Wrestling through the Beatitudes together
Blessed are the Meek, for they shall inherit the earth. Several years ago, I studied with a Kabbalistic orthodox rabbi in an attempt to understand the Jewish perspective on life and the world. The basis for this is called The Tree of Life. Most have seen the series of circles and connecting lines that form... Continue Reading →
Blessed are the Meek for they shall inherit the Land This first week of the new year has focused on the struggle for power and the question of what is real strength. It’s been exhilarating for some, terrifying for others… and even within those categories, the reasons have been vastly different. One thing is certain:... Continue Reading →
It’s really wonderful to find a literary character that resonates in my spirit, especially when this character grows deeper and deeper throughout the series of books. Mine is Maisie Dobbs. Maisie has a love of learning that carried her from being a little char girl in the early 1900s to becoming a self-employed “investigator-psychologist” after... Continue Reading →
In the winter of 1914, as the French and British and Germans and Austrians and Hungarians and Russians were fighting along miles and miles of enemy lines, something froze the hatred and fear in their hearts for just as moment. Most know the story of how on Christmas Eve British soldiers started singing Silent Night... Continue Reading →
My friend Jimmy is a pure soul. I can’t say that about too many people in life. I can’t say that about myself. All he really wants in life is for the people in his sphere to love each other, to love enough for peace to bind them together, in everything they do. And his... Continue Reading →
I feed the birds and squirrels and chipmunks in my backyard. I set up several concrete blocks on their end and put a paver on the top of each one. There is at least a foot between them. They look a bit like pagodas. Every day I put seed out on top of the pavers... Continue Reading →
The task is too large. The information is too great. Where do I even begin? This is how I started today in a quiet prayer in the crisp colder air of the approaching dawn. I can teach the historical context of the Beatitudes. I can delve into the Hebrew and Greek meanings and uses of... Continue Reading →
There was a cartoon many, many years ago of two little children in rags who skipped along through town, gazing longingly into the window displays. They passed a bakery and drooled over the cakes. They passed a toy store and sighed over the dolly and the soldier. Then they went back to their impoverished, struggling... Continue Reading →
There is a TV ad that shows a lovely puppy running to his food bowl while the announcer says, “He’s preparing to become your best friend.” Then I looked over at my dog Toby and thought, “What happened to you?” Because Toby expects me to prepare to become his best friend. His nickname is Toby... Continue Reading →
Hard to be blessed 