Blog
Acting Out of Compassion
I told Father Treacy that I think we underestimate the power of an act of compassion. But every time I have had a major change in attitude in my life, it is because I got to know someone and experienced respect and care from them.
Read MoreForgive Us Our Sins
I have been reflecting and meditating on Pope Francis’s public apology for the role of the Roman Catholic Church in Boarding Schools. I appreciate that his leadership will lead to many such reflections. In the course of my work, I talk with leaders of many wisdom traditions. These conversations are really, really fun. Sometimes I…
Read MoreStory of Origin
But the way we tell our stories of origin can dehumanize the wisdom traditions before us, and thus absolve us of looking at the ways our own tradition contributes to or blesses injustice. It can sow seeds of supremacy that later grow and choke out much that is good.
Read MoreBridging Bias and Building Unity
Many leaders of communities of wisdom say that we are entering a difficult and dangerous time. At PTU we want to encourage communities of wisdom to work on both social cohesion and equity. This is the time to bring our deepest wisdoms, the gifts of divine inspiration, human compassion, contemplation, and our best selves to meet the challenges we are facing. I believe we must both bridge bias and build unity because all human beings are human and worthy of respect, no matter our differences.
Read MoreIn Your Face
Last week we learned that a person on Whidbey Island was threatening to disrupt the first Pride Parade in Anacortes. He made other veiled threats. He was arrested before the event, thankfully. I know many of the people who were organizing the event. I could tell that their legitimate concern for the the safety of…
Read MoreA Leap Into Hope
If we sit around and wait for our feelings to change, for our despair to ebb and hope to arise, we will never leave our comfortable, lonely, and hopeless place. What is required in this moment is something like what Soren Kierkegaard called, “A leap into faith.” That is, a leap into trust, into risk, into making an attempt. A leap into hope.
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