The Sacred Braid

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Practicing the Presence of God

Posted on January 12, 2013 by Daniel J. Miller
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Before you can love a person you have to start with simpler things and gradually build up your skill --- start with a rock, a cloud, a tree. ~ Carson McCullers Brother Lawrence, the unassuming but now memorable Carmelite monk of the 17th century Read more [...]
Posted in Presence | Tagged Being Present, Carson McCullers, God | Leave a reply

The Little Moment

Posted on January 9, 2013 by Daniel J. Miller
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Today's wisdom comes from the poet Gwendolyn Brooks: Exhaust the little moment. Soon it dies. And be it gash or gold it will not come Again in this identical disguise. There is no more important spiritual practice than the conscious consecration Read more [...]
Posted in Presence | Tagged Being Present, Gwendolyn Brooks | Leave a reply

Gift

Posted on January 6, 2013 by Daniel J. Miller
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Here's a poem for Epiphany--   Gift A day so happy. Fog lifted early. I worked in the garden. Hummingbirds were stopping over honeysuckle flowers. There was no thing on earth I wanted to possess. I knew no one worth my envying him. Whatever Read more [...]
Posted in Gratefulness | Tagged Being Present, Czeslaw Milosz, Gratefulness | Leave a reply

May You Listen: A Blessing

Posted on January 1, 2013 by Daniel J. Miller
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“Behold, I am making all things new.” (Rev. 21: 5) A New Year’s Blessing This Year-- May you listen to your life and hear it as a sacred story that you are in. May you listen to your body as to your dearest friend and honor what it Read more [...]
Posted in Blessing | Tagged Listening | Leave a reply

Where Are You?

Posted on December 27, 2012 by Daniel J. Miller
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"If you hallow this life you meet the living God " ~ Martin Buber In 1961, Senior Lieutenant Yuri Gagarin, the Russian Cosmonaut who was the first person to orbit earth, dropped the already frigid temperature of the Cold War era even further when Read more [...]
Posted in God | Tagged Augustine, Becoming Human, Emmanuel, Incarnation, Jesus, Listening, Martin Buber, Question, Vocation | Leave a reply

The Extravagance of God’s Love

Posted on December 26, 2012 by Daniel J. Miller
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The incarnation is not only salvific but revelatory. What among the many things God reveals by becoming human is that daily living itself is holy, making the particularity of my life and your life dignified, significant, and sacred. By becoming human, Read more [...]
Posted in God | Tagged Awakening, Creation, Denise Levertov, Divine Love, Incarnation, Love, Mechtilde of Magdeburg | Leave a reply

Sharon’s Christmas Prayer

Posted on December 25, 2012 by Daniel J. Miller
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She was five, sure of the facts, and recited them with slow solemnity convinced every word was revelation. She said they were so poor they had only peanut butter and jelly sandwiches to eat and they went a long way from home without Read more [...]
Posted in Advent & Christmas | Tagged Advent & Christmas, Children, Incarnation, Joy, Prayer | Leave a reply

Incarnation: Bigger than Baby Jesus

Posted on December 24, 2012 by Daniel J. Miller
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The Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth. (Jn. 1:14) O Come, O come, Emmanuel. (19th Century Carol) Let’s be clear about one thing: Christmas is more than God becoming a little baby. At the heart of Christmas is the saving Read more [...]
Posted in Incarnation | Tagged Christmas, Divine Love, Edward Schillibeeckx, Emmanuel, God, Hildegard of Bingen, Jesus, Yes | Leave a reply

Candles that Will Burn

Posted on December 21, 2012 by Daniel J. Miller
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        Dec. 21 Candles of joy, despite all sadness Dec. 22 Candles of hope where despair keeps watch Dec. 23 Candles of courage for fears ever present Dec. 24 Candles of peace for tempest-tossed days Dec. 25 Candles Read more [...]
Posted in Advent & Christmas | Tagged Light, Spiritual Practice | Leave a reply

The Carol of the Season: “I Am with You”

Posted on December 15, 2012 by Daniel J. Miller
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Today's post is featured in THE WRITTEN WORD: The Carol of the Season: "I Am with You"   Read more [...]
Posted in Advent & Christmas | Tagged Emmanuel | Leave a reply

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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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Abraham Heschel Advent Aliveness Anawim Awe Beauty Becoming Human Being Present Blessing Brother Weeps Children Christ Christ-life Christmas Compassion Contemplative Seeing Courage Creation Death Divine Love Earth Faith God Gratefulness Hope Incarnation Jesus Joy Justice Kindness Lent Listening Love Music Nature Peace Poetry Prayer Silence Spiritual Practice Suffering Thomas Merton Transformation Wise Sayings Wonder

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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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© Daniel J. Miller, 2013-2026. All Rights Reserved.
For more information contact Dan Miller.