“We can use a difficult situation to encourage ourselves to take a leap, to step out into that ambiguity.” Pema Chodron, When Things Fall Apart As one who has always been fascinated with liminal space, the thin space, the betwixt and between, Chodron’s “stepping into ambiguity” speaks to me. Not just as another perspective on embracing non-dualism, but also as a practice or strategy for shifting or moving when we are stuck in crisis.   Often a crisis, a word related to cross, becomes defined by two seemingly irreconcilable conditions: life or death, poverty or wealth, war or peace, etc. But what happens at the “or”? I believe that as these terms, and so many others intersect, there is a space at the intersection which is blurred or “queered”. In my experience that space is filled with new possibilities. And yet we hesitate and retreat toward the endpoints because they are familiar.   Imagine what it might be like to accept Chodron’s invitation and “step into ambiguity”, to step over

  Recently I was honored to offer a sermon at my dear friend Dana’s ordination to the priesthood. As a result some new people were invited or led to my blog Blessing Imagination! Consequently I was asked why the title and why the image above of kintsugi pottery. In offering some kind of explanation memories of the past 3plus years flooded my soul. And I was able to place those blessed memories alongside more recent ones as well as discoveries along the way which help me fill in the gaps of what was once a tenuous title and frame for writing and meditation. In her memoir Tina Davidson recalls a seminar at which Stephen Levine when asked about the meaning of life responded: “…I think the meaning of life is to let your heart be broken.” Davidson adds: “Moist, dark soil, ready for new life to begin” spills out.  Or, I would note, fertile soil is exposed…and the work of reconstruction, reconciliation and redemption begins. The blog, the title, the writing began on March 17, 2020. It began i

  Blessed be God who animates our lives and loves us beyond measure that we too might bring love into the world. AMEN What a joy and honor to be here! I have been privileged to journey with Dana and now, to witness with her cloud of witnesses the sacrament of ordination, is something to behold!  Anyone who knows Dana knows she is passionate about the two great commandments and one of the creative ways she marks this covenant of Love with a capital L is to point consistently to the Robert Indiana Sculpture, that famous square of L O V E! (parenthetically the work of art also marks her love of Philadelphia) But let me use Love as the jumping off point today for it seems to me that no matter what or where or when, the Gospels point us to the Love of God or more accurately toward the God who is Love. And this love is expressed and lived and surrounds us through the mysterious and powerful dynamic of the Trinity. Moreover in our precious sacramental lives, ordination being such a moment but

  For Beauty by John O’Donohue As stillness in stone to silence is wed, May solitude foster your truth in word. As a river flows in ideal sequence, May your soul reveal where time is presence. As the moon absolves the dark of distance, May your style of thought bridge the indifference. As the breath of light awakens color, May the dawn anoint your eyes with wonder. As spring rain softens the earth with surprise, May your winter places be kissed by light. As the ocean dreams to the joy of dance, May the grace of change bring you elegance. As clay anchors a tree in light and wind, May your outer life grow from peace within. As twilight pervades the belief of night, May beauty sleep lightly within your heart. "For Beauty"  by John O'Donohue  To Bless the Space Between Us This is one of  my favorite blessings. I enjoy taking each line and pondering what it means.  Today I am especially drawn to “As twilight pervades the belief of night, May beauty sleep lightly within your he