True Colors: The Necessity of Loss and Change in our Lives
A walk around Gold Creek Pond has, for the years I've lived here in the mountains, always been an act of worship. This year, the seasons...
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Richard Dahlstrom
- Dec 31, 2019
- 5 min
Two Good Reads for the New Year
The first book that’s both inspiring and challenging me is “The Wisdom of the Native Americans” Kent Nerburn has compiled a variety of...
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Richard Dahlstrom
- Oct 12, 2019
- 3 min
Divisive Creeds and Lovely Leaves: Autumn’s Instructions for finding our true identity
A little research reveals why the colors change: because of changes in the length of daylight and changes in temperature, the leaves...
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Richard Dahlstrom
- Dec 29, 2018
- 2 min
Dear Green Lake: Merry Christmas, and Happy New Year
Dear Green Lake Before my five year departure from Washington, I walked the frozen shores with the woman who is now my wife and after...
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Richard Dahlstrom
- May 22, 2018
- 3 min
The Collapse of Everything, and Why it’s a Source of Hope
Plunge your pole, hard, into the place you anticipate placing your foot. Look carefully. Step quickly. Go! They’ve collapsed under my...
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Richard Dahlstrom
- Sep 30, 2017
- 4 min
Welcome Autumn – by Learning to Walk in the Dark
The rest of our lives, it’s a different story, especially if we’ve been taught to love Jesus. We’ve often learned that darkness is...
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Richard Dahlstrom
- Jul 29, 2017
- 4 min
Steal, Kill, and Destroy – Stealing Time
I tell you not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. Matthew 6:29 It’s wildflower season in the mountains, and...
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Richard Dahlstrom
- Aug 11, 2016
- 7 min
Forest Bathing as a Vision for the Church
Scientists are discovering that humans are also profound beneficiaries of the forest. “Forsest Bathing”, which simply means to walk in a...
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Richard Dahlstrom
- Nov 21, 2015
- 3 min
All things made new is the Core Promise of Hope and Joy
meet Luci After morning coffee, I start the car and turn the defrost on, high and hot. It’s 23 degrees and a sheet of ice covers the...
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Richard Dahlstrom
- Aug 21, 2015
- 4 min
“Godspell” – Musings on the power of Art in God’s World
I’m 19 and a good friend had landed the part of Jesus in Godspell, so he invites me to see him on opening night. It’s been two years...
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Richard Dahlstrom
- Mar 21, 2015
- 4 min
Revival Story… My Loss and Recovery of Love
Truth be told though, the ocean of details can conspire with my own Type A personality and propensity to get anxious about stuff, and...
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Richard Dahlstrom
- Sep 19, 2014
- 2 min
Last Journey’s the Best
It’s our last hike, the end of our forty days trekking through the Alps together. I’ll begin teaching next week and thinking about...
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Richard Dahlstrom
- Sep 13, 2014
- 3 min
The War of Fog – 3 truths for Living with Clarity in Zero Visibility
We’re waiting for the cable car that will haul us up to the Douglass Hut, the base from which we’ll be hiking over a couple of passes to...
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Richard Dahlstrom
- Aug 31, 2014
- 3 min
Where am I?
(I’m happy to introduce the guest author for this post as my hiking partner, best friend, and one week from today, wife of 35 years!...
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Richard Dahlstrom
- Jul 22, 2014
- 4 min
Light for Light – The joyous necessity of shedding Stuff
All this has been unfolding at the same time I’ve been preparing to embark on a sabbatical journey, which will begin with 40 days of...
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Richard Dahlstrom
- May 14, 2014
- 4 min
Why “fear of death tomorrow” prevents “joy of life today”
a book about the importance of opening oneself to direct encounter with creation, in preparation for a 40 day hike in the Alps this...
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Richard Dahlstrom
- May 9, 2014
- 7 min
Success, Sabbaticals, Loss, and Heading to the Alps
If success is a mountain, I’m an accidental climber. Has it ever happened to you? You’ve been working hard for goals you believe in for...
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Richard Dahlstrom
- May 8, 2014
- 2 min
Life is a Journey: Step by Step
There’s a hearing. It comes to us in dreams, or songs, or after a conversation in the corner booth of a Tuesday night with the one we...
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Richard Dahlstrom
- Apr 29, 2014
- 6 min
In praise of healthy lament
Dissociative disorder is defined as a “disruption or breakdown of memory, awareness, identity or perception.” It’s a common occurrence...
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Richard Dahlstrom
- Oct 22, 2013
- 4 min
Embodiment Part One: Getting out of our heads and off of our phones.
Embodiment is the answer. I’m old enough to know that if I don’t get up and do something with my body before the day gets on, I won’t do...
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