Reflections from the Red Kayak “The leaves are perfectly ripe. I wonder if there is any answering ripeness in the lives of the men who live beneath them.” Henry David Thoreau, Autumnal Tints My dear friend Amy sent me Thoreau’s book, Autumnal Tints. It is considered his classic essay on the colors of fall, and […]
Aurora Borealis on the Water Read More »
Saturday, September 3, 7:00a.m.-1:00 p.m. Marywood Spirituality Center, Arbor Vitae Facilitator: Author and Kayaker Mary Anne Smrz “Change: Our Ever-Present Companion” is the theme of this retreat. Mary Anne takes cancer survivors and their caregivers on the water for a much-needed “pause,” to allow time and space to reconnect with self and nature and a
Healing on the Water: Cancer Survivors’ and Caregivers Kayak Retreat Read More »
Saturday, September 3, 7:00a.m.-1:00 p.m. Marywood Spirituality Center, Arbor Vitae Facilitator: Author and Kayaker Mary Anne Smrz “Change: Our Ever-Present Companion” is the theme of this retreat. Mary Anne takes cancer survivors and their caregivers on the water for a much-needed “pause,” to allow time and space to reconnect with self and nature and a
Healing on the Water: Cancer Survivors’ and Caregivers Kayak Retreat Read More »
On June 25, 2022, on a calm, peaceful Saturday morning on the shores of Trout Lake at the Marywood Spirituality Center, six ministers gathered for a unique kayaking retreat. The group listened to an opening talk on Change: Our Ever-Present Companion, paddled, pondered and journaled in silence for two hours on the water, and shared
Reflections from the Red Kayak “Life isn’t about finding yourself; it’s about creating yourself.” Henry David Thoreau Author I love paddling with a purpose. Sometimes, the purpose is simply to head out onto the water and enjoy the beauty of nature. Other times, I like the time on the water to have more depth and
Reflections from the Red Kayak “Dwell as near as possible to the channel in which your life flows.” Henry David Thoreau Author Greetings from the Red Kayak! It is amazing how quickly time passes and how long it has been since I have sent out a reflection. My life has been flowing in wonderful, adventurous
THE RED ORNAMENT OF TRUTH Happy New Year! As I re-read my holiday message from last year, I reflected on my 2021 word, MIRACLES. In addition to countless, daily, small blessings, there were so many poignant MIRACLES this past year. I would like to share a few of those with you. As I work on
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Reflections from the Red Kayak “As every season seems best to us in its turn, so the coming in of spring is like the creation of Cosmos out of Chaos…” Henry David Thoreau, Walden The season of spring is a beautiful gift. A time when everything emerges from winter’s darkness to begin again. The frozen
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Early in 2020, I entered my third book, Change: Our Ever-Present Companion, Reflections from the Red Kayak, in the 28th Annual Writer’s Digest Self-Published Book Awards. Although the book did not win, it received the highest marks for structure, organization, cover design, voice and writing style, among other things. Below is the judge’s commentary. I am honored to receive
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