Julien Green

The greatest explorer on this earth never takes voyages as long as those of the [one] who descends to the depth of [one’s] heart.

Martin Buber – I and Thou

To be freed from belief that there is no freedom is indeed to be free.

Solitude and Companionship

Lately, I have been hiking the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains.  Each time I come off the trail, I find myself looking forward to the next entrance into the wild.   The trail offers much and is a magnificent teacher if we are willing to be the student.  Sections of trail offer sanctuary from the world and a place …

Memory as a Snare or a Freedom

Alice Walker

In search of my mother's garden, I found my own.?

We Are Liars

I recently read this quote from a blog describing the behaviors of a liar:  “Liars will often ... suggest punishments for the 'real culprit' if they’re being accused of something ...” Blame is deeply embedded in the human experience.  We blame others when we are threatened, don't get our own way, or feel fear, powerless, angry, or ashamed. …

Katherine Min – Secondhand World

It’s a secondhand world we’re born into.  What is novel to us is only so because we’re newborn, and what we cannot see, that has come before - what our parents have seen and been and done - are the hand-me-downs we begin to wear as swaddling clothes, even as we ourselves are naked.  The …

Winnie the Pooh

Perhaps if we told the story the story would tell us how to get there. Winnie the Pooh ___________________ Winnie the Pooh:       Christopher Robin, perhaps I could find it easier if only I was sure, that is if I knew what the North Pole looked like.” Christopher Robin:    Well ... it’s a ... kind of …

Diane Ackerman – A Natural History of the Senses

Intense emotion is stressful, and we look to artists to feel for us, to suffer and rejoice, to describe the heights of their passionate response to life so that we can enjoy them from a safe distance, and get to know better what the full range of human experience really is.  We may not choose …

Tolerance

Our culture has become enamored with the word "tolerance".  The word strikes me as minimal.  It actually borders on the offensive.  For example, if my neighbor told me that they were trying to tolerate me that wouldn't be good news.  The hidden message is "I don't like you, but I'm going to try to refrain …