Have you ever had a bad injury: pinched nerve, pulled muscle, broken bone, unrelenting cramp? Nociception is what lets you know. It's our body's programmed alarm system, sort of like a smoke detector, but instead of sound, it’s screeching pain. As soon as the central nervous system detects change above a safe threshold, the alarm goes off and it can’t be ignored. Four weeks ago, nociception stopped me in my tracks.

Good quotes offer a quick hit of wisdom. Those that resonate provide an "aha"- a delicious moment of shared insight. Does it matter who said them? Do we appreciate wisdom independent of its source, or is it the source that influences our idea of what is wise? For me quotes are windows to the values of an individual. Come be a voyeur with me...

When Casey Roberts died this week, she was dressed in a t-shirt that said, "This is what awesome looks like." It’s a perfect fit.

Casey and I met way back in 1995, as students in Interfaith Seminary. To manage the workload, five of us formed a study group we call the Merry Ministers. We became sisters collaborating on reading/writing/study/self exploration/laughter/tears/life.

Thursday is Thanksgiving, a national holiday. I feel ornery writing about it. In this moment there's no feeling of appreciation. In fact, I’m filled with resistance! Gratitude is not a faucet I turn on and off. Suppose I’m grumpy. Should I force myself to feel gratitude?

As the leaves fall in the northeast, one of my favorite events happens. I watch the geese prepare for their long flight to warm weather. For me, they model interdependence and how to ensure that our journey through life is uplifting. Here are the facts.