Growth
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Living Halfly
Whether in a community of faith,a circle of friendsor a partnership with one,we all need a safe space to be authentic, to speak our truth, to reveal our emotions. Until this happens,we live halfly. When this happens–when… Continue reading
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All Steps on the Path
When you realize you've stopped paying attention,you are paying attention. When you recognize you're not here,you are here. When you become aware that you're living outside of now,you've returned to now. These are steps on the path called mindfulness,on the… Continue reading
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Blink
Aging,we realize that we are any given agefor only a moment. So quickly it passes–all passes. At this end of the journeywe become observers(like God,outside the stream of time,watching time's flightlike a single turning of the clock): a… Continue reading
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Forgiveness
Want to reduce stress? lower blood pressure? release anger? relieve depression?Want to feel more optimistic? hopeful? compassionate? physically energized? All will be yoursif you forgive. You're the one who suffersif you do not. We… Continue reading
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Meeting the Self on a Dark, October Night
I met my selfwhile walking home last nightalong a dark, October road,lined with leafless trees,swept by a coarse wind,smelling of approaching snow. I met my selfand knew he was but a ghost,a resonance of past illusion,an echo of concepts and… Continue reading
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The Point
Jesus never asked anyoneto be orthodox,but he repeatedly asked everyoneto serve, help and heal. Why our obsessionwith creed and confessionwhen Jesus, our brother,says, "Love one another"? Text and image © 2013 by Dirk deVries. All rights reserved. Continue reading
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Training
This is practice,and I am in training. I meditate,and the mind jumpslike a caffeinated kangaroo. This is practice,and I am in training. I breathe,feel the equanimity,until someone in the officepushes one of my several buttons. This is practice,and I am… Continue reading
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The Party
Throw a party. Invite all of your various and sundry selves: the one you enjoy and the one you ignore, the one you honor and the one you fear, the selfish along with the selfless, the… Continue reading
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On Knowing God
She did it again,stepping out from behindmy neatly ordered rank of shirtsat the back of the closet.After giving me a moment to recovershe asked, "It would be odd, would it not, to read about your spouse but not to talk with him, to proclaim… Continue reading
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The Passion Is Enough
She pops up unexpectedly–beneath the darkening canopy of treesin the deep woods,from behind a stack of boxesin a corner of the basement,or like now,in a quiet gallery at the back of the art museum: "Beautiful, yes?" "It is," I answer.… Continue reading