Last night, I strung the lights on our tree in what has become our new tradition of putting up the tree with just the lights right before Thanksgiving. Our daughter, 8 going on 9, came into the living room and stopped in the doorway and looked over at me with a wide grin. “The lights!” […]
Author Archives: Charity
When the Bridge of Faith Collapses and Finding a New Way
“Religion is a bridge to the spiritual – but the spiritual lies beyond religion. Unfortunately, in seeking the spiritual, we may become attached to the bridge rather than crossing over it.” – Rachel Naomi Remen In my recent workshop on Redefining Spirit, I referenced this quote (and misattributed it to Deepak Chopra instead of Rachel). […]
Reconciling Spirit and LGBTQ+ Selfhood
Happy (almost) Fall, y’all! (For all you northern hemisphere folks! And happy almost Spring to southern hemisphere friends!) Autumn always fills me with lots of reflection and hope along with the joy of coziness. Add to that the fact I am writing this on the 15th anniversary of my coming out to myself and the […]
Deconstructing the Great Lie and Reclaiming Spirithood
What would be different for you if you didn’t feel that there was a separation between your physical and spiritual self? How would it free you if you didn’t feel you had to choose between spirituality and your identity as a LGBTQ+ person?
A Life Changing Lesson In Courage And Love Conquering All
But what I thought I knew about women’s empowerment, self-love, and authenticity was all swept away in a flood as soon as Natalie Merchant took the stage.
Progress Happens Through Presence
“I’m nervous.” “What are you nervous about?” My wife asked me. “What if something bad happens? I know they will have security. It’s just things are so heated right now.” “I’m sure there will be protesters there. There always are at these things.” She sighed and we both looked at the road ahead. Then more […]
Full of Pressure
The past couple of weeks have left my head spinning with very little to no time to process all that has deeply affected me. From the tragic loss of the person (Naomi Judd) who cowrote and sang much of the soundtrack to my childhood, to the terrible nature of the leaked Supreme Court document which […]
My Own
The death of Rush Limbaugh has brought up an unexpected feeling in me – grief. No, not for him, but for my father, or rather – who my father should have been, instead of who he is and has become. As a child, my dad led the adult Sunday School class, the choir, and later […]
Jack
“My meringue flopped (insert frowny face)” It was a text I got just a couple weeks into our dating relationship. D had made a lemon meringue pie to take to a family reunion, and she was pretty disappointed with how it turned out. I don’t remember what I said back, something empathic – I’m sure. […]
Letter to Myself
Dear seventeen year old, Charity…