the poet’s voice

Janie Cook | September 6, 2010 | 1 Comments

Poets speak with succinct phrases that are packed with meaning.   And that is so very hard to do.  Have you ever tried to put the whole of your life’s focus in a few words?  Once I had a dream that seemed to me to be all I would ever need to know.  I say it [...]

That big ol’ Elephant in the Room

Lesley Brogan | August 10, 2010 | 2 Comments

Sometimes talking about the thing that is most obvious is the hardest thing for me to talk about.  There could be a big issue….the “elephant in the living room” …it could be a job change, an illness, a troubled relationship, or a conversation that may be hard in how we’ll have it. In some moments, I [...]

“the way it is with children”

Janie Cook | August 6, 2010 | 0 Comments

Today I read an editorial on Anne Rice’s recent comment about no longer professing to be Christian.  She claims to continue to be a “follower of Christ”, but  rejects “being anti-gay, anti-feminist “. . . ultimately “anti-life.” . . .  . her brief but brutal description of what Christianity has become.   She refuses to allow the heart of her [...]

Risks ahead

Carolyn Cook | July 23, 2010 | 3 Comments

I did it!  I set a date for my concert!  I reserved a space yesterday, motivated by the shame I would feel if I didn’t do it before this month’s blog.  So, my recital/concert will be August 28, and if you’re interested in coming, just let me know. Now I risk failing miserably, but of [...]

Profile Picture + One

Betsey Brogan | July 11, 2010 | 4 Comments

“The younger generation” has grumbled about how the average age on facebook is old enough to be grandparents. It didn’t start out that way. But as time goes on, more of us who have seen many more birthdays have found joy in reconnecting with long time friends. In our hectic lives it is time-saving to [...]

It’s Only Words

Veronica Samoulides | June 22, 2010 | 1 Comments

Like Laura’s post from Monday, I too had to change my post after Sunday evening. I, too, have thought a lot about delight in the past 24 hours. I’ve had an abundance of gifts thrown my way the past week – many quite unexpected. I’ve grown enough to be aware of the gifts pretty close [...]

The Silent “R” of Risk

Martha Carnahan | June 19, 2010 | 3 Comments

Okay, before you wonder… I do know that the “r” in risk is not silent. But there is another “r” in risk. And I’ve been noticing that it’s been quite silent for me. That second “r” is: Reward. In Laura’s new Be You Out Loud class, she puts an emphasis on the reward part of [...]

Here a Risk, There a Risk, Everywhere a Risk-Risk… Ee-i-ee-i-oh!

Laura Biering | May 20, 2010 | 1 Comments

Seriously.  I have been taking so many risks lately that my main risk muscle – my heart – should probably enter one of those muscle mass contests! So as I sit down to write my post today, I must remind myself that this is about a risk I am intending to take – one that [...]

The Surprise of Silence

Janie Cook | May 6, 2010 | 3 Comments

I’ve heard it said that silence is God’s favorite language.  Sort of a clever saying . . . but if you really think about it, what does it mean?            I’ve taken myself to silent retreats in a variety of ways over the last few years.  I’ve gone to national parks to hike alone, stay [...]

Letting Go (again… and again…)

Martha Carnahan | April 19, 2010 | 7 Comments

Oh oh letting go There’s nothing in the way now, Oh letting go, there’s room enough to fly… ~ Suzy Bogguss* The heart wrenching song, “Letting Go,” by Suzy Bogguss has been wafting through my mind all day.  The song is about a mother-daughter transition, but I’ve been putting a different spin on the song today as [...]