Author Sherman Alexie is a favorite of mine. His willingness to speak the truth through his fiction, his poetry, and films connects with me. In an interview with The Stranger, he reflects on the role of the arts in resistance movements: I’m not one of those artist-writers who thinks they have any real power. I’m … Continue reading Hart to Hearts: Hope from Other Voices
I need to be reminded what it means to live in and with hope. Rev Victoria Safford offers us this poem to help us remember. Our mission is to plant ourselves at the gates of Hope— Not the prudent gates of Optimism, Which are somewhat narrower. Not the stalwart, boring gates of Common Sense; Nor … Continue reading Hart to Hearts: Living at the Gates of Hope
We have all sorts of ancestors. For me, the heroes of the Civil Rights movement of the 1950’s and 1960’s are precious ancestors from whom I draw hope. Their persistence, their faithfulness, their organization inspire me and remind me what ordinary people can do every day. Today’s hopefulness comes from Rosa Parks. I honor her … Continue reading Hart to Hearts: Hope from the Ancestors, Part 1
How can you find hope in a Christmas cookie? I find hope in many moments of beauty in the world, but these fragile and beautiful and tasty moments are lifting me up again this season. The cookies are made by Janet Link, a woman whose mother was friends with my mother and who I’ve had … Continue reading Hart to Hearts: Hope in What is Fragile
#31daysofhope I find hope when I’m intentional about seeking my own grounding and center. Rev Karen Haring is a minister of literature and offers this poem and writing prompt to help us get clear about what comes next for us. We are invited to imagine what we might do here, now, She ends the poem: … Continue reading Hart to Hearts: Writing Into the Future
Today’s hope comes from the vision of the possible. I am grateful for the hope that comes from taking actions both small and large to create the world of which we dream. Barbara Kingsolver offers us this guidance. #31daysofhope
On Facebook, my colleague the Reverend Meg Riley invited everyone she knew to join her in expressing #30DaysOfGratitude during the month of November. I thought it would be a good practice for me and so I did it. Then this morning, she let us know that she was going to continue on but with a … Continue reading Hart to Hearts: A Hopeful December
The cranberry chutney has been loaded into a jar, the pie is still cooling in anticipation of eating tomorrow. We have gathered up all the ingredients and are now in the place of waiting for tomorrow. My gratitude seems endless at this moment: for my family, my friends, my congregation, work that is satisfying and … Continue reading Hart to Hearts: AND — A Thanksgiving Message
The long, brutal election season has ended. We have a new President-elect, and new circumstances to become adjusted to. We each come to this news and new reality with our own experiences and stories. I know many in our community are experiencing fear and grief as we gaze into the unknown of what this next … Continue reading Hart to Hearts: The Day After and an Invitation to Healing
Back in the early days of my parish ministry life, I had the opportunity to preach the homily at an ecumenical Thanksgiving service in the little Vermont village where I was serving. I searched through books, looked at various notes and all those odd bits of paper that preachers of that era kept for inspiration, … Continue reading Hart to Hearts: The Story of Our Land
