The Sacred Braid

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A Lenten Reflection ~ 36

Posted on April 1, 2020 by Daniel J. Miller
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“To enter into the spirituality of Lent involves rededicating ourselves to living significant lives as those lives are understood from a divine perspective.” ~ DJM Our primary vocation, surprisingly enough, is to allow ourselves to be loved, to be Read more [...]
Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a reply

A Lenten Reflection ~ 35

Posted on March 31, 2020 by Daniel J. Miller
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“In addition to cultivating love, every authentic spiritual practice is intended to do one of two things: wake us up or keep us awake.” ~ DJM As you know, I've been foraging through THE ALMOND TREE archives for reflections for Lent 2020. I thought Read more [...]
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Sister Mahala’s Do-Over

Posted on March 30, 2020 by Daniel J. Miller
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NOTE: For some reason yesterday's A Lenten Reflection ~ 33 was not sent out to subscribers. You can find "Conspiring with God," by hitting <-- Previous above. A Lenten Reflection ~ 34 When Sister Mahala was along in years, a young woman asked, “Sister Read more [...]
Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Hummingbird, Sister Mahala, Wise Sayings | Leave a reply

Conspiring with God

Posted on March 29, 2020 by Daniel J. Miller
1
A Lenten Reflection ~ 33 3/29/20 NOTE: I am doubling down on this breath theme (i.e. after yesterday's post. CLICK "<-- Previous" above. There is no season, whether in nature, the liturgical cycle, or the human adventure, which does not know Read more [...]
Posted in Prayer | Tagged Breath, Contemplation, Prayer, Spirit, Spirituality, Thomas Merton | 1 Reply

Every Breath You Take

Posted on March 28, 2020 by Daniel J. Miller
3
A Lenten Reflection ~ 32 NOTE: This reflection was originally posted on February 21, 2013. As posted here today, it has been significantly revised. Then the LORD God formed the earth-creature1 out of the dust of the ground and blew into the earth-creature’s Read more [...]
Posted in Prayer | Tagged Breath, Spirit, Thomas Merton | 3 Replies

A Lenten Reflection ~ 31

Posted on March 27, 2020 by Daniel J. Miller
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“As every spiritual sage knows, tension is where the life of Life and the truth of Truth are found, and where transformation takes place..” ~ DJM Lent is a season of apparent opposites -- penitence and the promise of new possibility --  that points Read more [...]
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A Lenten Reflection ~ 30

Posted on March 26, 2020 by Daniel J. Miller
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“I am born a human being; what I have to acquire is being human.” ~ Abraham Heschel Lent is a season of coming to know God and self more intimately. Today we reach back in THE ALMOND TREE archives to February 2013 and a reflection on the vocation Read more [...]
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Lectio Poetica No. 5

Posted on March 25, 2020 by Daniel J. Miller
3
A Lenten Reflection ~ 29 Count nine months back from Christmas day and you arrive at March 25th and the Feast of the Annunciation, because as all expectant mother's know, a pregnancy is no more and no less than 9 months. Exactly. Well, maybe not. But Read more [...]
Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Annunciation, Being the Beloved, Lectio Poetica, Marie Howe, Poetry | 3 Replies

I Will Rise in the People

Posted on March 24, 2020 by Daniel J. Miller
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Today is the 40th Anniversary of the Assassination of St. Oscar Romero of El Salvador. For a reflection on Oscar Romero CLICK HERE.♦     ♦     ♦     ♦     ♦ Read more [...]
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Brother Weeps, the Hermit and His Dogs

Posted on March 24, 2020 by Daniel J. Miller
3
A LENTEN REFLECTION ~ 28 Once, Brother Weeps was speaking to a group of visitors. In answer to a woman’s question he said, “The holiest person I ever knew was a stick of a figure, a hermit who lived deep in the woods. He had two dogs. He loved Read more [...]
Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Being the Beloved, Brother Weeps, Humility, Meekness, Poverty of Spirit, Wise Sayings | 3 Replies

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Sample of Writings

  • What a Christian Looks Like
  • The Life of Sigh
  • The Song That Refuses to Sing
  • A Word to the Wise – Kindness
  • To Bless and Be Blessed
  • Listening to the Wind in the Wheat: A Meditation on the Eucharist
  • Being Human—Being Moved
  • In Gratitude for the Wild and Precious Life of Mary Oliver
  • TheGift Who Was Claire Wineland

Sayings of Brother Weeps

  • Brother Weeps Says Good Night
  • Brother Weeps and the Secretary of State
  • Brother Weeps and the Man in the Back
  • Brother Weeps on the Withness of God
  • Brother Weeps, the Hermit and His Dogs
  • Brother Weeps Speaks on Silence
  • Brother Weeps Drives Up a Hill
  • Brother Weeps and the Do-Si-Do

Recent Posts

  • We the People February 17, 2026
  • A Prayer of Martin Luther King, Jr. January 19, 2026
  • This is True December 22, 2025
  • Lectio Poetica No. 13 — We Will Be Known How? February 25, 2025
  • Shouldn’t Christians Try Christianity? February 10, 2025

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The Almond Tree

Programs


Interested in having Dan come to your community to teach, preach, or lead a retreat? Dan offers Parish Missions, as well as Presentations and Retreats, in a variety of formats .

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Spiritual Direction


Interested in Spiritual Direction? Dan is based on Whidbey Island north of Seattle, WA. He meets with people online and occasionally in person. He also is available to teach in spiritual guidance programs or to give talks about spiritual direction.

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The Human & the Holy


Interested in being part of a spiritual formation community? The Human & the Holy is an ecumenical community that comes together once a month to share simple ritual, contemplative silence, reverent dialogue, attentive listening, presentation, and spiritual practice.

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For more information contact Dan Miller.