Our dreams can be great motivators. But what if what we aspire to is already within our grasp? A poem on letting go of the stress of ambition and embracing our innate potential.
Poetry
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With the wisdom of Jane Kenyon, a contemplation on gratitude and ordinary grace in our own finite lives.
After an exchange with an angry man, a poem about a woodland encounter bestows unexpected guidance — about how acknowledging the spaces we share can be what closes the gaps between us.
A return to the gritty heart of the Christmas season, and a vision for a holiday celebration that does real and practical good for those around us.
"Vulnerability is not a weakness, a passing indisposition, or something we can arrange to do without, vulnerability is not a choice, vulnerability is the underlying, ever present and abiding undercurrent of our natural state."
As we turn the seasonal corner to the longest nights of the year, a reflection on the time we spend in the darkness, and what we can learn from it before turning back to the light.
Even at our most broken and scattered, Mary Oliver seems to say, we can uncover new wholeness by examining each shattered piece.
Leonard Cohen's timeless lyrics are a beacon of hope for even the most broken among us. An expression of gratitude to our latest lost legend.
Editor’s note: This essay was written and originally published in 2007. It is reprinted here with permission. Some years ago, I came across one of the most intriguing book titles that I have ever seen. It was set forth in the form of a question: Is America Possible?…
November in the upper Midwest often feels like a “fifth season” to me — different from autumn and winter in ways that are not easily described. But “Praise Song” by Barbara Crooker helps me see that November is about the abundance to be found in certain kinds of scarcity.
A life doesn't have to be extraordinary to have an impact in the world. A reminder that we can build lives that have meaning, no matter what cards we're dealt.
Compassion is a virtue, but do we direct it inward as much as outward? Parker Palmer gleans wisdom from Mary Oliver on mending ourselves so that we might be better companions to loved ones in need.
In a season of shrill political rhetoric, Washington's poet laureate travels the open road, finding potentiality in the vast landscapes and the communities of his glorious state. Through the arts, he says, we can cultivate a space for the inner life that's at the heart of mystery — and not knowing.
An autumnal poem from Linda Pastan guides Parker Palmer to a realization: that we can become enraptured with the world around us once again, if only we revive our childlike capacity for wonder.
Genuine communication is a collaborative process marked by respect. Parker Palmer reminds us of the importance of what we say, how we say it, and how we listen — in politics as in life.
A true friendship doesn't only bring support and joy, but also challenges us to grow. Omid Safi reflects on the importance of nurturing relationships that acknowledge our imperfections, and nourish the best in us.
As the days grow shorter and the air grows crisp, Parker Palmer invokes Rainer Maria Rilke on lessons from the season: on having faith when we fall, and trusting in the mysterious resilience of life.
Reflecting on a tumultuous summer, Sarah Smarsh leans into the gifts that abound amid tragedy and loss, with hope for our unity and our resilience.
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