Given as First Word on 4/11/16 at West Hills Friends    Hi, everybody.  My name is Fiona, as most of you know.   I think I might be the youngest person in this building to do First Word.   I’m pretty nervous.  This is my first time.  And I hope you like it.    So a few weeks ago, I had a dream.  I dream that seemed like it wanted me to do First Word.  So here... [more]

“I love to feel where the words come from.”  (From John Woolman’s Journal.  See full quote following story.)   The clearest time I felt an urge from the Light, an urgency to speak, is one I’ve written about in an earlier chapter, when I heard a Voice that would not be denied; but I haven’t heard that Voice in 16 years. Now I am learning to distinguish subtle nudges, such as learning the difference between speaking... [more]

This particular house is strangely out of place.  It’s nestled between a True Value hardware store and a line of train tracks.  It refused to make way for the encroaching Buffalo Wild Wings, TJ Maxx, and the vast lagoons of pavement that define most of Tualatin’s commercial core.   This wayward house is home to Ancient Wonders.  It’s an old-school gaming store.  Over the last 25 years, I’ve spent hours in this store.  It smells... [more]

Anger empowers. Surprising? Let me explain.   I’m usually reserved around strangers, but on a particular summer day at the Oregon Coast, I was anything but that. Anger enraged me to action like never before.   My husband Dave and I were enjoying a lovely day at the beach. A stiff breeze blew off the breakers as we walked along the wet sand with our dog. At one point we decided to have lunch and... [more]

I have spent much of my life passionately “speaking truth to power.”  Yet reflecting on the times that I have spoken out or stood up for something, I am aware of so many missteps, mistakes, missed opportunities, and misunderstandings.  What comes to mind are the times I failed to speak out or the times I did speak out but, in looking back, feel that I shouldn’t have.  Trying to find an answer to this query... [more]

Some birds’ alarm calls serve both to alert other birds to danger and to warn off predators. There are those who can even pull off a ventriloquist’s trick, singing from the sides of their mouths. From Science Daily: http://tinyurl.com/hwbgse7 [more]

…light filtered through the moving glass, and it all came back.   1980-1992 ..like a three-legged race, in all i did, you were there. you turned when i turned, smiled when i smiled, cried when i cried. you were all i was given, and all that i needed   1992-1995 ..we turned the corner, removing the leg strap, and walked for awhile. i told everyone about you; more than they wanted to hear but i... [more]