Cathy Barney's Blog (92)

Occupied by Spirit

Sunday’s formal message in worship focused on how to center, as Quakers say, meaning to sink deep into listening for Spirit. I am certain it was prompted by a conversation the week before among a lively group of experienced worshippers and newcomers trying to figure it out. It was a blessing and reminded me that it had once been difficult for me,…

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Added by Cathy Barney on 2nd mo. 15, 2013 at 10:41am — 2 Comments

Mentor of the deepest sort

I’ve been watching him decline the past several years. He made it look so effortless, so natural and graceful, progressing from cane, to walker, wheelchair and, eventually, bed. I understand…

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Added by Cathy Barney on 1st mo. 22, 2013 at 3:43pm — No Comments

Falling in love with myself again

Once again, I have taken up temporary residence in a cabin called Simplicity. I seem to come back, again and again, to this theme. Here it is concrete; in this aesthetically plain one-room retreat of re-claimed materials. It is a place I can re-claim my…

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Added by Cathy Barney on 1st mo. 18, 2013 at 8:00am — No Comments

Flying under the radar

Can't seem to get this little guy – I think he once told me Antonio was his name – out of my head. He's an elementary-aged student, probably seven or eight, in a school for autism-spectrum kids that occupies a part of the building where my art studio is located. As I come and…

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Added by Cathy Barney on 1st mo. 11, 2013 at 10:32am — No Comments

A Quaker considers guns

Ok, so I admit to being a bleeding heart. And, yes, my philosophy is even left of liberal. But I am also open to all views and love to learn. With that, I embarked on reading a rather long blog written by an interesting novelist who owned a gun store, is a firearms’…

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Added by Cathy Barney on 1st mo. 8, 2013 at 5:40pm — 3 Comments

Edging nearer

Milford Spiritual Center Labyrinth –1.1.13

 …

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Added by Cathy Barney on 1st mo. 1, 2013 at 6:08pm — No Comments

Waiting-to-totally-surrender purgatory

A January-7 deadline approaches and I noodle notes here and there: on my studio chalkboard, a scrap of paper, my laptop. Can’t find the focused time I need right now to hunker down and write the grant and that seems all…

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Added by Cathy Barney on 12th mo. 21, 2012 at 3:29pm — No Comments

Christmas comes early

Christmas has arrived early. Unannounced, in smallish ways and yet, it's really here in my heart forever.…

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Added by Cathy Barney on 12th mo. 17, 2012 at 7:30am — No Comments

Spirit moving

I was wired in Meeting for Worship Sunday from the wonderfully wild drumming of the day before with my Artsy Fartsy kids. I tried to settle in, but it just wasn't happening. I was fully attentive to the minister's message on giving. She and I had had a conversation a few days…

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Added by Cathy Barney on 12th mo. 12, 2012 at 3:54pm — No Comments

My heart's calendar

The second Thursday, late afternoon, of every month is reserved. Without question. Not even marked on my calendar. That's when I dutifully pull out my log of Artsy Fartsy kids' names and phone numbers and begin the round of reminder calls.…

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Added by Cathy Barney on 12th mo. 7, 2012 at 11:15am — No Comments

Strangers who haunt us II

Last week, I wrote about serendipitously meeting Rebecca at Whole Foods. Today, I believe that wave of Spirit put me in the path of Amanda and Scott, again, two strangers I encountered while having tea. …



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Added by Cathy Barney on 12th mo. 4, 2012 at 9:30am — No Comments

Spirit's little shoves

She's still out there, somewhere, on her own, tending to her mother's death, trying to find like-minded community for the few weeks she's visiting. She's still tugging at my heart though.…

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Added by Cathy Barney on 11th mo. 30, 2012 at 12:37pm — No Comments

Phantom fannies and pockets of community

After experiencing the intensity of a gathering of caricature artists secondhand during my husband's recent convention, I returned home a little deflated. Jealous even. Missing something. Not feeling connected. To the point of posting so on Facebook.…

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Added by Cathy Barney on 11th mo. 28, 2012 at 7:20am — No Comments

Through God's touch

It was a smaller affair, which may have sharpened the lens of perspective. So often, we tumbled out of the house, food in hand, kids in tow and arrived a few minutes late for Thanksgiving at my parents'. This year, we were ahead of schedule with the exception of my husband…

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Added by Cathy Barney on 11th mo. 23, 2012 at 9:30am — 2 Comments

Glue of God

I have a broken body though…

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Added by Cathy Barney on 11th mo. 21, 2012 at 3:40pm — No Comments

A mere tourist

I walked to the Alamo to learn some Texan history and because I find Spanish missions some of the most magical places.…

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Added by Cathy Barney on 11th mo. 18, 2012 at 9:07am — No Comments

A mere tourist

I walked to the Alamo to learn some Texan history and because I find Spanish missions some of the most magical places.…

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Added by Cathy Barney on 11th mo. 18, 2012 at 9:07am — No Comments

In the stinking middle

The honeymoon must be over at Artsy Fartsy, the monthly arts-exploration I hold for at-risk kids in my neighborhood. I'm not saying I'm not deeply engaged with these kids; I still am – maybe more so now than ever. I'm just saying some are comfortable enough to not be on their…

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Added by Cathy Barney on 11th mo. 12, 2012 at 5:35pm — No Comments

Rooted in the holy

Ever think about spiritual currency? I hadn't, not in those exact terms, until last Sunday when our Quaker minister gave a brief message on the subject, along with a reading of Jesus' parable of the talents.…



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Added by Cathy Barney on 11th mo. 6, 2012 at 12:29pm — No Comments

In the Spirit to notice

Yesterday, I began to count my blessings – one a day during this thanksgiving month – inspired by the practice of friends on Facebook. I don’t intend just to acknowledge them, but to revel in them, absorbing their goodness and expressing true appreciation.

 …

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Added by Cathy Barney on 11th mo. 2, 2012 at 12:54pm — No Comments

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