Russellings of the Spirit

Latest Posts

  • Remembering

    “I’m sorry. I forgot.” If I had a shiny new quarter for every time I’ve uttered those words in my life, I would be a moderately well-off man.  And although I am getting up there in total birthdays, I can’t… Continue reading

  • Left-Handed

    I am left-handed. [I’m not really, but play along with me here. OK?] I was born this way.  Very early in life, my parents noticed my left-handedness and were ashamed. They believed it reflected poorly on their skills as parents. “Your… Continue reading

  • Why I Pray

    Back in the day, (to be perfectly honest, WAAAAY back in the day), the group Lovin’ Spoonful sang a song that asked the musical question, “Do you believe in magic?” If John Sebastian and his bandmates asked me that today, I would have to say, “NO.… Continue reading

  • Set Straight

    I don’t know if you heard or not, but Tuesday of this week was kind of a big day. Of course, I am referring to the fact that Tuesday was the day Patrick (the dog) and I made our visit… Continue reading

  • Practicing Peace

    [Trigger warning: today’s blog post deals with death. You might want to give it a pass if that topic unsettles you. No judgment here.] I do some volunteer work here in Fort Collins, Colorado with the local hospice organization. (Did you… Continue reading

  • Where the Hush Falls

    So many lessons learned. So many yet to learn. Learning anew as the street’s stillness enveloped me. As Patrick (the dog) and I took our customary morning stroll, we listened and we heard… … nothing. Then a leaf fell from… Continue reading

  • Part II: The Question I Wanted to Ask the Imam

    In yesterday’s installment (which you can read here if you so desire), I talked about a Q&A session I had with a Turkish imam on a recent tour. If you read that post, you will also remember that I talked about the… Continue reading

  • Part I: What I Actually Asked the Imam

    Earlier this month, Joan and I were on a tour. We were in Turkey with a group of 24 other travelers spending 14 days touring that amazing place with the Rick Steves organization. Our incredible guide was the Istanbul born-and-raised… Continue reading

  • Not Enough

    It is always there. It never rests.  I try to ignore it. I try to muffle it. I try to shout over it. All to no avail. It is as persistent as a mosquito on a humid summer night. It… Continue reading

  • Scratching the Choir Itch

    There is something magical about singing. Especially when that singing is done in harmony with other people.  I am not musically intelligent enough to know how it all works, but when those people over there sing one note, the folks… Continue reading