Soundings

The Blog of Mercy by the Sea

We at Mercy by the Sea have so much we want to share with you:

Inspiring and transformational quotes, prayers, poems, videos and books we discover or rediscover
Conversations with upcoming presenters
News and events about what's happening at Mercy by the Sea
Resources and thoughts on contemplative prayer, spiritual direction, the second half of life, emerging leadership, creativity, our relationship with nature and much more!

You'll find seasonal photos of the grounds — vegetation, trees and winged and four-legged creatures that make their homes here. We'll capture changes in the light and colors as the seasons change. So bookmark this page and come back regularly. or subscribe to our weekly eNewsletter where these posts will be sent to your email inbox.

The Flow

A few years ago while participating in the School for the Second Half of Life, I began to write poetry about how that stage of life is a distinct developmental stage that calls to one’s creativity, and can lead to a greater sense of wholeness, freedom and meaning. Here's one of my poems.

Lenten Walking

A beloved story about Catherine McAuley the founder of the Sisters of Mercy is that when she was dying she asked one of the young sisters to incinerate a package for her. The novice was not to open the package or tell anyone about it. Needless to say, the sister was curious and opened the package. Inside were Catherine’s shoes. I have often reflected on this story wondering why the burning of her shoes was so important to Catherine. Catherine and her sisters were often referred to as the “walking sisters”, and this act of burning her shoes seems to symbolize her acceptance that her walking days were done. Catherine was ready to move to the next stage of life.

Climate: Peril or Promise, the Choice is Ours

Extraordinary events call for “unprecedented actions.” The 5th Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change sounds the alarm for the transformation and mobilization needed at nothing less than breathtaking speed. The document is considered to be hopeful in that it shows what we must do to avoid the worst ravages of climate change. However, this scientific guide for governments to deal with climate change calls for "deep emissions reductions" and "rapid, far-reaching and unprecedented changes in all aspects of society.”

The RiverFlow Story and Love Songs to God

Several years ago when my partner Stanley was still alive, the story of RiverFlow began. Stan was then in the advanced stages of Parkinson’s disease. Once a creative dynamo, he became a prisoner of his own body. I firmly believe that because of that wrenching and debilitating difficulty, a life-enhancing response came to us out of the blue.