Church O’ the Pines Old Man River

AT THE CHURCH O THE PINES, it is a fine morning. Old Man River ripples and sparkles. The blue jays—not the most melodious members of the choir—nevertheless are singing their parts with gusto. The deer have been by for their morning snack in Fellowship Hall. And the chickadees, as always, chat and gossip sweetly. The Keeper of the thermostat has

A Wild Path Upcoming Release

HI EVERYONE: I am growing more and more excited about the upcoming release of my new book, ‘A Wild Path.’ One of the most gratifying things is to see the very generous words of praise it continues to receive. Last week I shared the thoughts of esteemed author Parker J. Palmer. Below are a few more. Meanwhile, so many of

Man’s Inhumanity

MAN’S INHUMANITY to man is a story as old as humanity itself. One of the places we go to find hope, respite and relief is Church. Yet we humans ostracize each other, stab and shoot each other, cut off one another’s heads and bomb one another, because of which church we attend. Here by the Mississippi River on the edge

Wonderful News! Cooper’s Hawk

WONDERFUL NEWS! On September 8, I posted the story of finding a juvenile Cooper’s Hawk stunned and injured on a sidewalk outside the Stay Fit Gym here in Sartell. Standing guard and asking folks to give the bird a wide berth, I called my friend Elaine Thrune, a wildlife rehabilitator. Elaine arrived quickly and with a bit of subterfuge and

Little Stream

LITTLE STREAM, I can still hear you calling, though my footsteps may take me far away; through the seasons you’re rising and falling; young and old each new day, you move along but you stay, and I thank you for passing my way.

A Walk in the Woods

A WALK IN THE WOODS is good for many things, especially this time of year. Eyes and ears and nose and heart, legs and lungs, muscles and sinews. But mostly, it’s good for the soul. And to be able to walk your own woods around your own cabin, a woods you tend and care for, among pines and maples and

Church O’ The Pines Sacred Nature

HERE AT The Church O The Pines, we make no differentiation between nature and the realm of the sacred. We believe that heaven ‘is as much under our feet as over our heads.’ We agree with the Zen poet who said, “Green trees, fragrant grasses… a place not sacred? Where?” We know that human beings are natural creatures, as much

A Wild Path Dust Jacket

TODAY I AM delighted to share the beautiful dust jacket for my new memoir, A Wild Path. With an official pub date of Dec. 5, I’m even more delighted to say that you can now pre-order. Through Amazon or other online outlets, even better from your local independent bookseller. Or for a signed copy from me, simply use this link

With the Kids and Grandkids Gone

WITH THE KIDS and grandkids gone, the white throated sparrows and many of the loons gone, and Kathy at home, it is up to me to drive north and drop by the island one last time. To check and double check locks and latches and odds and ends, to say a last goodbye to the ‘dear old cabin’ (99 years

Church O’ the Pines: Osprey Wilds Environmental Learning Center

THIS MORNING’S Church o’ the Pines post comes from Osprey Wilds Environmental Learning Center, where our ‘Writers in the Woods’ group has had a GRAND time this weekend. Sixteen souls sharing thoughts, dreams, words, feelings, fears, and hopes. Sharing their hearts with one another in the most open, caring, and generous of ways. All the while enfolded by the beauty