Setting the Inner Compass

Reading poetry is one of the ways some of us nourish our faith, a way we set or reset our inner compass and stay focused on the big picture, on the spiritual journey. I know that is true for me. In this monthly column, ‘Setting the Inner Compass’ I share some of the poems I find nourishing to the soul.  An Unbound Column by Dave Brown. 

SETTING THE INNER COMPASS: Early Fall 2024

Reading poetry is one of the ways some of us nourish our faith, a way we set or reset our inner compass and stay focused on the big picture, on the spiritual journey. I know that is true for me.

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SETTING THE INNER COMPASS – HELIOPHILIA

April was National Poetry Month. Although this column began in 2020 as a National Poetry Month project, I skipped the April column this year in part because there are lots of places to find poems in April. One gift of

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SETTING THE INNER COMPASS

Reading poetry is one of the ways some of us nourish our faith, a way we set or reset our inner compass and stay focused on the big picture, on the spiritual journey. I know that is true for me.

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SETTING THE INNER COMPASS – January 2024

Reading poetry is one of the ways some of us nourish our faith, a way we set or reset our inner compass and stay focused on the big picture, on the spiritual journey. I know that is true for me.

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SETTING THE INNER COMPASS: HOPE

Reading poetry is one of the ways some of us nourish our faith, a way we set or reset our inner compass and stay focused on the big picture, on the spiritual journey. I know that is true for me.

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Setting the Inner Compass: 9/11/2001

Reading poetry is one of the ways some of us nourish our faith, a way we set or reset our inner compass and stay focused on the big picture, on the spiritual journey. I know that is true for me.

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Setting the Inner Compass

In recent years I have noticed a growing interest in Celtic thought and spirituality, a way of approaching Christian faith that invites us to see God as not apart from the world, locked away in religious institutions but in the

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Setting the Inner Compass – Pride!

Happy Pride! In most of the world June is PRIDE month, a month when we affirm and celebrate our LGBTQI kindred. As we affirm and celebrate, I find myself grieving the damage done by the church in the name of

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Setting the Inner Compass: May 2023

Reading poetry is one of the ways some of us nourish our faith, a way we set or reset our inner compass and stay focused on the big picture, on the spiritual journey. I know that is true for me.

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SETTING THE INNER COMPASS

Reading poetry is one of the ways some of us nourish our faith, a way we set or reset our inner compass and stay focused on the big picture, on the spiritual journey. I know that is true for me.

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Setting the Inner Compass – March 2023

A personal note: Last week I attended my first meeting as a member of the PCUSA Self Development of People national committee. I came away inspired by the efforts we support and my amazing colleagues on the committee. SDOP funds

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SETTING THE INNER COMPASS- February 2023

Reading poetry is one of the ways some of us nourish our faith, a way we set or reset our inner compass and stay focused on the big picture, on the spiritual journey. I know that is true for me.

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SETTING THE INNER COMPASS – January 2023

Yesterday I took the well-worn 2022 calendars off our dining room and kitchen wall and hung the brand new 2023 ones. I like calendars. In the kitchen we have one from Iona and another with amazing photographs of turtles. On

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SETTING THE INNER COMPASS

Reading poetry is one of the ways some of us nourish our faith, a way we set or reset our inner compass and stay focused on the big picture, on the spiritual journey. I know that is true for me.

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SETTING THE INNER COMPASS – October 2022

Reading poetry is one of the ways some of us nourish our faith, a way we set or reset our inner compass and stay focused on the big picture, on the spiritual journey. I know that is true for me.

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Setting the Inner Compass- August 2022

Reading poetry is one of the ways some of us nourish our faith, a way we set or reset our inner compass and stay focused on the big picture, on the spiritual journey. I know that is true for me.

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SETTING THE INNER COMPASS-July 2022

The first poem is by Ada Limón, who this month was appointed the 24th US poet Laureate. The poem, "Instructions on Not Giving Up", is from her National Book Critic’s award-winning book, The Carrying. She celebrates the unfurling of a

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Setting the Inner Compass: June 2022

Reading poetry is one of the ways some of us nourish our faith, a way we set or reset our inner compass and stay focused on the big picture, on the spiritual journey. I know that is true for me.

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SETTING THE INNER COMPASS – May 2022

Reading poetry is one of the ways some of us nourish our faith, a way we set or reset our inner compass and stay focused on the big picture, on the spiritual journey. I know that is true for me.

