Magical Memoir Moments
My Seventieth Summer, “O Lord, to look at the clouds.”
My dear daughter-in-law gave me a copy of this book as a Christmas present last year. I’ve been chewing it slowly, lectio divina-style. Right now, the summer poems are calling to me. You probably know the most famous one, “The Summer Day.” Here’s another, called “While I Am Writing a Poem to Celebrate Summer, the…
Seeking Wisdom: A Lifelong Quest
If you rubbed a magic oil lamp and Aladdin offered you only one wish, what would it be? I’d ask for wisdom. The story of King Solomon, who famously chose wisdom, made a deep impression on my in my youth, and later I prayed often for wisdom as a mother, teacher, and college president. In…
Let Your Life Speak: A Memoir Writer’s Memoir
Parker Palmer turned 70 years old today. I celebrated his birthday by re-reading his book Let Your Life Speak. I took the memoir lens in hand and went searching for how Parker uses his life story in this book. The code on the back jacket cover says “spirituality/work life” not “memoir.” But what if we…
Spiritual Autobiography Workshop II
Yesterday I led a second workshop on spiritual autobiography at my church. Most of the people who attended the first one came back, and about ten new folks showed up also. The big table was full! We shared a meal together, recalling rituals from our childhoods–mealtime prayers both serious and comical, night-time prayers. We talked…