Have you ever watched the PBS program “Finding Your Roots”?

The host (Henry Louis Gates Jr.) invites celebrities to the program to discover portions of their past, their family lineages. Throughout the program, he often points out and speaks of where they came from and how the celebrity is where they are now. He guides them on a journey of…

Grief, grieving, lament, suffering and joy “full” life.

As I walk the usual path of my local park there’s a tug inside calling me to sit by the pond. Gaze. Reflect. Be with God.

While sitting and gazing out at the ducks and geese, the water fountain bubbling, the epiphany of today targets my finger to my phone to write by the pond—these glowing reflections on grieving…

Today, this week, and throughout the coming days, I invite you to join me on a path of word trails. Some of you, maybe most of you have walked a rocky, dirt covered, sandy, or paved trail with me, and if you haven’t you’re always welcome to.

But a word trail may be new to you or somewhat familiar. What I hope most of all with this word trail is that it will be spacious.

The way of compassion has been a strong area of question and prayer, rethinking, participation, and wondering. In reading Compassion, the authors offer helpful insights, and guidance in ways to live with greater awareness of compassion = voluntary displacement. This shift has invited…