Author Archives: bpemery

Tarot Rob lights a match. He reaches into a small yellow pouch and pulls out a gathering of dried lavender. He breaks the lavender, gently, and tears off a small piece. I am absorbed in the sound it makes, the … Continue reading →

Come to Me, and Have Rest  28 “Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in … Continue reading →

The Center isn’t Holding. Joan Didion is a beloved American writer. She first entered the American mind through the essays she wrote in 1960s. At the time, Didion was “on the ground,” doing investigative journalism with hippies in the Haight-Ashbury … Continue reading →

At social gatherings we are sometimes asked, “So what do you do?”  I find this question a bit awkward….maybe even slightly offensive.  The question really means…”What is your current occupation or job.”  Well what if one doesn’t have a job, … Continue reading →

Mark Hawthorn His name was Matthew Hawthorn. He was born on September 26, 1938 in Washington, D.C. He was raised in Connecticut—a state that, you may know, gets its name from a Native American word which means “place of long … Continue reading →

I’d  like to try a little exercise.  I’m going to read off some derogatory names for some groups of people and ask you to stick up a hand if you’ve heard these terms before and know what group they are … Continue reading →

Moving Fast     As I get a bit older, I am developing a greater appreciation for life’s simple things. Like, for example, the simple beauty of sitting down. Of sitting down, that is, and being quiet. No TV on, no … Continue reading →

Spokane Friends, thank you for inviting Tim and me to be among you. It has been a gift on so many levels: * It’s been an opportunity to re-connect with so many we haven’t seen for a long time…    … Continue reading →

News headlines “At least 50 dead and 1,300 listed as missing nearly two weeks after hurricane Dorian hit Bahamas.” “Beto O’Rourke on gun control following record number of mass shootings in the United States: ‘hell yes we’re going to take … Continue reading →