Cogitation 20 Friday 15 May 2020 Reasons to wear a mask in public during the coronavirus pandemic, include: to show solidarity with frontline workers, to protect others if you are infected but have not yet developed symptoms, to protect yourself to some degree, to honor those heroes who have died in the line of duty, … Continue reading Mask-to-mask

Cogitation 19 Friday 8 May 2020 Dandelions are considered a stubborn weed, a scourge to people who want weedless lawns. Out come the weed killers, the get-them-by-the-roots tools, the lawnmower, the heated words. Still, others welcome dandelions as food, a nutritional treat either cooked or raw. I was happy to recall eating such a salad … Continue reading Consider the dandelion

Cogitation 18 Friday 1 May 2020 Dancing around the Maypole today, regrettably, must give way to prudence. Having dancers intertwine ribbons around the pole just would not do in the scramble to fight the coronavirus pandemic. Maybe the Mayday tradition of making cone-shaped May baskets out of colored paper, putting flowers in them and leaving … Continue reading Exuberance in a time that calls for prudence

Cogitation 17 Friday 24 April 2020 Thomas a Kempis had a fitting word for me this week: "Never to be completely idle, but either reading, or writing, or praying, or meditating, or working at something useful for all in common." This Christian monk was born in Kempen, Germany in 1380 and died in Zwolle, The … Continue reading Moments of joy

Cogitation 16 Friday 17 April 2020 Many kitchens are getting a workout during this time when life centers on staying at home, working from home, only going out for essential travel or getting groceries and medications, and safe-distance exercising--all for our own health and the health of others as we join virtual hands around the … Continue reading GoBAKEnCOOK

Cogitation 15 Friday 10 April 2020 Guardian angels working overtime, thoughts and prayers of family and friends, the second-mile efforts of transport people on the ground and in the air, a paper clip, and Dvorak's Symphony No 9 got us home to the USA from the United Kingdom on Sunday and Monday, 5 and 6 … Continue reading Traveling mercies

Cogitation 14 Friday 3 April 2020 By definition, waiting means staying in one place in expectation of something. What Marty and I have been waiting for is about to happen. We're booked to travel from the UK to the US on Sunday and Monday, April 5 and 6. In hope and prayer, we await travel … Continue reading Waiting

Cogitation 13 Saturday 28 March 2020 Individuals, families, communities and nations around the world are faced with battling Covid-19. We look for answers, relief, reprieve. We look for physical, emotional and spiritual healing. My spirit was lifted this week in hearing our friend Ellen Kraybill playing and singing online a hymn whose refrain is, "Healer … Continue reading Across time and space

Cogitation 12 Saturday 21 March 2020 Last week, this week, next week, people around the world are focused on combating the coronavirus-caused illness, Covid-19. It's an unsettling time, disruptive, risk to life and livelihood. During the week UK prime minister, Boris Johnson, announced that "Now is the time for everyone to stop non-essential contact with … Continue reading Fitting wobbly weeks together

Saturday 14 March 2020 Cogitation 11 Lay volunteers in Church of England congregations across the Diocese of Truro in Cornwall are annually recognized for outstanding service with the Cross of St Piran. On 7 March, we attended the first of two Cross of St Piran Thanksgiving Services, where, in the 3:30 service, 10 individuals received … Continue reading Go volunteers!