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SETTING THE INNER COMPASS – April 2022

Reading poetry is one of the ways some of us nourish our faith, a way we set or reset our inner compass and stay focused on the big picture, on the spiritual journey. I know that is true for me.

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SETTING THE INNER COMPASS – March 2022

Reading poetry is one of the ways some of us nourish our faith, a way we set or reset our inner compass and stay focused on the big picture, on the spiritual journey. I know that is true for me.

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Setting the Inner Compass – Valentine’s Day

In my 2021 Valentine’s Day column I shared how I changed my mind about celebrating Valentine's Day. There was a time when I didn’t pay much attention to this or any “greeting card” holiday. I didn’t have much interest in

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SETTING THE INNER COMPASS – January 2022

January 2022 comes with more than the seasonal changes. In January 2022, we face unique and difficult challenges. The pandemic lingers impacting everything and in particular making huge demands on our siblings who care for people in hospitals. Covid uncertainties

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SETTING THE INNER COMPASS- CHRISTMAS 2021

Reading poetry is one of the ways some of us nourish our faith, a way we set or reset our inner compass and stay focused on the big picture, on the spiritual journey. I know that is true for me.

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SETTING THE INNER COMPASS – November 2021

This column is inspired by the new poetry anthology edited by James Crews, How to Love the World (Storey Publishing). The title echoes a line from one of my favorite poems, Mary Oliver’s poem "Spring", “There is only one question;

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SETTING THE INNER COMPASS: October 2021

Reading poetry is one of the ways some of us nourish our faith, a way we set or reset our inner compass and stay focused on the big picture, on the spiritual journey. I know that is true for me.

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SETTING THE INNER COMPASS – September 2021

Reading poetry is one of the ways some of us nourish our faith, a way we set or reset our inner compass and stay focused on the big picture, on the spiritual journey. I know that is true for me.

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SETTING THE INNER COMPASS – August 2021

Reading poetry is one of the ways some of us nourish our faith, a way we set or reset our inner compass and stay focused on the big picture, on the spiritual journey. I know that is true for me.

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SETTING THE INNER COMPASS – July 2021

Reading poetry is one of the ways some of us nourish our faith, a way we set or reset our inner compass and stay focused on the big picture, on the spiritual journey. I know that is true for me.

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SETTING THE INNER COMPASS – June 2021

Reading poetry is one of the ways some of us nourish our faith, a way we set or reset our inner compass and stay focused on the big picture, on the spiritual journey. I know that is true for me.

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SETTING THE INNER COMPASS – mid-Lent 2021

Reading poetry is one of the ways some of us nourish our faith, a way we set or reset our inner compass and stay focused on the big picture, on the spiritual journey. I know that is true for me.

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SETTING THE INNER COMPASS – February 2021

Reading poetry is one of the ways some of us nourish our faith, a way we set or reset our inner compass and stay focused on the big picture, on the spiritual journey. I know that is true for me.

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SETTING THE INNER COMPASS- January 2021

Reading poetry is one of the ways some of us nourish our faith, a way we set or reset our inner compass and stay focused on the big picture, on the spiritual journey. I know that is true for me.

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SETTING THE INNER COMPASS- CHRISTMAS

In this column, I share four poems related to Christmas. Christmas is a social/cultural and spiritual celebration. Culturally, Christmas is a worldwide celebration of light in darkness, gift giving and gathering in community. Jesus may be part of these festivities

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SETTING THE INNER COMPASS- ADVENT 2020

Reading poetry is one of the ways some of us nourish our faith, a way we set or reset our inner compass and stay focused on the big picture, on the spiritual journey. I know that is true for me.

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SETTING THE INNER COMPASS- November 2020

Reading poetry is one of the ways some of us nourish our faith, a way we set or reset our inner compass and stay focused on the big picture, on the spiritual journey. I know that is true for me.

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SETTING THE INNER COMPASS- September 2020

Reading poetry is one of the ways some of us nourish our faith, a way we set or reset our inner compass and stay focused on the big picture, on the spiritual journey. This month’s ‘Setting the Inner Compass’ is

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SETTING THE INNER COMPASS- August 2020

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Reading poetry is one of the ways some of us nourish our faith, a way we set or reset our inner compass and stay focused on the big picture, on the spiritual journey. This monthly column, ‘Setting the Inner Compass’

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SETTING THE INNER COMPASS- JULY 2020

Reading poetry is one of the ways some of us nourish our faith, a way we set or reset our inner compass and stay focused on the big picture, on the spiritual journey. Over the years, poetry has become an

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