Monthly Archives: March 2017
Mary’s question
Mary Oliver’s question keeps returning. “Tell me, what is it you plan to do / with your one wild and precious life?” Like the question from Thomas Merton, “If you want to identify me, ask me not where I live or what I like to eat or how I comb my hair, but ask me […]
Into the Promised Land
Forty-one of you responded to my challenge last week, to complete the sentence, “Before I die, I want to . . . .” I had quoted Thomas Merton: “If you want to identify me, . . . ask me what I am living for, in detail, and ask me what I think is keeping me […]
Before I die . . .
Forty-one of you responded to my challenge last week, to complete the sentence, “Before I die, I want to . . . .” Here are your responses. Related to personal life. (13 responses) Live a full, joyful life of happiness. I wish I had enjoyed each day more and have less worries. Focus on myself […]
Choices in the wilderness
“The distresses of choice,” W.H. Auden observed, “are our chance to be blessed.” Not just any choices, mind you, but the distressing ones, the ones that test your character, define your center of values, clarify your priorities. Choices that define the world in which we live. Choices that reveal whether we’re ready for the life […]
My Lenten discipline
I’m giving up Christianity for Lent this year. Well, not literally. I’ll maintain my role in the church. It pays my salary and expects me to show up, after all. But I’ll be doing in a more intentional and centered way something I’ve been doing peripherally for decades. I’ll be examining my faith – not […]
