Stop talking. Find a quiet place. Quiet your body. Slow your thoughts. Listen. The following excerpt is from a sermon shared at the December 9, 2012 worship service at Chalice Unitarian Universalist Congregation. There are many components to finding silence, yes? First is to stop talking yourself. I want to …
Christmas is one of the most complicated holidays of the year for me. When I was a young, I liked all the trappings of my family’s traditional celebration. This included a gathering of 20 or more people, an extravagant meal, an excess of desserts, and many, many presents. As a …
Twenty-eight-year-old Margot (played by Michelle Williams) has been married to husband Lou (played by Seth Rogan) for five years. Their relationship is long past the intense and exciting getting-to-know-you stage. That initial electricity has softened into the intimacy of familiarity, where all kinds of behavior—speaking in baby talk, using the …
As part of my commitment to self-care, I’m trying to have more fun. It sounds easy enough on the face of it, but almost immediately the questions arise, what is fun? Is reading a book fun? Or is it just relaxing? Is all relaxation fun? Is all fun relaxing? I …
Peter and I went to some trouble to see “Young Adult” this weekend (it was playing at only one local theatre), and we’re both glad we did. If you’re tired of trite, predictable movies, then this one’s for you. Rotten Tomatoes summarizes neatly: “Charlize Theron plays Mavis Gary, a writer …
I am often asked for tea-related advice, so I thought it appropriate to share here some of my favorite tea paraphernalia. Tea Kettle It’s important to heat tea to the correct temperature, which is LESS than boiling for green and white teas. It is worth seeking out an electric tea …
Peter and I have seen three movies in the theater over the past week: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2, Captain America, and Crazy, Stupid, Love. Of these three, Crazy, Stupid, Love is the one we both enjoyed the most and would recommend to others. In many ways, …
Three years ago today, my partner and I moved our household and three cats from San Diego to the Bay Area so I could attend Starr King School for the Ministry. I have laughingly said many times that I’m glad I didn’t fully comprehend everything this career change would require, …
This article from humorist Jon Carroll in the San Francisco Chronicle from April 2005 will always make me laugh: click here. “Pockets of reasonableness and harmony will appear as if from nowhere!” I also love the Unitarian Jihad name generators (there are several), though the general need to identify oneself …
November is my favorite month of the year. The days grow shorter and cooler, the stress of the winter holidays is not yet upon us, the greatest food holiday of the year is celebrated, and on top of all that, it’s my birth month. There’s a lot to savor. But …
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