HARDWICK – One of my favorite books to help small children understand death and renewal is based on the life cycle of a dragonfly. Dragonfly eggs are laid in or near water and that is where they are born and live most of their lives. Aquatic nymphs, or baby dragonflies,[Read More…]
Voices of Spirit
A call for voices
To the editor: Since February 2025, I have managed the Gazette’s Voices of Spirit column. It is an education and a pleasure to work with you and the Gazette staff, and even more so with the writers and spiritual leaders in our community. These writers offer thoughtful and meaningful perspectives[Read More…]
The lost art of getting lost
GREENSBORO – It has become rare to get lost while navigating unfamiliar places with GPS on our phones. Early in my driving days I relied on maps and the kindness of strangers to keep me on course, but getting lost was my way to learn my way around. Getting lost[Read More…]
True Religion
The only possible true religion (if there could be such a thing), would be a whole new way of seeing, which our divine Source, in and through us, would weave in tandem. And through the lens of that re-perceiving, —and re-partnering— could come a re-membering —of our birthright member-ship— in[Read More…]
Contemplation and action balance each other
EAST MONTPELIER – One of the ways I deal with my anxiety about the state of our country and world is to stay busy. It serves as both a distraction and a way of feeling I am doing something positive, especially if my busyness has the purpose of helping others.[Read More…]
Seven haiku for a new year
O, how our minds need to grasp: what is held in thoughtis what waits in store. Thinking, watching from a perfect sanctuary.Nothing understood. Here, now, yet again, a chance to experienceexperiencing. Ocean-walk at dawn. Sun, surf, breeze, seagulls singing.Godhead 1.0. Silence says, “Come in.” Learn here-dwelling, story-free.Then — unchained —[Read More…]
Ring out wild bells
“Ring Out, Wild Bells” is a poem written by Alfred, Lord Tennyson in the year of 1850, when he was appointed by Queen Victoria as England’s Poet Laureate. It was customary at the time to ring bells at full circle, a full arc, to mark the passing of the year.[Read More…]
God don’t make no junk.
I don’t remember how old I was when I was first introduced to the phrase, “God don’t make no Junk,” but it was early in my life. Maybe it was on a poster in a Sunday School class, or lesson theme at vacation Bible school, I do not remember. I[Read More…]
I paint because I can!
Last year I was shopping in the wonderful Whistle Emporium with my young adult daughter. We browsed among the million wonderful objects there, and she bought the book “Watercolor in Nature” by Rosalie Haizlett. As we were enjoying a lovely lunch at the Village Restaurant, I thumbed through her purchase[Read More…]
The gift of Advent
EAST MONTPELIER – In recent years, how many of us have found ourselves shaking our heads and bemoaning how Christmas appears to be in retrograde motion, creeping backwards ever closer to Thanksgiving? More recently, I find my head not just shaking, but spinning, as I try to wrap it around[Read More…]
The value of expressing gratitude in all things
MORRISVILLE – At work recently, we had training on conflict resolution. After learning about the harm that unresolved conflict can have on a place of business, and going through ways of dealing with conflict rather than ignoring it, we ended with a gratitude exercise. Each person had a paper with[Read More…]
Jesus is inviting you to supper
EAST CRAFTSBURY – At a recent discussion group, someone told a story about a car their father left when he passed away. It was a Dodge Omni that hadn’t been driven in decades, as it had been sitting in the garage. When he passed, there was suddenly a passionate fight[Read More…]
