New Morning Light New morning light has a uniqueness which makes it something special. I have been a morning person for longer than I can remember. Born and raised in rural Wisconsin, I got used to getting up before the sun. Especially in the shortened daylight hours of winter, days begin before morning light. We rely on experience and habits to negotiate the darkness before morning light. Getting out of bed and from one place to another is more a... Read more
On Matters of Life and Death We know something is important when it is a matter of life and death. Death makes us afraid. Many of us fear our own deaths as well as the deaths of people we love. Death is so complete, so unchangeable, so overwhelming, so final. We struggle to avoid death, even if only for a short time. Death seems like a defeat, a surrender, the loss of everything which is familiar to us. Surprisingly, many... Read more
Living Like a Monk in the Real World One question people ask me fairly often is, Are you a real monk? I am, but it probably does not work the way you expect it would. Many people have an idea of monks as people who try to avoid the challenges of living in the real world. They remove themselves from family and friends, and spend their lives contemplating inner peace. It is true that many monks, men and women, live... Read more
Why We Need to Practice Everyday Listening There are actions we need to take every day, or at least most days. Most of us get out of bed and make it each day. We get cleaned up, brush our teeth, maybe shave, and get dressed most days. Driving, eating, and turning on a computer are actions most of us take almost every day. Many of us have a daily caffeine habit. Some of us take certain vitamins each morning. I... Read more
What is Saint Patrick’s Day All About? Why do we celebrate Saint Patrick’s Day? Is Saint Patrick’s Day a day for revelry and drinking green beer? What are the deeper reasons for Saint Patrick’s Day? Is there more to Saint Patrick’s Day than recognizing people who have Irish heritage? Saint Patrick’s Day begins with the story of a real person, the Patrick who became Saint Patrick. We do not have a lot of independent information about Patrick. Most of what... Read more
Tapping the Power of Revelry I believe in the power of revelry. Some of us anticipate participating in revelry of our own this weekend. Others of us have decided to give up some forms of revelry until after Easter. How and why and with whom we experience the power of revelry varies significantly. Almost all of us, though, can relate to and share what revelry feels like. Revelry feels good. We are freed from constraints and can relax. It gives... Read more
Stillness Which Renews Our Souls What is renewal all about? How does it feel to us? Is there a place we can go which renews our souls? Some of us seek renewal by focusing more of our attention and effort on doing what we do. We set out with fresh determination to make a renewed effort. Our renewal may be a matter of our attitude or our mindset for us. We take a deep breath, look at what we are... Read more
Looking for God in the Checkout Line There are times when we feel like we spend our lives in the checkout line. We find ourselves surrounded by distractions designed to get us to make an impulse buy. They are almost always food which is not good for us or news about people we do not know. Sometimes it feels like our lives include long stretches of time waiting in checkout lines. The people in front of us in line may... Read more
Strategic Planning for Everyday Life I appreciate having a good plan. After all, I tend to be more of a thinker than a feeler. I studied law and public administration. It is not surprising I am comfortable with strategic planning. Having a plan helps me feel like I have taken time to think things through. It helps me understand and explain what I am doing and find other people who can help me. Even if it is not written down,... Read more
The Quiet of Winter Mornings Each season has a unique quality all its own. The stillness of summer is different from that of autumn. Now, with only a couple weeks of winter left in our hemisphere, we take the time to experience its stillness. I was born and raised in a place where winter has real power, real ferocity. Cold temperatures and deep snow often make winter there a season to be survived. I have lived in the land of... Read more
Strategic Monk
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