source.

Awash in joy

In this holiday season,

may you be awash with a tide of joy...

Signs of hope

In the midst of death

There are always seeds of new life...

Holy Ordinary

Through the filter of the trees

Drink in the colors of the sky

And be thankful for the wholly ordinary.

Aging beautifully

What Shakespeare said of Cleopatra

Is true of Mother Nature, too:

Age cannot wither her,

Nor custom stale her infinite variety.

Appreciate the light

The holidays go by so fast...

Make time to appreciate the beauty and the light.

Use your gifts

It’s not enough to simply have a gift.

You really need to take it out and use it,

Or it’ll just get rusty and freeze up...

Treasuring community

Treasure those moments

When we gather in community

And share a meal together...

No need to be perfect

Just a reminder:

You don’t have to be totally tidy or clean,

Unblemished, in the prime of youth,

Or perfect in any way: you are still beautiful.

Sharing the pond

We may be going different directions,

But never forget that we share the same pond:

Whatever you dump here affects us both.

The enchantment of mystery

Be not afraid, but curious

about our differences:

A little bit of mystery adds enchantment

to the forest that we share.

We are community

However you move forward in this world —

Whether sails or paddles, motor or oars —

Together we make up a community:

Let’s coexist in peace and mutual respect.

Look up from Now

Find a moment to look up from the Now:

From the mending and the bills;

From to-dos and complications,

And appreciate the beauty of the day...

Break the chains of expectation

Breathe in divine acceptance: let your chest expand

And break the chains of others’ expectations,

Lest you pass those binding agents on

To stunt the growth of those whose lives you touch.

Awash in awe

I stand, awash in awe,

filled with admiration for the beauty of this world;

grateful for the fragile ties that bind us, friend to friend,

heart to heart and each to each.

What is true?

How do we detect what is true and what is not?

How will we know if what we see is truly real

Or just projection? Light and truth take many forms:

We can’t assume we always have the answers.

Adventures in creativity

Creativity is not about tidiness and perfection.

It’s an invitation to change your perspective;

To explore and to experience; to risk,

and to adventure; to rise above the ordinary.

Choices

There is a path that has opened up before you

(But it’s steep, and I’m not sure where it ends)

Will you say yes, or remain here, crying “but...”;

Venture out, or find a way to get

more comfortable with where you are?

Welcoming change

Don’t think of change as a scary monster!

Think of it as a challenge to creativity:

What can you do embrace the inevitable,

Help make it palatable, and welcome its gifts?

Resistance to change

Perhaps our most challenging test of skill

Is fighting our own inner child’s

Resistance to change; her determination

To seek solace in unhealthy habits.

You don't have to be a star

Take a lesson from the moon:

You needn’t be a star to be a beacon of hope.

Simply reflect whatever goodness and light

You experience back into the world...

Working together

Working together helps build community.

How will you help your friend or neighbor today?

In Gratitude...

I’m thankful today for family and friends,

For the grace, beauty, and bounty of this world,

And all the events and circumstances —

Whether pleasant or uncomfortable —

That have helped me to grow over the years.

In flight reflections

For all who are in flight today —

Either to or from the holidays —

May you find at least a moment

For some peaceful reflection.

Each passing thought a shadow

Each passing thought, a shadow,

Casts its beam of hope upon our hearts

And then moves on, leaving behind

Faint memories of love or loss once known...

What story will you choose?

It’s your life, and it’s your story: you can choose

how to present it to yourself and to the world.

Is it a positive evolution or a series of setbacks

You can’t seem to forget or to forgive?

Let your heart soar

Today’s a good day to release yourself;

To set aside, if only for a moment,

All the cares that weigh you down.

Breathe deep, and let your heart soar on the breeze.

We are all connected

The truth is this: that we are all connected,

And any time we sever those connections

All of us become more vulnerable,

And our capacity for growth is endangered.

Prepared for change

What is it that we know about this journey?

Just when we think the end’s in sight,

We find it takes another turn,

Toward some new destination.

Always be prepared for change...

Being an artist

Being an artist is not about what we produce.

It’s about showing up to the canvas, the page,

the instrument, the stage;

about making time to participate

in the cosmic (or if you prefer, divine) creative process.

Seeking the center

Circling round, and circling round,

And circling round again:

When will I ever reach that center point,

That stillness?

Upon the ring of earth

The mountain, set in stone upon the ring of earth:

a promise of engagement.

The sky puts on her wedding clothes

And dances her delight in sparkling slippers.

Step into the light

Come sit with me; step through into the light.

Together we’ll escape the dark,

Find shelter, peace, comfort, and hope,

And satisfy our thirst for the Divine.

For all the broken and burned

Pray today for all that is broken and burned

In the world and in our own souls;

That what fragility has been exposed

May find its way to healing.