Releasing Old Understandings of Our Culture
What holds us back? This question can arise frequently over the course of a lifetime—whether we’re talking about the lifetime of a person, a community, our nation, or our culture. What prevents us from thriving, from being the best version of ourselves? It might be...
Releasing Old Understandings of Our Nation
Last week, I pondered the need to revisit our self-concepts and release what no longer serves or supports us. It’s important to do this on levels beyond the individual too. As I think about what’s facing our nation in the weeks after a definitely divided celebration...
Releasing Old Understandings of Ourselves
There’s a wise saying that the only constant is change. The world, and our bodies, are in a constant state of flux, though we do not realize it. For example, scientists tell us that our skin cells are all replaced every few weeks! The mountains that seem eternal are...
Overexposure to the Summer Sun
It’s hot here in the Sonoran Desert. It’s not unseasonably hot and unbearably humid, like it is in so much of the US these days. Triple-digit summer weather is standard here in Southern Arizona, and—at least right now—we’re not hitting the record temperatures that we...
Striving Toward a More Perfect Union
I remember celebrating the US bicentennial when I was in sixth grade. There was a workbook at school with all sorts of bicentennial stuff to read. Our neighborhood held a parade, and there’s a picture of me on Mom’s horse, Poco Biernatt. His reins are festooned with...
The Rhythms of Summer
Summer has officially arrived. Here in southern Arizona, the temperatures have been climbing into the triple digits for weeks. I’m taking my morning walk as soon as it gets light—before 5 am—and the temperature is usually already in the 80s. When I get back, I take my...
Taking 12 Seconds
When was the last time you focused on something for at least 12 seconds? I ask this because I recently read that 12 seconds is a neurological tipping point. It takes that much time for a positive experience to get stored in our memory banks. Unfortunately, it takes...
The Monastic Vow of Stability
As I mentioned last week, I recently returned from some retreat time in Colorado. As I hiked among spruce and bristlecone pines, I found myself reflecting on their stationary status. I’d traveled far to spend time in their midst, but they had to stay put. In fact,...
Retreat Time as Treat Time
I recently went up to the mountains of Colorado for some retreat time. The first morning I was there, I found myself thinking about the word retreat, which I’ve reflected on before. We retreat from work, or volunteer duties, or doing our part for tikkun olam...
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