Grieving is a way of talking about the loss of people or things that we don’t know whether we can do without: a parent, a close friend, or a place. When we get to the point when we are not denying the loss, and we’re not blaming it on somebody, and we are not trying…

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Affiliation is a word that deserves a moment’s thought. I am affiliated with the state of Arkansas and its university. I made a conscious connection to the state and the school, and I remain a loyal Razorback and feel grounded when I am there. I gave the Razorbacks something, and they gave me much more…

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“Only that day dawns to which we are awake” – Thoreau, Walden.  Some believe that in order to cultivate awareness you must take a walk in the woods or meditate in a forest. But awareness can be cultivated in the middle of a city. In fact, we need to look for it wherever we live…

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A follower of the Pew asked several months ago: Where do you experience God the most – in church, on the walks you describe, the beach, or somewhere else? I’ve been giving the question a lot of thought. My answer is unique to me, but hopefully will get you thinking about your own personal answer. Dear…

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The late British author Roger Deakin was described as “an explorer of the undiscovered country of the nearby.” I think this is very descriptive of what all disciples of any faith are called to do. Tom’s Sufis describe it as “being awake.” Others describe it as being “observant.” But the point is to explore the…

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