Notice What You Notice

What a beautiful phone message you just left What a beautiful Friday reunion after 5 months separation What a beautiful mantram walk up Washington Boulevard What a beautiful hour at Reshma’s Café planning the spiritual…

You’re the Beautiful Resistance

There’s something about your sharing with me Tears usually are the result Not sadness as in Ach But gratitude as in Ah I’ve known  you nine years plus So, of course, we inter-are Muriel Ruykeyser:…

Cece’s Smile

For Mary and Matt A while after Mev died I went to a gathering at Jesuit Hall In honor of Guadalupe Carney Who had lived in Honduras with the poor Scores of people were there…

The Miracle of Being Cheerful

Years of nausea Anxiety Affliction Heart being battered Hourly taking up your cross And carrying it Night after day Day after night And when I’ve seen you Always that smile Always that glow Always that…

Jottings and Notes from Cami’s Talk

Cami Kasmerchak, Appalachian Summer: To the Mountains and Back, Sunday 24  February 2013 She talked about the “call” … reminds me of Margaret Wheatley: “The notion of vocation comes from spiritual and philosophical traditions. It…

I Know the Richest Person on Earth

1. In our Intercultural Studies class today Mariah, Ta’mare, and Rachel read the following stanzas Of “Our True Heritage” by Thích Nhất Hạnh: The cosmos is filled with precious gems. I want to offer a…

Present Moment, Only Moment

One day last fall Dianne told me on the phone “I think Hedy is dying of pancreatic cancer” I didn’t believe it But in any case All there was to do that day Was to…

Two Teachers

For two of my teachers I give thanks: Cao Ngoc Phuong Khuu Vinh Ngoc Thuy I first read Phuong’s autobiography Learning True Love: How I Learned & Practiced Social Change in Vietnam When it was…