Some movies are worth watching again and again. Because they’re good for the heart.In 1979, violinist Isaac Stern visited China. His month-long trip is recorded in the Academy-award-winning documentary, From Mao to Mozart.Stern expresses gratitude to the Chinese people (who…
Tuesday -- This week we’re asking; where do we tether our identity for well-being (in a world where many feel lost or adrift)? Because if we cannot find that place, it is easy to stop playing music. To stop caring.…
Lorraine Hunt Lieberson began her career as an accomplished viola player. While on tour in Europe (in the late 1980s), her viola was stolen. She could have replaced it. As would be imagined, the theft threw her into a state…
Tuesday -- It has been a lovely beginning to our week here in Orkney Springs, autumn colors of vermilion, claret and scarlet. And amber and gold. An invitation to the sacrament of the present.To be here now.And the gift of…
This week I received a letter that nourished, and restored my heart. A balm to my soul. Well, truth be told, the letter was written and sent in 1513. Let’s just say it took a while to get to me.…
Tuesday -- If I’m only focused on the payoff (destination), I miss the gifts on the journey...This week we’re talking about the presence of miracles where least expect them; meaning seeing (finding and embracing) the sacred in the very, very…
Stories do my heart good. And sometimes stories are more important than food for nourishment. Because they are reminders of sufficiency, and the sacrament of the present, and help us not give way to any restrictive narrative of fear. Today’s…
Tuesday -- At what point does our worship (our desire for God) become routine?At what point does our growing (our desire for wholeness and well-being and flourishing) become stale performance? Because there is a fine line between safe (certain) and…
Every evening when the guru sat down to worship, the ashram cat considered himself a welcome participant. But the cat was there to make friends, and his commotion distracted the worshipers (each of them hoping to reach a heightened meditative…
Tuesday -- This week, we’re talking about grace.And I hope that this week, we’re open to being embraced by dollops of grace. Moments (yes, moments) when we know that we matter, that someone knows us and sees us, and is…