As I was walking our dog down a country road in Western Massachusetts this morning, I was thinking about how taming the wilderness is such a natural human impulse. I’ve been unsettled by the disease-carrying deer ticks our dog keeps bringing into the country house, and I was longing for the seeming civility of Brooklyn…

Harry Potter fans anticipating the July 21st release of the last and seventh book in the series might enjoy (not quite the right word) this piece about whether or not the great boy wizard should sacrifice himself for the wellbeing of others in this upcoming volume. Will Rowling ultimately resort to Christian metaphor? Is that…

Here’s a nice article about the significant dreams people have that feature cameo appearances of deceased parents, children, spouses, or friends. Have you ever experienced such a dream at night, where a dead person appears to help, comfort, or offer assistance? Here’s an excerpt from the piece by Rebecca Cathcart: “Our dreams have to do…

The best summer fireworks are provided by fireflies, those bliss-conjuring, blinking beetles that fly (I hope) in the backyards of your neighborhood. I had an intense, spiritual experience communing with fireflies two years ago while on a silent retreat near Pittsfield, Massachusetts. As I was walking up a hill, returning to my hut after dusk,…

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