Can we love
When we create forms, such as institutions, we want them to last, sometimes too long where they believe they are Right. Is there an inherent correctness to each religious group, do they have direct communication with the divine while others do not. Do these human...
Life is bigger, holding light and dark.
I look at faces more these days, the eyes and mouths, what is the energy being shared. How do we miss evil, our educational system has indeed developed models so we do not listen to our intuition, trust the unseen realm that is real and beckoning us in. But, this life...
Who are people that work with villians, co-conspirators?
Who are people that work with villians, co-conspirators? In the book, Hitler's Willing Executioners, I recognized everyone including religious institutions we love can do heinous actions. Is it money, a faux sense of power, is it a neuropsychological flaw. When...
Egos and surrender
I am wondering if egos are running around—you know those malevolent smiles from folks in positions to make a difference?—are more prevalent today. I lived in this bubble of healers, holistic folks and vegans for many years. I thought everything was just the way it was...
I took a break to find my heart.
Well, here we are and it continues to be a mess in my mind and heart. Regular readers of mine may know that I intentionally work on taking in stimuli through my heart, then sending to mind to be dispersed wherever it goes. I am in a large tizzy in the ways we are...
Fear And Love
Wearing flags on lapels With artificial smiles Lies instead of care, while Flags hang outside our homes On holidays or none I cringe at the sight what is that about. A symbol that meant freedom For so many years makes a statement to turn away As friends around the...
The Discerning Face of Love
Are you hearing footsteps In your core Are they pounding out your fear Do you listen Where does it come And what is it really. Your heart is awakening Possibly from many years Or just a few minutes ago. Do you remember, did it hurt Or was the laughter and joy So...
Take A Breath
When a glass drops… When we cannot open a jar… When we get lost on the same trip a dozen times… You know these feelings. I know them, too. Our inside feels tight and we are upset. And these are just trivial things, really. So what happens when something important...
How Are You?
We greet each other most of the time with a "How are you?". Sometimes we mean it. And sometimes we do not. In fact, have you ever really answered the person honestly? I've been aware and uncomfortable with empty words for years. But, especially today in this surreal...
70
Sitting in a windowless room in the basement where the smells of death called entering my thoughts and core of being 70 may be reached they said, but that may be as far you go. Here I am today a few days past 70 Smiling—feeling well Yet, ghosts share the room...
Stand Aside
A brilliant and caring Constitutional Law Professor at one of our elite Universities has said a couple of rather forthright statements—that we have an anti-president and that folks who support this behavior are pathetic excuses for human beings. This is no longer...
A Heart Beats
A heart can hurt If you’re in touch With who you are. As you struggle In this world To cross the boundaries Checking in as though you care. A heart will hurt Because you care But the pain shows That you’re alive And however deep The hurt is felt It’s better Than...
A Way of Being
A blessing of wanting Has mysteriously made its appearance Shifting lives from just fine To looking forward and being with. How rare to want And know how it feels To be with the other Returning to be heard And sharing our nature As a way of being. This is the Holy...
Belonging
Having a tribe, a community, offers a sense of belonging, which is one of the pillars of well-being. We are social beings and thrive in being a part of it. Yet, belonging without clarity of the self holds a possibility for separation. This paradox is complex with our...
Listen before Speaking
Sit for a while, and try on how it feels to come to another in moments of joy or disharmony listening. How does this feel? Listen before speaking, and listen some more. I was raised where the modeling was to speak and keep speaking louder and louder. As the volume...
Time to Challenge
And now the shaking I’ve been feeling For most of my life Has made its way To my physical truth The fears I’ve been holding Have now appeared In my pores For I have squelched The passions Of my soul Until almost too late. I opened though And there’s no Shutting down...
Meeting Love Again
Hands on heart often feeling throughout my days being alone, not wanting Yet, meeting love again for the first time I want passion Reciprocated offering self full and more Back and forth bouncing catching each other Before we fall or together hitting the sky and the...
Are you still here
My heart opened Right into your being Beyond all the traumas That direct so many days. Continued into places Rarely felt and finding Untouched portals into my soul. And yet I don’t remember asking, wishing it To leave me alone and then not And here you remain Where...
