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• hope and other non-sequiturs

  A couple weeks ago I posted on hope   and posited some ideas about both some things that I don't hope for during these times, mostly that our lives return to what they were...and some things that I do hope for: a return to knowing that we don't want Read More... Posted Sunday, April 12, 2009 1:36 PM by Beth Patterson | 0 Comments Filed under: 7 generations, ancestors, connectivity, faith, hope, prayers

• hope built on new sensibilities

  As I recently hurriedly posted about a speech made by Warren Buffett concerning hope for the U.S, I found myself struggling with the concept of hope in these difficult days. As I've been reflecting since then, nothing profound has hit me, but below are Read More... Posted Saturday, March 28, 2009 7:44 PM by Beth Patterson | 4 Comments Filed under: 7 generations, becoming more human, behavior change, clear vision, community-building, connections

• Afterwhile, Crocodile

  The coming two weeks honor the death of my paternal grandmother, Mildred (Millie) on March 18, 1989. She was 96. It also honors the death of my mother, Agnes (Aggie Ginny Shinny) on March 23, 1978 at the age of 58 and my father Richard (Pat) on March Read More... Posted Sunday, March 15, 2009 12:19 PM by Beth Patterson | 23 Comments Filed under: 7 generations, abandonment, ancestors, angels, one single impression

• Mother Teresa: no one gets out without a doubt

  Since Mother Teresa's death in 1997 she continues to inspire us to grow spiritually. With the publication of Come Be my Light in 2007 her life of faith has taken on new layers of depth and meaning. She was revered throughout the world during her lifetime Read More... Posted Saturday, March 14, 2009 3:49 PM by Beth Patterson | 2 Comments Filed under: 7 generations, ashes, burning, confession, Mother Teresa, site fidelity

• Soft on the bottom, but not the bottom line

  "Everybody’s going to have to give. Everybody’s going to have to have some skin in the game," --President elect Obama, early January 2009 Scott Tissue is the brand that 50 years ago my mother taught me was the most economical and used less trees. 3 sheets, Read More... Posted Friday, February 27, 2009 10:21 AM by Beth Patterson | 0 Comments Filed under: 7 generations, civic responsibility, climate change, habits, sacrifice

• The Lost...or not... Generation

  Make sure to watch this youtube video on 'The (so-called) Lost Generation' all the way to the end--it is profoundly hopeful. Those born totally of post-modernity face special risks and bring potential gifts we can't fathom. Thanks to my friend Carl McColman Read More... Posted Monday, February 23, 2009 11:17 AM by Beth Patterson | 1 Comments Filed under: 7 generations, adolescents, ancestors, brokenness, hope

• food shortages may be around the corner

  'Stay awake, friends. Don't scatter and sleep. Our friendship is made of staying awake.' --Rumi Most North Americans think food shortages or famine are something that only happen in Africa and Asia. How could such catastrophe happen to us? Easy. What Read More... Posted Sunday, February 22, 2009 4:08 PM by Beth Patterson | 7 Comments Filed under: 7 generations, acceptance, blooming where we're planted, calling things by their right name, capacity, community-building, complaint-free world, hope, hospitality, life finds a way

• A genie with 3 get-out-of-the-bottle-free questions

  ";" galleryimg="no" mce_src="http://www.virtualteahouse.com/blogs/beth/WindowsLiveWriter/GeorgeKinderThreeQuestionsaboutLifePlann_D3FE/videob11b32be8ca2.jpg"> Well worth the 3 minutes and 24 seconds! Get Rich Slowly recently did a post about George Read More... Posted Monday, February 16, 2009 6:37 PM by Beth Patterson | 3 Comments Filed under: 7 generations, abundance, acceptance, aging gracefully, amazement, hope

• a slow turning

  Submission for this week's One Single Impression prompt: slowly Visit this link for connections to a plentitude of particular poems about this prompt. Inspired by Quiet Path's post of January 31 titled A tad more each day . It's just a slow turning. Snow Read More... Posted Sunday, February 01, 2009 8:40 AM by Beth Patterson | 28 Comments Filed under: 7 generations, ancestors, blooming where we're planted, community, light, liminal space

• viva la particularities

  This is a submission to a synchroblog (synchronized blogging) on faith and ethnicity. Here are the excellent entries so far: Susan Barnes on Just a God of the West K.W. Leslie on Why I went to an all-white church Adam Gonnerman on Multicultural experience Read More... Posted Wednesday, January 14, 2009 1:28 AM by Beth Patterson | 6 Comments Filed under: 7 generations, confession, faith development, particularities

• Closer than your own skin

  Take 2 on the One Single Impression prompt: skin Sweet Gram's natural reserve finally pried the question from me her pointed answer laid me bare flayed me No, Beth, he's closer than your own skin Please click on the link for the story of my Grandmother's Read More... Posted Sunday, January 04, 2009 12:05 PM by Beth Patterson | 19 Comments Filed under: 7 generations, beauty, courage, near death experience, one single impression

• Saving our skin

  Submission for one single impression prompt for January 3: skin Visit for a variety of interesting poetic interpretations of this prompt. pre-dawn iditerod snowballs, ice and salt musher's wax saves G-dog's paw-skin So all is not lost. flayed alive $10 Read More... Posted Sunday, January 04, 2009 12:20 AM by Beth Patterson | 25 Comments Filed under: 7 generations, consumption, finding our voice, forgiveness, freedom

• All spiritual traditions arise from the land

  by Jonathan Merritt Portland, OR Posted from an article at the Sacred Fire Magazine Photo by Craig Sandler All spiritual traditions arise from the land. For weeks, this line plagues me. Finally, I go outside on an unseasonably warm February day. I sit Read More... Posted Friday, January 02, 2009 6:05 PM by Beth Patterson | 1 Comments Filed under: 7 generations, ancestors, calling things by their right name, elders, listening, sacred fire

• What Children Really Want for Christmas

  This post from Get Rich Slowly , December 2007. Really good, simple stuff here. Kris and I have been reading Unplug the Christmas Machine by Jo Robinson and Jean Coppock Staeheli. This book urges readers to escape the commercialism of the holiday season, Read More... Posted Wednesday, December 24, 2008 11:45 AM by Beth Patterson | 0 Comments Filed under: 7 generations, abundance, unplugging

• What might the Buddha, via The Eagles, say about the trampling of the Wal-Mart worker?

  The atrocity at Wal-Mart this weekend left most of us stunned and somehow defensive. 'I wouldn't have pushed by the man...or his co-workers who were trying to help.....' It reminds me how upon hearing the story of St. Peter betraying Jesus with a kiss Read More... Posted Tuesday, December 02, 2008 11:56 PM by Beth Patterson | 9 Comments Filed under: 7 generations, community, compassion, fear, where's home?