During this time leading up to the Winter Solstice and the coming New Year, we have an excellent opportunity to deeply decide what we will take forward in our lives and what we will leave behind. We must process those things that are holding us back, whether it is trauma from childhood, deep regrets, resentments, …
I lit my first candle in honor of Chanukah last night. “Why,” you ask? “You do not practice Judaism.” The answer is that it makes me feel good to participate in rituals that have meaning. It touches my heart and that is what spirituality is all about, after all. It is about feeling the love of the …
Our musicians have recently begun performing the song titled, “These are the Things I’m Thankful For.”[i] Each time they sing it, I am deeply touched and brought to tears. It is a tremendous blessing to feel so deeply. The song, with its music and words, reminds me of how deeply I feel appreciation for all …
“The greatest day in your life and mine is when we take total responsibility for our attitudes. That’s the day we truly grow up.” – John C. Maxwell. Many people are unaware of the ability to change their lives. In their younger years, they accepted many things for truth that were only unhealthy practices. If we were …
In her essay, High Tide in Tucson, Barbara Kingsolver addresses the experience of finding ourselves with the need to start over: “Every one of us is called upon, probably many times, to start a new life. A frightening diagnosis, a move, loss of a job or a limb or a loved one, and it’s impossible …
There is a Jewish folktale where the saying, “This Too Shall Pass” originated. In the story, King Solomon wanted to humble his servant, Benaiah Ben Yahoyada. He gave Benaiah a task to find a ring that, when worn, will make the happy man sad and the sad man happy. King Solomon asked him to be …
I was preparing a lesson for the youth leader to share with the children on Sunday and realized how all of us could stand to have this reminder. Many of the traits that parents want to instill in their children are kindness, honesty, courage, strength, generosity, compassion, self-discipline, and responsibility. If people don’t take responsibility …
I have loved that eloquent Quaker phrase since the first time that I heard it. Under my breath, when hearing of a prayer need or a difficult situation, I will whisper, “I Will Hold You in the Light” and then, of course, I do just that. What exactly does that mean though when Friends (Quakers) …
We have all noticed how light and lovely it feels to be in the presence of people who are filled with joy and light. After being with them, you feel a bit more cheerful. Perhaps we could say that a person with the ability to alter a conversation and make it light, or change an …