I learned of grace as a child. Simple words of gratitude spoken before mealtimes. Graceland. We all will be received in Graceland. It’s easier to give than to receive. Give . . . Grace. Actions extended without expectation of anything in return. Selfless and uncomplicated. Images of grace swirl in my head and I am […]
Something in the Way “They” Move
It’s hard to get a good Beatles song out of your head. They come in unexpectedly, moving through the brain, building momentum, until you find yourself humming along, ever so quietly. Unlike a good classic rock song, your head doesn’t bob, but your body sways. Life is often like that. It creeps up on you, […]
The Porch Sitters
Wherever we go, we create community, the family we no longer live near, bringing us closer together. My son moved to a marginalized neighborhood to complete his schooling. The oasis of his newly flipped house with shiny appliances and an attic space for his drum set, was in sharp contrast to his neighborhood surroundings. Once […]
In My Grandmother’s Kitchen
A familiar place. It looked the same, yet I experienced it in a different light. The cabinets were warm and inviting. From the kitchen window, I could see cows grazing, and the 100-year-old sink is now a chic “farm sink” seen in magazines of designer kitchens. Funny how some things never go out of style. […]
Auld Lang Syne
Scottish poet Robert Burns, reminded us that as we bid farewell to the year past, we ring in newness and hopefulness for what’s to come, connecting us to our past and moving forward with our future. New Year’s Day is a particularly sacred day, the birthday of my son. With the fanfare of fireworks on […]
It’s the Little Things
I read a poem years ago entitled “It’s the Little Things That Count.” Sometimes I think that in my search for big things, I disregard the little things that define my daily life. Recently I was looking for a big thing and met dead ends. I wanted to do more with my career, to face […]
C.H.A.R.L.E.S.
There’s grace and beauty in being with someone on their first day and their last. Few times in life allow us that moment. Being present for a birth is full of hope and joy and awe. Death has entirely different emotions. Dad died at ninety-three, leaving an incredible legacy in living well and loving big. […]
He Has a Mother Too
The large full sound of the piano keys drew me in. Warm, resonating, beautiful. His music filled this once sanctuary, turned place of rest and meditation, and sometimes place of worship, long after the notes were silent. “Have you seen him before?” I asked. He had been there a couple of times, but this was […]
Bending the Arc
The documentary Bending the Arc addresses our global health care system, often guided by underlying political choices of morality v injustice. The story follows a handful of US educated persons who founded Partners in Health (PIH) in Cange, Haiti in response to the tuberculosis virus that was ravaging the country. From there, PIH has taken […]
Say Yes!
Say yes as much as possible. Kids want parents to say yes to everything. They ask “Why?” and reversely, may be thinking “Why Not?” Kids do not see the hazards and pitfalls that can follow decisions. They see a world before them and wonder why others are not doing what they are doing. They see […]