faith
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Food is a Gift
When a single tomato holds 100-300 seeds and a single seed can grow an entire plant with thousands more seeds, why are we still paying for food? Seeds multiply and food can be shared. We need systems that care for people and our common home, not just reward achievement. We have more than enough. To Continue reading
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Interdependence Day
The other week, one of my preschoolers proudly showed me how she could tie her shoes on her own. I love working with this age group because they delight in learning and take joy in doing things for themselves. Whether they’re tying shoes or learning another new skill, I’m filled with pride as I watch Continue reading
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The Beauty of Trans-formation
Copyright Image: Chrisjo Transgender Day of Visibility is on Monday, and I’m disheartened when I hear hostile conversations about the trans community. I’m not trans or nonbinary, so I’ll never fully grasp what that experience must be like, but I’ve been fortunate to walk alongside friends on their journeys; many of them I met long Continue reading
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The Blessing of Ash Wednesday
“Remember you are dust, and to dust you shall return.” I looked forward to Ash Wednesday as a kid – not because I understood the weight of those words, but because Holy Days of Obligation meant I could miss part of my school day. Death was an awkward subject. As natural as it was, it Continue reading
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We Need Storms and Seeds
Last Monday, I attended the “Not My President’s Day Protest.” There’s something powerful about standing with people gathered for a common cause as our voices rise together and our feet move in unison. Protesting is an ancient tradition. It’s a way to declare that we are here, we see injustice, and we will not be Continue reading
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Year of the Snake
I celebrated Lunar New Year, the Year of the Snake, on Wednesday with loved ones. When a snake properly sheds its skin, it does not cause the snake any pain. This is because a natural lubricant forms between the old and new layers, which allows the old to slide off with ease. We, too, are Continue reading
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The Silent Nature of Blooming
The following is a reflection I gave for a Spring Equinox ceremony in 2024. It was inspired by Joyce Rupp’s poem, Arise and Come, which is at the end of the reflection. When spring unfolds in Portland, it’s hard to ignore the incredible sense of renewal that fills the air. When I go outside, I’m Continue reading
nichole marie 