As 2020 draws to a close, my mind is choking on too many words, tweets, posts, blogs, statistics, and disputes about fake news vs. facts. Music is what I need right now. Maybe we all need it.

I just cannot bring myself to offer yet more words on top of those already flooding the airwaves and our minds. Instead, let me show you what made me grateful this year.

Lately, do you find yourself off-balance, out of kilter, or confused? The pandemic and my resulting need to rely more on social media, online programs, and Zoom to get my message out had me feeling this way. Was I going in the wrong direction?

How can we avoid selfish behavior? What should we do with those negative feelings we experience after the deed is done? I have the answer to both questions—that’s why I had to write this blog.

Lately, I’ve been thinking about play, specifically about outside play that involves nature. During the pandemic, I am more grateful than ever to have outside space and a garden. Even though I recognize that gardening makes me happy, I never specifically thought of it as play, nor as prayer, until I met Dr. Christine Sine and learned of her work.

Does hearing the word “meditation” cause a reaction within you? Does it make you feel calm and serene? Or, maybe, cautious and defensive? Depending on your background, you will think differently about meditation and maybe even define it differently …

Elijah appealed to all the people and said, “How long will you straddle the issues? If the Lord is God, follow him; if Baal, follow him.” The people, however, did not answer him. - 1 Kings 18:20-39 When I read the word “straddle” last week, I immediately asked myself, “Am I straddling?”

Thomas Merton said, “There is only one problem on which all my existence, my peace, and my happiness depend….” We all want to know the answer to that problem. Dr. David Benner’s The Gift of Being Yourself: The Sacred Call to Self-Discovery is a powerful little book that shows you how to find the answer for yourself.

During this pandemic, you no doubt are deluged with columns, blogs, and posts about how to best deal with the Covid-19 crisis. Experts offer wise words on how to reduce stress and stay healthy. Let me go in a different direction.

In these unsettling times, I really need serenity and health, and I’m pretty sure that you do too! In the U.S. we have been dealing with climate change, gun violence, racism, political strife, impeachment…and now the coronavirus. My two brothers live in the Seattle area, where multiple deaths have occurred. My daughter lives in Italy, another hot spot. She just called and told me the schools in all of Italy have closed for at least two weeks. That is when I sat down to write this blog post.