Breakfast First

Happy New Year! If you’re in need of a resolution, here’s one you can adopt:

“Never work before breakfast;

if you have to work before breakfast,

get your breakfast first.”

– Josh Billings –

Wishing you a joyful, peaceful, kind year.

Nourish peace, cultivate loving kindness, and carry the calm.

Nature of the week – a December pansy:

Shadow of the Week:

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For my posts on coming of age in a community of faith, link here.

Text and photos © 2016 Karyn Henley. All rights reserved.

The Best of Best Wishes

 

The Best of Best Wishes

“Peace on earth and goodwill to all.”

– Luke 2:14 –

Nourish peace, cultivate loving kindness, and carry the calm.

Nature of the week – in lights for the holidays at Cheekwood Botanical Gardens:

Shadow of the Week – a small Christmas village casts a long shadow:

If you want me to send these thoughts to your email each week, simply sign up on the right.

For my posts on coming of age in a community of faith, link here. karynhenley.com

 

A Safe Space

 

Text and photos © 2016 Karyn Henley. All rights reserved.

 

 

A Safe Space

“Hospitality is . . .

the creation of a safe, inviting, trustworthy space

– an atmosphere as much as a place.”

– Krista Tippett* –

 

Nourish peace, cultivate loving kindness, and carry the calm into your gatherings with family and friends. May you yourself be a safe inviting, trustworthy space. May you be hospitality.

Nature of the week – sun through leaves creates a stained-glass window effect:

stndglslvs1

Shadow of the Week – morning shadows on my kitchen blinds:

shdwblinds

If you want me to send these thoughts to your email each week, simply sign up on the right.

For my posts on coming of age in a community of faith, link here.

*From On Being‘s Civil Conversations project, which I highly recommend.

Text and photos © 2016 Karyn Henley. All rights reserved.

 

In Nature’s Cathedral

 

 

In Nature’s Cathedral

“The blue sky is the temple’s arch,

Its transept earth and air,

The music of its starry march

The chorus of a prayer.”

– John Greenleaf Whittier –

 

Pause for a moment whenever you step outdoors this week. Look up and take in the cathedral of nature. Join the chorus of its prayer.

And as always, nourish peace, cultivate loving kindness, and carry the calm.

Nature of the week:

mooncrapemyrtle

Shadow of the Week:

ptonshdw1

If you want to receive these thoughts by email each week, simply sign up on the right.

For my posts on coming of age in a community of faith, link here.

Text and photos © 2016 Karyn Henley. All rights reserved.

 

I Have Loved the Stars

 

 

I Have Loved the Stars

“I have loved the stars too fondly to be fearful of the night.”

– Sarah Williams –

Even when stars are not visible – in daylight or under cloud cover at night – they are still there. And when life around us seems cloudy and dark, love is still there. Love holds steady. Grace holds. Kindness holds. These are our stars in the darkness. If we locate them, we can trust them to guide us on our journey; out of trust, hope is born. Step toward love. Step toward grace. Step toward kindness. And carry the calm.

Nature of the week:

jpmaplefall

Shadow of the Week:

shdwbtls

Text and photos © 2016 Karyn Henley. All rights reserved.

For my posts on coming of age in a community of faith, link here.

 

The Essential Invisible