Yes, you fell down. I feel for you, for I have fallen many times.   Now, you must get up. I know it isn’t easy. I know it will take time.   Remember, the seed can’t imagine breaking ground. And the fledgling can’t imagine flying.   And so, your broken heart can’t imagine finding its way.   But life is this repeating journey from sleep to wakefulness, from blindness to sight, from fear to love.   No matter how many... Read more

After almost two years at home, I was overwhelmed just ordering the Uber to the airport. I needed to reclaim that in-between space while traveling as home. Once Christopher dropped me off, I was back in the stream. But as soon as I got to the counter, I was delayed and would miss my connection. My mind began to spin with logistics. Could I still get to Denver tonight? Would I have to go tomorrow? Should I just rebook now?... Read more

You ask for a story instead of a present and I’ve fallen into remembering the moment I knew I couldn’t live without you. We’d just finished lunch, early on. It was fall. We were saying goodbye on the corner of Madison and Robin. The wind lifted your hair as you smiled. I’ve always loved your smile. As you turned and crossed the street, I felt something tug and ache. I wanted to reach for you, to say with urgency— Don’t... Read more

Can you drink from the Lake of Being you came from before you were named? For peace lives there. I don’t mean for you to undo your life or to leave the world but to put down all that has proven false so you can taste from what is lasting which is always near. And here’s the mountain which when crossed is worth the journey— can you be such a lake to others? A Question to Walk With: Describe one... Read more

I don’t support the notion that some people are awake and others are not. Everyone is capable of great love, kindness, and insight. Everyone has eyelids. Some of us open our eyes and some of us, for various reasons, live with our eyes shut. Likewise, some of us live with an open mind and an open heart and some of us, for various reasons, live with our mind and heart shut. Just because you or I may live openly today... Read more

Belief, when experienced as a teacher without a name, enables us to enliven a kinship between the living part and the living Whole. Such sustained care begins to heal us. With humility, it is not our place to denounce what others believe in, but to use the sincerity of their example as an encouragement to find our own particular inlets into the Mystery of Life. Ultimately, belief is a human inlet through which life-force visits us. It moves through us... Read more

Given that I almost died from cancer, I have had several attribute my survival to some deep wherewithal within me that crisis awakened. But humbly, I must clarify the resilience that helped save my life was not just some reservoir within me. It did not come from me alone. But through facing what was mine to face, I was given access to much more than me. I think this is the paradox about resilience. Only by being thoroughly and completely authentic... Read more

When we fell into the stream of days, my eyes were cleansed, your ears worn free. At first, it was an assault but what we’ve seen and heard since has made us thank the storm for its scouring.   It’s changed how we care, hasn’t it? Letting each other stay under so the stream and storm can do their work— not letting each other drown.   A Question to Walk With: Tell the story of a friendship you have and... Read more

We discover metaphors by surrendering our attention, by staying in honest conversation, and by listening to the quiet movements of life as they appear before us. Let me share a recent example. I was visiting Pine Manor in Lake Elsinore, CA, where I teach every year. My good friend Gail Warner founded and directs Pine Manor. She is an old, wise soul. I like to come a day early so that Gail and I can re-enter our lifelong conversation about... Read more

Now that I’ve come out of hiding, my fears are forgetting to be afraid.   Now that I’ve dropped my opinions in the rain, my story is too small to cover my heart.   Now that I’ve put down what I thought was important, I’m surprised by angels lost along the way.   How we got here doesn’t matter and where we’re going is just something for the mind to chew.   I’ll meet you here, in the palace that... Read more