Clare Consultation, LLCPosted on December 24, 2012 by Mary Clare
Holy Days
Here on the eve of what Christians recognize as the day for celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ – here on this 24th day of what people all across the globe know, each in her or his own language, as December – here in the moments of reading these words on this page is the source of the idea — holy. In the mystery of one moment passing to the next I want… Read More
Posted on December 18, 2012 by Mary Clare
What do we learn? What do we teach? The days after Sandy Hook
Love that takes us out of ourselves and binds us to something larger. President Obama Newtown, CT 12-16-2012 The days move by in this the darkest season for the Northern Hemisphere. Saturday was the day after, Sunday two days after, Monday three, Tuesday four …. These days will pass into months and years, and those of us still drawing breath in these wild and precious lives will continue. As we do, we… Read More
Posted on October 28, 2012 by Mary Clare
Matters of Spirit before the Election — and a second podcast —
Last night there were fireworks in the rain for the last game of the season for the Portland Timbers — our professional soccer team. The season ended with a tie between the Timbers and the San Jose Earthquakes. I wasn’t at the game. And, true confession, I didn’t know about it. But the sound was enormous for 20 minutes or more. My imagination ran the gammut, but I remembered my friend Dia… Read More
Posted on October 21, 2012 by Mary Clare
How to Listen to Presidential Candidates
My work is in a graduate school. I am responsible for helping prepare people to be educators, mental health professionals and community leaders. We need them, so I give my very best to enabling their brilliance and their good hearts. One of the questions I often ask my students is, “What do you want?” I sometimes have them write for a while – a good while – in answer to this question. … Read More
Posted on September 24, 2012 by Mary Clare
“47%” Cuts Lots of Ways
I saw my highschool friend Tim Taylor at a reunion a few years ago. Last time we’d spoken we were both 15 year olds. When we chatted this time, it was September in Kerrville, TX – homecoming weekend. The world class heat of the Texas summer had softened so we could stand around outside catching up on where the decades had taken those fresh-faced teens who will forever populate the halls of… Read More
Posted on September 10, 2012 by Mary Clare
Post National Conventions – the Anniversary Celebration of a Brain Tumor
This morning a friend in Omaha told me about Sam, a friend of his who was off for ten days on a third anniversary trip to the particular beauty of the Colorado Rockies around Estes Park. My friend has spoken of Sam before, describing him as a notably successful businessman who’s built a thriving company that supplies materials for building or renovating homes. Sam’s success, though, is lately not enough to bring… Read More
Posted on August 20, 2012 by Mary Clare
A Tough Guy’s Good Things List
This morning I had a conversation with a man named Gordon. Gordon is in his 70’s. He’s a big burly man who spent working life among the towering conifers of the Pacific Northwest. To this day he still wears plaids, jeans, suspenders and heavy work boots. His face and hands are sculpted by decades outdoors and his eyes are gray – brown like chips of smoky quartz. We sat at a sidewalk… Read More
Posted on August 5, 2012 by Mary Clare
XXX Olympiad — Blog readership plummets
Not that the number was that sky-high to begin with – although of late there have been readers from India, Pakistan, Indonesia, Israel and Brazil – even one reader from Sierra Leon. I don’t know if all of the countries represented by readers on this little blog are also represented at the Olympics. I can’t because of a lot of things. A lot of work, for starters; and then there’s the super… Read More
Posted on July 22, 2012 by Mary Clare
A Love Like that Lights Up the Whole Sky
There is a man I’ve been watching over the past five years or more. He walks in Laurelhurst Park where I walk. He is around 6 feet tall. His hair is full and dark. His skin is olive. Maybe his ancestors were from the Mediterranean. He is handsome. I see this man often, especially in milder weather. With maybe one exception, he has been holding hands with a quite elderly woman. As… Read More
Posted on May 24, 2012 by Mary Clare
“We have to talk about these things”
I am back in Portland. Three weeks, now. Shortly after my return I receive email with the subject line: yes-youmadeit/Dr. Dapo! My dear and long-time friend, Dr. Dapo Sobomehin (voice 90 in 100 Voices – Americans Talk about Change), wanted to get together for coffee. This morning we finally made it to the corner of Hawthorne and SE 37th for a few hours of catching up. Every time we meet, I am compelled… Read More