Breathe free
I’m sitting on a train from Seattle to Vancouver BC—reflecting on when the border was permeable and seen as welcoming neighbors. Similarly though, with Mexico. We now detain and rip apart families at the southern border and craft unnecessary complexity at the last US...
What we need is kindness
I’m not sure why living as human instead of machine takes daily work. It could be appreciation and gratitude were not a given at birth. It could be that growing up in a family using emotional blackmail provides challenges we believe is the way of things. I’ve learned...
Down with bravado. Bring back care.
My mind has been reflecting on the ways so much of our society is built on ego stroking. You know: The unfortunate way folks hold themselves and build many of our societal models including the Judicial System, instead of speaking our truth. The players position and...
Resilience
I have been thinking a lot about resilience these days. Today I visited a cute small town in Central Florida enjoying their weekly market until I was asked if I am a registered voter. I asked what their petition was about when he indignantly said only citizens should...
Come home with me
As we find our way to joy Passing through the dark places, Sometimes stopping for a while Come find me I’m not far, always near By choice Brought to you through listening To a deeper hearing Than ordinary time, I Entered you to a place Beyond the surface skin Yet fear...
Angels
Angels were sent To fulfill through love each of us to hold and care giving in a world that takes. I was touched as they kissed my heart Opening a pathway past the dark places Lighting a way for me to see You… Easy it’s not, yet guides my days Remembering why I’m...
Ignorance is everywhere
The latest World Happiness Index recently came out. And the U.S. continues its slide downward. No surprise that the Scandinavian countries are on top followed by New Zealand, Australia, and Canada. The tragic shooting in Christchurch, NZ had their extraordinary Prime...
The sweetest diet around
We're being bombarded with multitude of conflicting news and sales pitches for what constitutes a healthy diet. According to Google there have been around 130 million books published on diets, yet we continue to be confused as diabetes and heart disease grow in...
All touch is of consequence
I've been thinking of late about our justice system in light of the magnitude of condoned lying. I think of this in light of my mentor and dear friend Bob (Robert Kimball) who died a short while ago. Bob was at different times Dean and Professor of Theology at the...
Come home
Come home with me As we find our way to joy Passing through the dark places, Sometimes stopping for a while Come find me I’m not far, always near By choice Brought to you through listening To a deeper hearing Than ordinary time, I Entered you to a place Beyond the...
Sacred Money
As we have gotten lost from our authentic story and knowing our inner world, we have also confused the meaning of success. We have only to look at one of the more elegant offerings of late, mindfulness is being taken as a tool of productivity. Sacred human has been...
Why meditation is good for you
I had no idea there was a word or tradition to being quiet and listening to my inner stories. I found my home life at times just too noisy. Actually, my neighborhood and certainly, extended family was too noisy much of my life. Even my Jewish School along with evening...
Where has the sweetness gone?
Historically, I've at least felt comfortable in my land. Even when arguing politics, usually handshakes would occur with the possibility of a hug. At least some type of closing honoring of each of us. I've been travelling through this land feeling not quite at home,...
Say yes
"Say yes, and you'll figure it out afterwards." Tina Fey When I was a teenager, my Explorer Pact needed to raise money for an upgrade to the falling down campground we used regularly. Suggestions came fast, yet they were the same as every other time. "Let's do a rock...
Why I never read the news
I was in the air on election eve. When I awoke in the morning to the shocking news of the Presidential election, I turned over and rolled back to sleep—believing I was in the middle of a dream or nightmare. But the news was the same after I awoke for the second time...
Yes. A Poem.
Into the yes It feels strange As though I’ve been taken hostage Into another land Where smiles and chatting going on all around. Where am I and who asked for this, hard for me to hide I always sit in the back… This room is round I can’t find a place to hide And others...
The real meaning of “friend”
You know those rare moments when a rush of warmth flows through your being? It can occur at any time. You feel filled up—as though you just finished a great meal. That is real friendship. Friendship is a sacred gift, not a thumbs up on social media. And I'm blessed...