Smile

A smile from a stranger

can be an incredible gift.

Why not take a minute to pass it on?

The clay we're given

The events and challenges of our lives

Become the clay from which we fashion

What gifts we have to offer back.

When will we work with the clay we’ve been given,

And what will we make of it?

A discipline of presence

Contemplative photography

Is a discipline of presence:

A way of noticing what’s right in front of you;

Of appreciating the beauty of the dailiness of life;

Of giving it voice, and letting it draw you

into a world of possibility.

The road before you

Whatever load you’re carrying,

May the road before you be safe and smooth.

Let your uniqueness shine!

Where, when, and with whom

Can you be most yourself;

Will your uniqueness shine most brightly?

And how will you carry that strong sense of self

Into the rest of your day?

Straddling two worlds

As humans we are almost always called

To straddle two worlds:

The inner, where we set our intentions,

And the outer, where we do our best

To act on those intentions.

The trick is finding a balance between the two.

Imprint of a life

Those who have fallen

Have not yet faded from our memories

But linger, the subtle imprint of a life

Resting gently against the hard reality of loss.

Access your inner lion

Feeling a little cowardly about something?

Maybe it’s time to access your inner lion

And take that risk!

Have patience

Have patience:

what life so rudely strips away

May soon reveal the deeper current

Of life and love that lies beneath.

Waiting to be heard

Each of us has a unique song to sing.

As the day fades into evening,

How much music have you poured into the world,

And how much is still waiting to be heard?

Calm waters will return

Both good and bad times

Seem to come in waves —

Some rough, some smooth,

But always passing through to what comes next.

Our job is to stay afloat and trust

Calm waters will return.

The fruits of failure

Every failure bears its fruit:

The seeds for our success.

We have only to ask one another,

“What did we learn from this?”

Wishing you safe travels

Wherever your travels take you today,

I wish you safe transit and sunny skies.

Blessed imperfection

In your search for perfection,

Don’t be afraid to love your imperfections,

For they, too, have something to teach you.

A beacon of promise

Through all of life’s complexity

Let hope shine like a beacon of promise:

That we are not alone, and we are loved.

Thirsting for the light

Whatever color we may be,

it’s important to remember

We share the same roots and branches,

Drink the same rain,

Hunger for the same light...

Calm at the root of being

Take some time today to center yourself.

Breathe with the clouds,

Imagine the feel of grass on your feet,

Drink in the light...

Greet whatever challenges you face

From that calm place at the root of your being.

Let the wind fill your sails

Don’t be afraid, but stand tall

And let the wind fill your sails.

You were made for just this moment;

Just this opportunity: sail on; sail on!

What if?

What if we let ourselves float in the trust

That what is happening now is meant to be?

What could we learn from simple acceptance?

Sharing your color

From bud to bloom to fallen flower,

She’s always been where she was born to be,

Drinking in the light and sun

And giving back what color she has to share

Until she fades into the earth from which she came.

May compassion bring joy

May compassion fill their hearts

With as much joy as we find

In the breathtaking rainbow of dawn.

Open the gate

Open the gate of your eyes:

Enlightenment, heaven, all you seek

Is right here, right now.

No one is — or should be — excluded...

Ever vigilant

There is a part of us

That stands, ever vigilant,

Determined to protect

From what we do not know or cannot trust.

Each step away from that stance

Can bring us closer to freedom.

The spirit waits...

Hidden in the complexity of each moment,

The spirit waits, breathing life and revelation

For those who take the time to watch,

and to listen.

The invitation to reconnect

We are all born connected to the Source,

And then with time and maturation we break away.

It then becomes an act of will to reconnect,

But the invitation is always there —

In the warmth of the sun,

the generosity of the rain,

And the tender embrace of the earth.

Not alone

She may be an island, but she is not alone.

She is cradled by the sea

and caressed by the clouds;

She’s given birth to a tree,

And the land that gave her life

Still lies nearby, and watches over her.

Learn compassionate acceptance

As we become more attuned to self,

We begin to understand

Which part of what we present to the world

Is rooted and growing in awareness

And which is crafted from experience.

The next step is to learn

Compassionate acceptance for each.

Buoyed by the light

Though the waters may be dark,

We paddle on, buoyed by the light...

Come into the light

The door’s unlocked; you’ve been set free.

Come out into the light!