The Trees Remain the Same

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The Trees Remain the Same

Here are questions that occur to me after sitting with this morning's poem.

1) life has its ups and downs.  Am I able to see the darker seasons as a natural consequence of changes in the "weather" of my life?

2) the Quaker tradition talks of the Light within, that of the Divine within. Whatever my spiritual tradition, Am I able to sustain access to that Light?

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Questions and Listening

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One of the practices that I use in various leadership programs is what I call "soft-ball" questions--questions to which only the person we are asking could possibly know the answer,  And once we get the answer we can't possibly second guess the person.  They are the complete authority on their answer.  Questions like: "When did this first begin to trouble you?"  "What have you thought about doing?"    These questions which come from the hundreds of year old Quaker tradition of the clearness committee draw out the wisdom of the other--or as Parker Palmer says, they"listen the other person into their own knowing."  

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Breathing Space

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Breathing Space

This week it got cold enough here in Maryland to have a fire in the fireplace.  The first fire of the season.  Marking a turning toward winter.  And for us, a chance to begin to make good use of the wood from the 100 year old oak that was felled by a sudden storm 18 months ago.  So this first fire was a ritual of sorts.  And also a reminder to me of the importance of creating spaciousness in our lives.

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Snow days for Grown-ups

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The reported excitement of children who were snowed out from attending school these last few days, reminded me that all of us need an occasional surprise time-out from the regular responsibilities and duties that we carry.  A pocket-holiday akin to the tiny pocket-parks that have developed in cities.  Tiny but hugely appreciated. Renewing.

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