Peace
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An Unfinished Life
"Each of us leaves an unfinished life," says poet Mary Oliver. It is possible not to? Is it possible to live so fully, so richly, so completely that you exit exhaling, "That's it, then, once this mug goes back in… Continue reading
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Christmas Greetings
"May you allow room for God to speak this holiday season." "May you draw close to God–and God draw close to you–this Christmas." My final Christmas card had been sent when I discovered these two lines in an old journal… Continue reading
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Blessing Tree
In 2002, the Christmas after my mom died (two years after my dad died and four years after my sister died), I did something uncharacteristically Dirk; I decorated my tree in stages: I assembled it one night, then put the… Continue reading
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Core Word #8: Humility
Hello, humility. Did you know you're one of my favorite words? In case you're wondering, I didn't choose you as a core word because I believe I embody you. I don't, and I know that. I truly aspire to, but… Continue reading
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God Speaks Simply
God said: You do not speak for me.I speak simply; you do not. Twitter of sparrows,creak of tall trees,hiss of blown snow,scrape of dry leaves,silence of stars. Laugh of a child,sigh of a lover,touch of a friend. I speak simply.… Continue reading
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Core Word #7: Awareness
Anthony de Mello wrote a potent little book titled Awareness. Do not read this book. If you read this book, you will be picked up, shaken out, and dropped several feet from where you started. You will most certainly be… Continue reading
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Core Word #4: Mystery
Mystery runs a close second to stillness in my list of favorite words In liturgical Christian churches, worshipers each week gather to proclaim "the mystery of our faith": Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ shall come again. The mystery… Continue reading
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Core Word #1: Stillness
Just saying, hearing or reading the word stillness quiets me. I'd say I strive for stillness, but that's a contradiction. Stillness isn't something you go after, but something that descends on you when you stop striving or going after. To… Continue reading
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Discover Your Silence
Discover your silence. Recover God. Text and image © 2010 by Dirk deVries. All rights reserved. Continue reading
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On Silent Retreat
"There is nothing in the world," says Meister Eckhart, "that resembles God quite like silence." All I hear, at this moment, is the sound of my pen tip rolling across the paper. It's that quiet. I sit up in the… Continue reading