At Congregation Beth Shalom of the Blue Hills I sit by the gallery’s fireplace with Lila Rosenbaum, 86. Sunshine warms our backs from the wall-high windows and she speaks of finally “having a home.” The 9,500 square foot temple is tucked to the side of an open field by a stand of old growth trees […]
Politicians take an all-or-nothing stand on issues while a spiritual leader urges practical morality to get things done. It’s ironic. Since when did it take courage to compromise? Pope Francis wrote, “I prefer a Church which is bruised, hurting and dirty because it has been out on the streets, rather than a Church which is […]
Back in Paleolithic times, humans befriended wolves, and thus, developed canine companionship. W. Bruce Cameron, New York Times best-selling author, imagines that first, eons-old encounter in his new book, The Dog Master, which I rank a 5-star page turner. The distrust and fear between human and wolf are pitted against their shared desperation for survival. […]
After neglect, sexual and physical abuse, wholeness is possible. Christine “Cissy” White of Weymouth has transformed fear and secrecy into a vibrant love of self and others. The act of writing aided her triumph. An activist for other survivors, she founded Heal Write Now, which shares recovery from the inside out through writing. Writing to […]
Have you ever had an experience that defied reason? In 1987 my mother was in a coma from a brain aneurysm. On the seventh night of her hospitalization, I dreamt my mother was drifting upwards through a wide tunnel toward angels set against blue skies. In my dream, I thought, “Mom, are you saying goodbye?” […]