The 60-Second Sabbath

Peace

  • I Sit in Bed Writing This

    I sit in bed writing this.Willy curls beside me,his front right leg,thrown over my calfas over a bolster.He watches me–just watches me–for minutes on end watches me–green eyes wide and calmframed by the roundness of his midnight face.Watchescontentcomplete. Oh, to… Continue reading

  • Bast

    As my cat twists to groom himselfhe's backlit by the setting rays of Ra,the aura of his black fur turned to bronze–Bast bathing on a carpet of golden thread. Text and image © 2011 by Dirk deVries. All rights reserved.  Continue reading

  • Let Go, Again

    I cling to what wisdom urges me to release… Continue reading

  • Good Day

    I accomplished much today.The western sky turns a satisfying golden pink.The crowns of neighborhood oaks and elms, summer-full,darken into rolling hillstoward which crows arc and caw.Everything heads home. Text and image © 2011 by Dirk deVries. All rights reserved.   Continue reading

  • It’s Still Christmas!

    It's still Christmas…the 6th day, to be exact. I don't want to lose the Christmas spirit. I like the feelings of generosity, warmth, wonder and goodwill I've welcomed all December. And I find, after the actual day itself, that in… Continue reading

  • Jingle Bells

    I have this memory of a church Christmas party when I was a child. The kids were invited to call out carols they wanted to sing. One boy shouted, "Jingle Bells." There was this moment of awkward silence, after which… Continue reading

  • 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

  • Amma

    Breathe in. "Abba." Breathe out. "Abba." One of the ways I pray is to silently repeat words or phrases, often matched to my breathing (if sitting) or my steps (if walking). This is nothing unique, but an ancient way of… Continue reading

  • A Gift to Give Yourself

    Forgiveness has less to do with whether or not the other person deserves forgiveness and more to do with the quality of my life, now. Do I want to live anxiously, fretfully, obsessively? Or would I rather live with peace and… Continue reading

  • Returning

    So I return from a time away, where I have been immersed in negativity and cynicism. I was getting sucked in. Not what I wanted. Not healthy. In such a beautiful setting, ripe with delight and creativity, it's a shame.… Continue reading