So much of what I read crosses paths with God. The God of my childhood. The God of my children’s Catholic school educations. The God that can put up barriers as soon as his or her or their name is spoken. But still I seek out what I am reading. Because I tell you I […]
Author: Nancy Schatz Alton
Making Friends With Trees
Making Friends With Trees I go out and back to visit the tree. My love takes me to a different tree, a new one to love, big enough to climb inside of. My rubber boots gain enough traction: I belong within its green grace. Within this forest of ours where we’ve made ourselves belong over […]
January
January I’m winter The sky open in its grayness A depth summer never understands I’m the season you give yourself up to sleep To the hours that make no sense except Your body follows the sky’s mutations The moon’s pull, the light receding And returning. We rejoice at June’s long light But winter […]
What do you need?
Everyone should sit firmly anchored in the place where there is no better and worse. ~ Kodo Sawaki It’s hard to feel anchored as the year turns, as the rain returns, as the unexpected snow disappears. The past tells a story we remake again and again. We tell it today to help ease our pain. […]
Fast Moving Clouds
The sky is light blue today. I focus on the moving clouds as I sit with news of the just canceled interview for a story I am writing. Sometimes I get so nervous for interviews. I was nervous this morning and so looking forward to having this meet-up in the rear-view mirror. I’ve interviewed this […]
Startled by Grace
To live is so startling it leaves little time for anything else. —Emily Dickenson Isn’t this how life feels? So often I just feel startled. Like when I walk into book club and am bombarded with the news that an acquaintance has cancer. Then I’m hurtling back and stumbling forward. And eating way too much […]
Where I’m At
I liked how writing on my blog every day made me confront my feelings with words. How doing this every single day made for easier days. How hard it is to face the storm inside. How easy it is to say I shouldn’t feel like this or that, just tell myself to get on with […]
Simple Song
Simple Song I am what I ask for Even as I search the phone, the book, the friend for one right answer— my life piles behind me I blow it away and take it in. I am what I ask for— Green leaf & blue sky Orange walls & red sweater Warm smile, […]
Morning Song
Gratitude slams into me. It arrives when I’m driving KK to school and we’re stopped at the stoplight. The light is perfect, morning blue as the sun rises with the electrical wires crisscrossing across the scene. KK snaps a picture of the moment and shows me the birds on the wire: “Birds.” She’s joyful and […]
We’ve Come to the End
Ah, we’ve come to the end of November: the last day of my daily blogging. Of course it makes me ask, what’s next? I don’t know, but I do know I want to offer up thanks that I played this game. Because it was a kind of play, and it was good for me. What […]