A very cool thing happened recently. The composer Steven Sametz, whose music I adore, wrote two songs inspired by conversations we had about my spiritual journey. They are for women's voices, on two texts by St. John of the Cross that are very meaningful to me. We premiered them last Saturday night, and they are absolutely gorgeous. This has to be ( Read more... )

"Excuse me," said an ocean fish. "You are older than I, so can you tell me where to find this thing they call the ocean?"

"The ocean, said the older fish, "is the thing you are in now."

"Oh, this? But this is water. What I'm seeking is the ocean," said the disappointed fish as he swam away to search elsewhere.

--as retold in Song of the Bird by ( Read more... )

Earlier today I noted my observation that sometimes, a situation that seems like a problem actually turns out to be a message.

I am fond of telling a story about my visit to the island of Iona, the mystical home of Saint Columba. As a highlight of my pilgrimage, I hiked to the top of a mountain to Columba’s prayer cell, and sat down to commune ( Read more... )

I don't love the Daily Office.

This is a little awkward to confess, because in the Episcopal Church, taking vows as a solitary religious, as I plan to do, requires "acceptance of the obligation to recite an approved form of the Daily Office." Thus I have resumed the practice of saying the Office four times a day every day. In every Anglican (Daily ( Read more... )

My approach to Lent has changed drastically over the years. Like most people, as a child I was taught to give something up, without being taught why. It came out like a New Year's resolution, something that had to do with self-improvement, like dieting. Usually you gave up something lovely, like chocolate. As if chocolate was bad, as if anything ( Read more... )

I have nothing of my own to say today. So in that spirit, just let me share these words from my friend Barbara CraftonSometimes prayer is not a set of brilliantly chosen original words. Sometimes it can't be anything more than the familiar drone of ancient words from someone else, someone long ago, words you learned yourself a long time ago, words ( Read more... )

Today's liturgical calendar commemorates John of the Cross, who entered into the risen life on this date in 1591 ( Read more... )

Today I keep thinking about emptiness ( Read more... )

All of these memories keep flooding back. This one is about a monk I knew by the name "Father Doctor ( Read more... )

Talking about transcendent experiences has made me think about Patrick (not his real name). The experience I describe here took place 12 years ago tonight ( Read more... )