From one perspective, the month of December signals the arrival of that part of the year after the crops have been harvested, the trees and vines have yielded their ripened fruits, and the leaves have all withered and fallen to the ground. The light of day is at its shortest duration, and the longest periods … Continue reading Majesty and Misery, Miracles and Mystery
“If your everyday practice is to open to all of your emotions, to all of the people you meet, to all of the situations you encounter, without closing down, trusting that you can do that—then that will take you as far as you can go. And you’ll understand the teachings that anyone has ever taught.” … Continue reading Necessary and Urgent: Where The Heart Goes
"At the turn of the last century, people's hope was in science, technology, and modern progress. As we approached this millennium, we realized the extent of that progress, and that it hasn't taken us far enough. There is a part of us that still has a spiritual hunger. We have spent the past century looking … Continue reading A Spiritual Hunger
Over the course of nearly a decade of consistent effort and tenure here at WordPress.com, I have dedicated much of that time to the exploration of our very human nature as it relates to our experiential awareness of existence as a sentient, self-aware, and yes, spiritually-imbued creatures. In the interest of promoting and encouraging those … Continue reading Poetry, Prose, and Probity
Echoes of the Moment Before I was able to relinquish my tenuous grasp on consciousness, After writing through the relentless sighing of night, The irresistible call of the brightness of the spring morning sun, Pulled my heart and mind to delay fitful sleep, And instead to persist a while longer, In order to enjoy a … Continue reading Echoes of the Moment
"Wisdom and Spirit of the universe! Thou Soul that art the eternity of thought, That givest to forms and images a breath And everlasting motion, not in vain By day or star-light thus from my first dawn Of childhood didst thou intertwine for me The passions that build up our human soul; Not with the … Continue reading Wisdom and Spirit of the Universe
What Lives in Your Heart, Is Always on Your Mind I awoke this morning From a dream about you. I was repairing a section of wall That had separated from the floor. Now ungrounded, it wiggled uncooperatively. You sat in front of me, Chatting as I worked. I turned my gaze to the pinpoints of … Continue reading What Lives In Your Heart
An extraordinary opportunity to travel to Center City Philadelphia this weekend made it possible to fulfill a longtime wish from my younger days to view in person some of the actual original works of Winslow Homer. As a much younger man, full of optimism and the creative spirit, I had thought to become an artist … Continue reading American Watercolor Exhibit
I can feel you. I know you are there. I want you to be there. I think that's the reason it keeps happening. At some point, we both reflect on those moments, and it brings us somehow together. Your face said everything. Just for a moment, it all came rushing back to you--all those moments--they … Continue reading Forever One – A Reverie
The air is bitter cold. The distance between warmth and cold confusion is brief, And only marginally tolerable; The wind stings my cheeks As I make my way to you. I would face a thousand stings To arrive at your door. The door swings wide. As I … Continue reading Reverie
John's Consciousness 