Recovery. Sobriety. Living Wise.
My old friend Brendan Boyle recently shared this story with me. With his permission I now share it with you. 💠Pat, Sheila and I stopped at the grocery store in the U District last night to buy flowers for Miguel’s grave. On my way out, this clean, tidy looking Indian or Pakistani woman with a small girl came toward me and quietly asked if … Continue reading Who Whispers In Your Ear?
Every now and again when our burdens are heavy and we need to adjust our sails a visit to a “holy land” can be a real lifesaver. Some find that place in ancient monasteries, some in the holy city of Mecca, some in old Jerusalem. But for so many their holy land is found in hikes in the wilderness … Continue reading What Is A Holy Land?
Marsha and I learned an unforgettable lesson when we sold our home in Chicago shortly before our move to the Great Pacific Northwest. I have come to understand it as — The Great Emptying. It started when we asked our realtor friend to give us some advice on preparing our home for sale. A home we’d lived in for 24 years. His first suggestion was … Continue reading The Great Emptying
Woodrow Wilson observed, “If a dog will not come to you after having looked you in the face, you should go home and examine your conscience.” I had an opportunity to examine my conscience a number of years ago on a trip to Bloomington, Indiana to visit Marsha’s parents. It was there I was introduced to a Yorkshire terrier named Dusty. Dusty was a straightforward … Continue reading Living in Your Own Skin
A while back our dear friend Joe Nagy wrote a deeply moving piece on the death of his brother Richard. It seems particularly poignant now as so many are mourning the loss of loved ones. Dear Pat and Friends, My friend Pat has asked me how I am coping with the death of my younger brother, Richard. He died two months ago in a motorcycle … Continue reading Small Holes in the Universe (by Joe Nagy)