Articles on Nature
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What Brings a Person to God is Holy – Whether You Like It or Not
“That tree is very important for me,” an older Jesuit said to me, almost 30 years ago. We were at Eastern Point Retreat House in Gloucester, Mass., standing on the broad lawn that overlooks the Atlantic Ocean. It was a bright day and the sun glinted off the water. He pointed to a lone evergreen…
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Surprised by Joy
Recently a fellow spiritual guide described her surprise and delight at the joy she experiences meeting with directees. I’m not sure why, but I was taken aback. Because I experience it too- I just hadn’t expected it. When I thought about it, remembering the pursed lip smile of my spiritual director as he slightly nodded…
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I Carry You with Me
Raymond said it looked like he was waiting for the aliens to come take him. This made me laugh with him at the time, and at the very least, smile now. We were in the midst of leading a group of retreatants on a meditative hike after an atypically confusing and somewhat disorganized several minutes.…
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Stretch & Savor a Shalem Pilgrimage To Assisi
Once upon a time, Christine and Frank were widowers, after both being long time caregivers to their beloved spouses, Ron and Alice. Previously, Christine had also been friends of Alice and Frank for several years. Then Christine decided to move into a senior living condo, and unbeknownst to them all, it turned out to be…
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Earth and Soul
In reading Earth & Soul: Reconnecting Amid Climate Change, some of the information about nature’s interconnectedness was new to me and some brought back many happy childhood memories of walking around the small farm I grew up on with a beloved uncle who loved to teach me about the natural world around me, about how…