Raven
At a time when I felt siloed, Raven fed my soul. Now I give food to the ravens that visit our yard. To paraphrase “The Parable of the Long Spoons,” a man got a glimpse of heaven and hell. At … Read More
Play
From the moment my niece came into this world, she brought out play in me. One Christmas she gave me a rusty metal horse. It sits on a window sill, reminding me to play. Who, or what, encourages play in … Read More
Lizards and Pick-Up Sticks
I remember the anticipation I felt playing pick-up sticks, as a child. Who could pull a stick out from the heap, without disturbing the pile? Similarly, in life, we never really know if or how our words and actions will … Read More
Spirit and Flesh
For a long time, we could keep them separate. Then a babe in a manger moved us along to seeing both spirit and flesh, wrapped up together in swaddling clothes. Being both human and divine, Jesus invited us to embrace … Read More
Phoenix
Our fiery trials create ash of us. Only then, can we rise with Phoenix. Often our development involves other people. They are part of our transformation, just as we are a part of theirs. For everything there is a season. … Read More
Jonah
Multilayered stories go with us, offering insight into our circumstances. In part, Jonah’s story is about the Sacred Dark coming with an unexpected calling. On the surface we may see Jonah’s darkness as the result of his disobedience. As we … Read More
Salmon
At dawn, Salmon tops the horizon to enlighten us. In our spring years, we expect clarity to provide us with answers. As we develop, our focus moves beyond specifics to broader themes, like love, home and a deeper Knowing. Just … Read More
Roadrunner
Roadrunner scurried across our adobe wall to get a closer look at me. As I leaned in toward her, she did not flinch, but rather stood still and stared. When creatures, or people, look at us with deliberateness, they evoke … Read More
Free the Goats
By the time I climbed up on the ledge to free the goats, they were gone. At what point had I ignored a stimulating risk that caused me to pervert faith with such theatrics? Those I blamed had persisted only … Read More
Crow
Natives danced around a blazing fire. Their lively prayers were free of judgment. One of their own was going through spiritual dismemberment. Crow cawed. Flames leapt. Afterwards another soul would emerge fully alive. Because they lived in Spirit’s power, the … Read More
Ant
In Spirit Clans, David Carson tells a story about Ant. A native woman, who lost everything, met an apparition dressed in red. By trusting the ghost-like spirit, she found the ant clan restoring her life. Spirit invites us to happenings. Some … Read More
Spider
She walked out on stage, lip synced, I don’t like Spiders and Snakes, and brought the house down. For weeks, tension had been building at our small college. This group pitting itself against that one, in hopes that their contestant … Read More