The 60-Second Sabbath

Nature

  • Jeremy’s Wisdom

    Do you know someone like this? "I don't really have anything to say to you, so…here's some words…" Text and image © 2011 by Dirk deVries. All rights reserved.   Continue reading

  • I Stand Mute

    I stand mutein the shadow of my own meekness.Who am I?And who knows that I am? This is not humility;I have abandoned my holy orders,forgotten my ordination:to be–absolutely–me. (with thanks to Debbie Rodahaffer)  Text and image © 2011 by Dirk… Continue reading

  • Mind Grinding

    "Get out of my way!"I say to my mind."Stop bleating and blaring and blocking mewith endless analysis,with relentless reasoning." It does that.It can grind perfectly lovely creativity right into the pavement. Text and image © 2011 by Dirk deVries. All… Continue reading

  • To My Inner Artist

    Dear Inner Artist, I so believe in you. I so believe that you have something important to say and much more to discover. The photography you do is good–sometimes amazingly, remarkably good. It comes from a place of authenticity, deep… Continue reading

  • Body Image

    I feel fat today–unattractive, dumpy.Like those gray, formless cloud-lumps hanging over the foothills.Like that bulbous row of resource-sucking cottonwoods along the river.Like that annoying crow that caws, caws, caws    to keep everyone away from its road-kill dinner. Text and image ©… Continue reading

  • Sanctuary

    "Sanctuary!" I cry.A small door in an infinite wall opens.As the dark trees crowd behind me,I crawl through.The door creaks shut.Now I am an immigrant in the kingdom of the ineffable,small, grateful, safe. Text and image © 2011 by Dirk… Continue reading

  • The Classroom and the Teacher

    "In those days, God taught me as a school teacher teaches a pupil" (St. Ignatius). Really? How does that happen, exactly? The best I can figure is this: My immediate surroundings, the world, all of nature, every individual with whom… Continue reading

  • These Words

    These words are mine to write.They are not yours.They are the clearing in the forestwhere I chant and dance and take chances.These words are mine to write. Your words are yours to write.They are not mine.They are the glass panel… Continue reading

  • Standing in the Pines

    I stand in the pinesa worshipper–sun-warmed needles my incense,hum of wind my hymn.I close my eyes on the past. I stand endlessly in the pines. Text and image © 2011 by Dirk deVries. All rights reserved.   Continue reading

  • Without Mediator or Veil

    I keep searching for manageable definitions of mysticism and descriptions of what it means to be a mystic, a pursuit which, I realize, may be inherently contradictory. Nevertheless, I was happy to come across this challenge from Ralph Waldo Emerson:… Continue reading