Clare Consultation, LLCSpirit & Faith
“We change up above, on our surfaces, but there’s that underlying constant that travels through all the changes. It’s something I don’t really have the words for. The only concrete thing I have, which isn’t concrete at all, is that deep soul feeling.” Lauren Kraakevik It’s an overcast but warm spring day in Portland, OR. I’m back down the street in the corner Starbuck’s where the staff have been so consistent in cheering… Read More
What’s in a Name?
“Know what that word, change, means. Know what this time means. Our getting together this morning to talk, what does it mean? Do you know what we are doing? What is in the journey? Where are we going?” Dr. Dapo Sobomehin This morning I had my annual dental appointment. You know, the one involving really sharp pointed hooks for scraping and poking, and the tiny rotary buffer dipped with clayish and vaguely peppermint tasting… Read More
Easter and Reaching Across the Aisle
Yesterday a friend sent a text. Charles is a Mandan-Hidatsa Indian from North Dakota who has for years been the lead public relations executive for a local non-profit. He was asking if I knew of Easter celebrations in town. Then there was Mike’s status update on Facebook. Mike is Jewish and he was wishing all his Christian friends “a wonderful and redemptive Easter.” This morning in a small gathering, Julie, a mom… Read More
Dayenu: You gave us freedom, and that would have been enough.
“Maybe the most empowered change is to work to be less ignorant. We’re all ignorant and it’s a life long struggle. If we commit ourselves to do our best to be wrong less frequently, well, that’s about the best we can do.” Peter Frishauf Last night I sat at a table with eight dear friends from two families. Four of them are teenagers. The rest of us are parents – you know,… Read More
Voices in the Change: Health Care Reform
“The principle of taking care of our children is vital. I can’t accept that we wouldn’t want to take care of our own children. As a country, they are our children. They are our future. If we take care of them, we’re making our lives better.” Rudy Suwara San Diego, CA 03-21-2010 “And now the House is coming into session. Thanks for being with us.” CSPAN commentator “The long waiting is over. … Read More
American Connections
“It’s as old as humanity itself. Literature is filled with stories about the warriors who come face to face and discover that they’re actually destroying themselves.” Andy Walton This morning I had separate conversations with a sustainable energy professional, a poet, a Starbucks barista, a wildlife biologist and an ex-offender. All are Americans. All spoke of matters central to their lives. They were regular conversations, nothing special. The kind of chit chat… Read More
Change and Topography
Last year by this date, the EX:Change project had taken me, via Mini Cooper, across about 5000 miles. That’s a lot a lot of miles…and I was only half way. Already and more times than I can begin to recount, I’d been swept into that American road trip bonus: The mix of surprise and awe at another unfolding of landscape – even the stretches I’d seen so many times before. The land of this country… Read More
American Dreams
“Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?” Mary Oliver During this week last year, a comment appeared on the EX:Change blog from <expatrick>: “Asking people to put their dreams into words is asking a lot, but it also helps them get a step farther down their own path. These are people’s prayers you’re hearing.” The other thing I’m remembering from that time was… Read More
“I can’t do this alone.”
“Small acts, when multiplied by millions of people, can transform the world.” Howard Zinn Last night in the State of the Union Address, President Obama said these five words. “I can’t do this alone.” He said many notable things. Two in particular match well with what many of the people who make up the 100 voices of EX:Change were saying this time last year. The public officials elected by… Read More
EX:Change 2.0
He could say, “We need change. We need change. I’m going to change this.” He can say all he wants, but actually without the people out here, nothing’s going to change. Art Garcia Jan 21, 2009 A year ago today headlines read: “Antarctica Is Warming,” “Relatives Say Peltier Beaten Following Prison Transfer,” “Israel Completes Gaza Withdrawal,” “Brazilian Midfielder Kaka Stays Put,” “Sen. Kennedy Hospitalized After Suffering Seizure.” Then there were… Read More