I long to close my eyes, but I can’t because I am driving.  I have traveled this long road between school and home a thousand times, but today is different.  Today I chauffeur my parents on a journey none of... [more]

One of the most meaningful ways that I have encountered the Light through music was during my sophomore year at George Fox University, when I took a History of Latin America course.  The class was one of my favorites, and... [more]

One day I was sitting at the piano, just dinking around on the keys and I came up with a bit of music that I thought was pretty cool; I wonder what I’ll call it—I know! I’ll call it Citadel... [more]

Sundays we’d climb the hill

threading our way

on the worn path,

fern banked, sprinkled

with pine needles,

damp breezes lifting off the lake,

sun slipping

through pines and cedars.

A line of girls in blue chambray shirts

with sailor collars edged in white,

we’d take our orderly seats

on split-log... [more]

For years I had been questing, endlessly searching—is there a God? I tried reading books on the different ways to call God (Creator, Higher Power, Divine, Universal Energy).  I attended Native American ceremonies.  I walked in nature where I found... [more]

K.D., Ben, Leslie and I were out at the VA’s long-term care facility in Vancouver one evening playing music for the guys.  It was a thing I sort of felt led to do, and they thought it was a good... [more]

Today is Sunday, January 26^th.  Before today, I didn’t expect to write anything for this chapter of Minding the Light.  I’d drawn a blank for this topic.  I’m not a musician, and while I like music very much, I’m not... [more]

Early in my music teaching career, I recall working with a student, perhaps 10 or 11 years old.  I’ll call her Mary.  Mary was pleasant, easy to work with, and put practice effort in; however I never felt a strong... [more]

For the first time all day I was alone. Not really alone, nurses bustled about down the hall and the whole hospital building buzzed with the hushed vibrating energy that was still new and uneasy to me. My sister had... [more]

One night I was at an evening worship service with my mother.  The interior of the church was softly lit.  It seemed to be glowing, perhaps from candlelight.  The congregation was singing a hymn when, suddenly, I began to cry. ... [more]

A few years back I had the honor of being part of Progressa, a Guatemalan Friends teaching group. Our mission was to provide one-on-one English tutorials to university age young people who spoke little or no English.  Most of the... [more]

In the spring of 2010 my husband and I took a trip to occupied Palestine. On a Sunday morning we worshipped at Christmas Lutheran Church in Bethlehem. Also visiting there was a group from Germany who sang “Dona Nobis Pacem”... [more]

In the spring of 2013, after returning to work from maternity leave, I began advocating for a student with a disability who shall remain unnamed.  Our new-to-the-field psychologist insisted that the student didn’t qualify for specialized instruction because test scores... [more]

Come walk with me, the journey is long....

the journey, the journey, the journey is long
 

And in isiZulu:

Hamba nathi kalulu latu (repeat)

Kalulu, kalulu, kalulu latu (repeat)

A powerful gift of music came to me on the Scottish island of Iona, halfway... [more]

Measured by the scope of itself, Good Friday ends in silence and death.  I've given up trying to lead worship on Good Friday.  It's too painful for me. 

A few years ago, a small group of us gathered for worship on... [more]