February is such a mixed bag of emotions for me. Two of my children bookend the month with birthday celebrations, which I love. It’s a joy to party and celebrate with them and enjoy their continuing maturing into who they are. Sandwiched between is the anniversary of my Dad’s passing, six years ago. Wow, has…
Praying with Nothing.
I’ve written before about how I begin each year with a quiet reflection and a ‘pondering on’ my word for the year. Nothing. Although I’m not super fond of it yet, I’m choosing to engage with this word and listen to what it has to say. I could also choose to toss it out, but…
Fun and fog
Today in Seattle we were experiencing a high fog alert. Haven’t heard of this before. I decided to take my trusty walking companion, Libby, down to Greenlake for some fun in the fog. I’ve posted before about a favorite line from Macrina Wiederkehr’s poem, Child of Wonder: “When, during the wee hours of the night…
Procrastination and Cassoulet
I’m not usually one to struggle with procrastination, but this ‘revising’ of my novel is kicking my butt. I have an incredibly deepening respect and gratitude for those authors whom have worked through this stage, completed their writing, and shared it so that I have been able to read amazing and wonderful stories. Thank you….
Risk Taking and Thomas Merton
At the start of each New Year I spend some time reflecting, pondering and walking with the question: “What is my word for this year?” Sometimes, a word just pops into my head after settling down and slowing my breathing and just waiting and listening. This year, not so. I’ve journaled, lit my candles, slowed…
Lying and a Lockdown
Once a week, on Tuesdays, I volunteer at Homework Factory, an after school program run by Turning Point ( a local non-profit: http://www.turningpointseattle.org) at Meridian Park Elementary School in Shoreline. Today, Homework Factory and its’ participants experienced an unusual turn of events. Just as we were finishing snack time with the students and preparing to…
Anne of Green Gables and the New Year
“Isn’t it a splendid thing that there are mornings.” Anne of Green Gables Anne of Green Gables was one of my favorite childhood characters. She was full of life, courage, purpose, determination, gathered good friends, and was a gift to grow up with. I love how Lucy Maud Montgomery developed her as a character: as…
Shakespeare, Christmas, and Otherlyness
“Assume a virtue, if you have it not.” William Shakespeare My husband, Dave, and a very good friend, Jim, coined the word ‘otherly’ a number of years ago. Essentially, it’s about retrieving the lost art and practice of noticing. It’s about intentionally caring for others: asking someone how they’re doing and listening and it’s about…
Tears and Child’s Pose
I have been unable to write much of anything the past few days. I haven’t had words, nor known what to bring to the blank page. My usually full journal lies blank and empty. The many practices that I’ve written about prior to the events that unfolded in Newtown, Conn on Friday, Dec. 14, 2012,…
George Bernard Shaw and Collaging
“You see things; and you say, ‘Why?’ But I dream things that never were; and say ‘Why not?’ ” I’ve been pondering this as I’ve been reflecting on and practicing peace this week. This quote is actually on the front cover of my current journal, and I don’t think Mr. Shaw was necessarily contemplating peace…
Game of Thrones and Christmas
I started watching The Game of Thrones HBO series a few months ago. It’s violent, mythical, full of sexual content, intriguing, mysterious and full of war. Someone told me that the first episode, first scene, is the most violent but if you can get past that then the story and characters draw you in. Well,…
On remembering and being present with Mary Oliver
“This is the lesson of age – events pass, things change, trauma fades, good fortune rises, fades, rises again, but different.” Mary Oliver A friend of mine introduced me to Mary Oliver’s writing a number of years ago. Her words watered a languishing seed of hope within my spirit that was in deep need of…
Sharon Richards 