The story of my life is shaped by what I do each day. One thing that has shaped many of my days from an early age, is a desire to find, and give, the right answer. Getting the right answer kept me in school. Getting the right answer kept me at church. Getting the right […]
Getting the Right Answer Read More »
Not Your Grandfather’s Lenten Devotion How could you not love a Lenten devotion that claims to begin on “Ash Thursday?” Lent Madness kicks off on February 23rd with 32 saints vying for the coveted Golden Halo. What?! Yes, it’s true. The third annual “saintly smackdown” places saints into a tournament-like single elimination bracket. I
Guest Post: Lent Madness! Read More »
Paula Huston is a lay oblate of New Camaldoli Monastery and Hermitage in Big Sur, California, which is the monastery where I am also an oblate. I have met her once at New Camaldoli; of course, we did not talk to each other. We are, though, friends on Facebook. I was introduced to New Camaldoli
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I go to monasteries to appreciate and absorb the lessons monks are learning. I recognize the priorities and practices they are developing in their lives each day, and I seek to incorporate some of the same values and actions into my days. I am a lay person who has committed myself to live by a
What is it About Being a Monk? Read More »
We expect our leaders to be better than we are. We assume, deep inside ourselves, that a person who can lead an organization well can lead themselves well. We believe that the actions of leaders we see in the world demonstrate values like effectiveness, organization, and inspiration. We project that these actions reflect the inner
Book Review: Fallen Pastor Read More »
Each day, I get up and stand at the edge, looking out over the possibilities. Life is filled with possibilities, with opportunities.They are all around us. The challenge for us is to recognize them, to choose, and to take the steps we need to take to meet them. We slow ourselves down. We get in
On the Verge of Possibilities Read More »
I do not enjoy waiting. I enjoy it when things happen right away. I enjoy going fast. I was brought up to appreciate having the right answers. One aspect of “having the right answers” is that getting there does not take very long. It is all about having the answers, not about waiting to get
Waiting & Anticipation Read More »
The most challenging struggle of my life has been to discover and become who I really am. I protect my true self from myself, and everyone else, with elaborate systems of distractions, detours, and defenses. Like a medieval castle, I am behind a moat that is difficult to cross, surrounded by nearly impenetrable walls, and
Being My True Self Read More »
The 2012 Craft Brewery Pilgrimage will commence on Saturday, February 25 at San Pedro Brewing Company! Thirsty pilgrims from all over Southern California are preparing to begin this year’s expanded adventure. Since last year’s tour of craft breweries arrived at Stone Brewing Company at the beginning of October, we have been preparing to set out
2012 Craft Brewery Pilgrimage Formation Read More »
I met David when we began working together. He was insightful and articulate, and understood how things worked in the organization where I was starting. We worked on projects together, and made quite a pair. David was unable to get anything done unless he was surrounded by complete chaos. The papers on his desk had
