Hello, friends!The usual engines are still puttering right along — my newsletter, my mostly-photos micro.blog page — but the BLOG has been hopping so far this year. Things could slow down soon, because classes start in a few days and teaching is, after all, my day job (also my heart-and-soul job). But for now anyway stuff is happening. Examples:Two years ago I declared The Year of Hypomone, and last year The Year of Repair, but this year will be The Year of Focal Practices. That... more

Hello friends! Once more let me thank you for your generous support. I'm in debt to your open hands and open hearts. At a time when I was ready to abandon my blogging, you gave me encouragement that was genuinely renewing, and has continued to be. For the next couple of weeks I won't be blogging very much, partly because of the Season — but also because I'm taking some time to go back and read my own blog! A strange thing to do, perhaps, but I need to understand which... more

So a little while ago when I said that I was shutting down my blog for the foreseeable future, what I did not foresee was the generosity of my supporters here. I really thought everybody would be saying "Hey, he ain't writing, so I ain't contributing" — but instead I received unexpected grace. What I got was support for what I've done in the past, hope for what I might do in the future, and patience with me in the present. It has been a really special gift. I am... more

Hello, friends! Let me begin by thanking you all for your warm and encouraging support of my diverse and divergent activities. Last week I had an absolutely wonderful time at Laity Lodge, my happy place, leading a retreat with the great Jessica Martin. Photos from the retreat are up, and the audio will follow in due course. When that audio is available, I hope it will include Jessica's homily from our Sunday Eucharist, because it was a memorable one. I am not returning in any full way to... more