In The Season of Mercy - Sunday Post
The Growing Edge December Podcast & What I've Been Into Lately
Today is the first Sunday of December. It is the time of year when the sun is at its furthest distance from the northern hemisphere of our world. The leaves have fallen exposing the beautiful sculptural lines of each tree standing in quiet vigil around my home. The days have grown short and porch lights come on by 6pm in this far western edge of the eastern time zone. The great circle completes with a long sighing exhale as all of nature settles in for the quiet months of winter dreaming. It is now when the skies are filled with frosty stars many cultures return to sacred traditions. We gather in circles holding the night at bay, reminding one another that we are not alone, affirming that even now in the darkest days of the year, we are loved and we are treasured. It is a time of advent, of expectation, of hope for the incarnation of love made visible in the world. It is the time to light the sacred candles one by one by one.
This week I was asked to sing a few songs for a celebration happening at my father and step-mother’s community of faith. I loved sharing an holiday meal and lots of cookies (pretty much made of nothing but butter and sugar) with my amazing 94 year old dad, lovely step mom and a beautiful gathering of spirits. We ended evening clasping hands and singing together of angels and miracles, of darkness and light, of hope and expectation…finally lifting our eyes to one another and affirming the bonds of good will and friendship, lifting a cup of kindness for “Auld Lang Syne” - and it was good, yes beloved…it was so very good.
May we each and all enter into this busy season aware and attuned to the deeper rhythms and undercurrent of lasting love that travels with us from one mysterious turning of the year into the wonder of next.
Question
What might you do in this upcoming busy week to deepen your awareness of the deeper natural rhythms of the season?
Practice
Tonight step outside for a moment, look up at the stars….and whisper “Thank You”
The Growing Edge Podcast - Rebroadcast of Episode 28: A Reason For Delight - A Conversation With Poet/Author/Educator Ross Gay
In this episode Parker J. Palmer and I revisit favorite episode with Author/poet Ross Gay, who has touched countless readers with his books A catalogue of Unabashed Gratitude, Beholding, The Book of Delights, Incitements to Joy, AND The book of (more) delights”. This episode was recorded in December of 2020. In it we discuss finding, noticing and experiencing delight as a daily practice, joy as an act of resistance and the importance of creating a connection to one another and to the natural world. We welcome you to join us for this "delightful" and thoughtful conversation.
If you’d like to listen to our archives you can check them out on The Growing Edge Website Podcast Page. - or sign up for our our Substack The Growing Edge Newsletter.
Note: Parker and I will return with a new episode of the Growing edge on Feb 1, 2024.
What I’ve been Into Lately…..
Books
A Field Guide To Getting Lost by Rebecca Solnit - Luminous. Sometimes to move forward requires feeling lost for a while.
The Book Of (More) Delights by Ross Gay I’m a huge Ross Gay fan girl. His Incitements to Joy and the first Book of Delights were deeply powerful for me. This new collection is also wonderful!
Re-reading Let Your Life Speak: Listening To The Voice Of Vocation by Parker J. Palmer. As you all know Parker has been a cherished colleague and friend for many years. Periodically I reread his books and remember all over again why I keep giving them away to friends.
The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store by James McBride A beautiful novel set during the 1930’s.
The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese A beautiful novel that takes place from 1900-1970’s South India. More about this book later as I’ll be processing it for a long time.
Video
The Daily Good recently posted this video. Its a group that creates events where they bring people of different faiths and tradition to sing. This song if first sung in English - then in Hebrew & Arabic. This event happened in 2018, but the message that one day, there will be no more wars, that children where ever they live are free and safe…This is my prayer too..
All my life, I've been waitin' for
I've been prayin' for, for the people to say
That we don't wanna fight no more
There'll be no more wars, and our children will play
One day (one day), one day (one day)
One day (oh-oh-oh)
One day (one day), one day (one day)
One day (oh-oh-oh)
Music
Javelin by Sufian Stevens This is Sufian’s newest release. His Carrie & Lowell is on my desert island album list. This is another beautiful album.
How Long To You Think Its Gonna Last - Big Red Machine This one has been out for awhile, but if you are new Big Red Machine its a collaborative project with Justin Vernon (Bon Iver) & Aaron Dressner (The National) with lots of interesting guest artist from Anais Mitchell to Taylor Swift to Fleet Foxes and others.
Playlist
If you like streamed playlist that might introduce you to someone new, I’ve been checking out this on. Its the Folk Alliance FAAC charts.
A Field Guide To Getting Lost by Rebecca Solnit - Luminous. Sometimes to move forward requires feeling lost for a while.
Unlike you, I am not a reader. Interestingly enough my Dr has encouraged me to read a book called Sacred Pathways and now I might need to read this one.
For about 3 and a half years I have housed a young man who was recently out of jail and has a very long history of drug addiction. He has a good heart, loves my dogs, and has been helpful around my house and property. He goes to a Methadone program daily. He has some anger issues and has made some decisions that have brought me to a time I have asked him to leave. I am not certain he will go willingly. I know it is the right decision but it is certainly making me feel lost. One of the most valuable lessons I’ve learned in life is that you cannot protect people from themselves. Each time I listen to Singing in the Dark, I am comforted. I think of him when I listen to A Book of Questions and I wonder if I will lose this friend..... I know he has to go for me to move forward in my own healing journey. I am working very hard to lower my tolerance of bad behavior from others and still offer grace and mercy to this person. I appreciate the way your words and music offer parallel my life.
This week, I hope to intentionally move myself into a frame of mind where I can write some poetry. I don’t think it matters whether the poems are any good, what matters most is getting into the space where I feel like writing.