A long-time friend who follows this blog has a vacation home on Lopez Island in Washington. He recently sent me a photo and note saying he had just seen a seal on a nearby beach: He added this comment: “Steve, they call this catastrophic molting where the seal comes up on the beach for 26 daysContinue reading “Catastrophic Molting, Self-Decapitation and Personal Renewal Options for Seniors”
Mashed Potatoes
In the late 80s, I was teaching religious studies classes at Heritage College in rural Washington. One of the students was a hospice nurse. During a class discussion, she shared an experience that has fascinated me ever since. She was recently divorced at the time, but on good terms with her former husband. His father was apparently aContinue reading “Mashed Potatoes”
Disciple Dog and the Scary Storm
Today I want to introduce you to one of my long-time and trusted spiritual guides – Disciple Dog. We’ve been buddies for years. If I was working on sermons and feeling stuck, I would visit him. He always helped me see things more clearly. He was much loved by the congregations I served –people often saidContinue reading “Disciple Dog and the Scary Storm”
What’s A Good Death?
“I don’t want to be in pain.” “I don’t want to be a burden.” “I want to be at home.” I’ve often heard people say these things when talking about dying. There is often also an unspoken hope: “I hope my life adds up to something.” If these wishes are met, we might hear “Well at leastContinue reading “What’s A Good Death?”
Time to Go Vertical?
Today’s piece begins with a quiz. This photograph is: My grandson reaching out of our trailer’s skylight to see what it feels like. A visual metaphor for prayer. All the above. If you answered “c” you are correct. Last week’s entry on enlightenment included an homage to Huston Smith. No writer or thinker has inspiredContinue reading “Time to Go Vertical?”
“How Do You Know If Someone Is Enlightened?”
Huston Smith has been a guiding light in my life. I first encountered him in the 80s. I was teaching comparative religion in a small college and used his book, The Religions of the World, which students from diverse backgrounds always found engaging. In 1996, PBS broadcast a series of interviews of Huston with Bill Moyers, TheContinue reading ““How Do You Know If Someone Is Enlightened?””
Child’s Play
This past Monday, I was driving past our neighborhood school at lunch time and saw something I had not seen in a year: children playing. Outdoors. On the school property. Lots of them. On their own. They were chasing balls and chasing each other. Some were sitting in pairs on the grass, some were walking around onContinue reading “Child’s Play”
“Six Things That Matter Most” — A List for All Seasons
There often comes a time when a family is told their loved one has just a few hours or days left before dying. It can be an agonizing time of not knowing what to do other than wait. The loved one may still be able to communicate or, more often, is sleeping much of time. What do youContinue reading ““Six Things That Matter Most” — A List for All Seasons”
Here’s Looking at You
This week I want to share a personal reflection on art, motivated by a recent article in the New Yorker. Take a minute to look at – and into – this person’s eyes. He died 351 years ago.What do you see? (Seriously. Take a minute. It’s worth it.) First, a little personal background. I did notContinue reading “Here’s Looking at You”
Your Purpose Is More Important Than Your Plan
It seems some people follow a straight, well-planned path in life: they set goals and expectations day after day, year after year — and achieve them. But for most of us, events can disrupt our plans. It could be something affecting only me, or something like COVID that impacts everyone. We can be left with feelings ofContinue reading “Your Purpose Is More Important Than Your Plan”
Steve Jacobsen, Ed.D 