When we are born we inhale our first breath. When we die we exhale our last breath. In between we are called to notice the holy gift of breathing. Why holy? In Hebrew the word for breath is “ruach,” and it can mean breath, wind and spirit. In the beginning of creation the ruach of God moved over the waters. (Genesis 1) A wind? A breath? A spirit? It's up to your … [Read more...] about When I Forget to Breathe
lament
“I Am Keeping My Promise”
We were on the early days of our hike on the AT through Virginia. Because we had only been on the trail for a few days, everything was still new on this beautiful early May morning in 2015. We were discovering Jack-in the-Pulpits and morel mushrooms and wild columbines. But we were also making our way through a jumble of small but close mountains called the “roller … [Read more...] about “I Am Keeping My Promise”
Finally: a New Post on an Invisible Pilgrimage
What does one do when discovering one is on a pilgrimage that one didn’t choose? Let me put that more simply: I am now on a pilgrimage I didn’t choose. Well, that’s not entirely true either. I chose this journey I’m on in some ways—I just didn’t choose all that goes with it. What I did choose, I chose out of love for those I love because that is what loves does. What I … [Read more...] about Finally: a New Post on an Invisible Pilgrimage
Psalm 94 (Psalms on the Trail)
"Rise up, O judge of earth; give the proud what they deserve!" Psalm 94:2 This psalm haunts me now. I never paid much attention to it before---until I heard this musical setting of it: "Rise Up" by Sons of Korah. Perhaps the words once seemed irrelevant because I was too comfortable with the status quo. Now the music jars me into acknowledging the desperation that … [Read more...] about Psalm 94 (Psalms on the Trail)