blog – Page 3 – Abbey of the Redwoods

Sunset on the Lake

I’m back at my family’s summer cottage on Lake Lucerne in the Northwoods of Wisconsin. My favorite activity here is to float in a kayak in the middle of the lake and watch the fading sunset light up the clouds. More Heartbeat of God

Where the Buffalo Roam

“The buffaloes are gone. And those who saw the buffaloes are gone.” -Carl Sandburg The Daniels Park Wilderness Conservation Area, a little ways south of Denver, has restored a herd of Bison. These beasts were grazing really close to the fence. Being this close, it’s easy to understand why these majestic animals were revered. TheirContinue reading “Where the Buffalo Roam”

On Being a Poet

Whenever someone says to me, “Oh, so you like to write poetry; I had an aunt who liked to write poems,” I know they have no idea what it is to be a poet. A poet is not someone who likes to write poems. A poet is driven to write. Poetry is the outcome ofContinue reading “On Being a Poet”

Spikey Springtime Surprise!

It’s spring time and new life is on the prowl. This little spikey specimen was exploring the railing of a bridge on the West Ridge Trail – taken April 17th, 2021 in Redwoods National Park. Humboldt County, California And now for the super zoom 😃

The Hills Had Caves

indians lived in those cavesout behind the farmhouse,their artifacts trickle outwith each new generationexploring the cool dark,carrying big sticks &fierce imaginationson their bear hunts timid beasts,those black bears,bold only for the brief runof salmon berrydown along the creek one winter the snow meltedand then froze again,leaving a face on the sideof the cliff.was it aContinue reading “The Hills Had Caves”

The Abbey has Baby Goats!

Around 8am this morning, one of the goats staying at the Abbey had two kids! A boy and a girl, they are adorable! Here is the female and mama: The male was sleeping the whole time, we’ll get more pictures of him soon… More Garden posts More blog posts

The Value of Open Dialogue

During Part 2 of our seminar on Celtic Christianity last Saturday, near the end of the discussion I made an offhand generalization about Trump supporters. Another participant civilly and respectfully offered a different opinion. While I internally chided myself for bringing politics into the discussion, I was glad that other person spoke their mind, andContinue reading “The Value of Open Dialogue”

Tree Pruning Workshop Pictures!

The Abbey’s first tree-pruning workshop was smashing success! The Abbey’s menagerie also enjoyed themselves! It was a gloriously sunny day 😊

Why I’m excited to learn about Celtic Christianity

I was raised Lutheran, my parents dragged me to church every Sunday. The dominant feeling I remember from church was one of boredom – endless hours of reciting words and singing hymns that held no meaning to me. It just felt empty. So when I left home for college, I stopped going to church andContinue reading “Why I’m excited to learn about Celtic Christianity”

The Value of an Interfaith Approach to Spirituality

Religion and spirituality are like ice cream: we all love ice cream (well, most of us), but we all enjoy different flavors. Some people like chocolate, some enjoy vanilla, while others relish rocky road. There’s no right or wrong flavor of ice cream, just different personal preferences. Here at the Abbey of the Redwoods, weContinue reading “The Value of an Interfaith Approach to Spirituality”