Category Archives: Nature
Among the Trees
I had a presbytery committee meeting in Bowling Green today. These meetings dwell mainly on questions of policy and process. Policy wonks love such discussions, but I am not a policy wonk. By the end of the meeting I wanted … Continue reading
Oak Openings
I went for another long walk at Oak Openings this afternoon, this time ten miles. And this morning I took my Mom to Mother’s Day services at Epworth United Methodist Church on Central Avenue in Toledo.
Worm Farm
My wife got a worm farm in order to harvest their poop — all of which feels odd on many levels. But there they are, the little wormies.
14 Miles
I walked 14 miles this afternoon at a large park near Swanton, Ohio. It was twice as far as I have walked before. Body is tired now. I picked up an order of beans from Señorita’s for dinner. Still eating … Continue reading
Earthworm
This morning I walked four miles on the upper trail, the part above M-52. I parked in the LISD lot. LISD is the office of the Lenawee Intermediate School District. While walking I meditated on 1 Corinthians 3, and I … Continue reading
Blown Down
Last week the oldest oak tree in Wales, and one of the oldest in Europe, was blown down in high winds.
A Path Through the Trees
A path through the trees at Heritage Park yesterday morning. Here is a reflection on trees from my friend Jacci Turner. Trees are a means of revelation. I am that oak, I thought. I feel worn out, battle weary. My … Continue reading
A Tree With Many Trunks
The day began before dawn at Island Park with an Easter Service led by my wife. She included the ‘kindling of a new fire,’ which we used to light candles to represent the light of resurrection. It was a beautiful … Continue reading
Trees and Snow
Adrian is having a late winter snowstorm. Lad Strayer took this picture of trees and snow as the storm began this afternoon.
The Coast
A friend from college years posted this on Facebook. He is taking a son to Portland, so I suppose this is the Oregon coast. Beautiful.
Oceans Are Dangerous
From the Pacific: A woman was swept out to sea by a large wave and drowned on a Northern California beach Sunday in the third such tragedy in the region this winter, authorities said. The 32-year-old woman was walking on … Continue reading
A Solitary Tree
I love the photos Lad Strayer posts each day on Facebook. He is a photographer for our local paper, the Daily Telegram. Lad came to our church once to talk about the homeless men he has befriended over the years. … Continue reading
Pseudo-Dionysius on Light
A quarter moon was lovely this morning in the dark through breaks in the cloud cover, and now there is sunlight. I love to see the sun! In honor of sunlight, here is a quote about light from Pseudo-Dionysius: The … Continue reading
First Stage of the Mystical Life
Today’s walk took me through the lovely campus of the Adrian Dominican Sisters. Appropriately, I was chewing on a quote from Dominican John Tauler, his first stage of the mystical life. It involves reflecting on the wondrous tokens of love … Continue reading
A Safe Neighborhood
A New Year’s Day morning walk in Oakwood Cemetery, which predates the Civil War. The founders of Adrian are buried here: Addison Comstock, his wife Sarah, and his father Darius. (Not the graves above, though.) Michigan governor Charles Croswell also … Continue reading
Looking Back, Looking Forward
Our first snowfall of the season fell yesterday, about five inches. I love the sunlight after a snow storm. Delicious. Looking back on a year of writing on this blog, there are a few posts that stand out for me. … Continue reading
Interplay of Browns
This was the view out behind the parking lot at Bixby Hospital today. I like the interplay of browns. This quote from John Tauler is in my mind today too: Beloved, return all things to the ground of Being from … Continue reading
On Obstacles
The fallen tree was gone from the trail this morning. Someone from the city with a chainsaw, unaware of Zen sayings about an obstacle becoming a new path, cut the fallen tree in pieces and set them on the side … Continue reading
A Tree Fallen Across the Road
I just posted a picture of the trail a few days ago, and now here’s another; only this time there is an obstacle blocking the way. It reminded me of a poem by Robert Frost about a tree fallen across … Continue reading
