The Journal Journey

About Blog Speaking Writing Transforming Culture Home :: Blogs :: hgoodman's blog By hgoodman - Posted on March 27th, 2008 Tagged: art  •   imagination  •   imaginative theologian  •   meme  •   ministry  •   music  •   work  •   writing I saw this meme lurking around t he High Calling Blog collection (a fun network of people that I recommend you check out if you haven't already) but thought, what odd job have I done? I... Read Full Story

Back in March of this year, uncertain as to what to do with myself as I was recovering from my trip through thyroid hades, I decided to 'throw myself out to the universe' and see if anything came to me. I hoped to be able to return to Panama with my dogs, Cleo and Harley, and resume my life on Loma Partida. I like living there, it fits me. However, as the fates would have it, Delta Airlines has a ban on flying pets between May 15 and September 15, so either I travel without my dogs, or I... Read Full Story

I beseech thee, oh bakers of bread, slicers of meats, suppliers of groceries, upon thy honor to apprentice thyself to a Jersey baker, deli worker, and grocery supplier. Why doest thou not slice deli meats so thinly? Learn ye to slice thy fineries onion-paper thin. Why doest thou not stock the very same American cheese as is found in so great a land as New Jersey? Learn ye to cultivate cheese with such flavor. Why doest thou not carry Ambrosia rolls and pork roll? Learn ye to discover... Read Full Story

When artist Gail Nadeau cared for her mother (who was descending into dementia), Gail kept a notebook. She drew and painted and wrote. She molded something from the experience even as the experience itself shaped her . She used the simple power of the notebook, to accept and process life's realities. Like Gail, I keep notebooks. I have a general one, for the miscellaneous pieces of my life. I have one just for my experience in the outdoor Secret Place . I have a purple prayer notebook that... Read Full Story

On days like this, when two guys from two different companies stand in my garage and declare the spring that lifts that old, heavy door, irreparable. When one good friend weeps inconsolably to me about all that is irreparable in her life. And when I think of all those sick and dying and fighting... and the whole world seems irreparable... I ache for You. Close my eyes to the wind. Listen to the scritch scratch of dry oak leaves and little thsk thsk sounds of squirrel's feet and a soft chrr... Read Full Story

Gosh what a dull day! Rose early and was all packed and ready to go, ended up outside my apartment actually sitting on my suitcase waiting for darling Germanicus to come charging along on his white horse but the minutes they ticked by with no sign of him. Eventually he trundled up 15 minutes late giving us only just enough time to make the train to London town, and I really do mean just, we got out of the taxi, onto the train and the whistle immediately blew. The journey was uneventful and we... Read Full Story

We need a breather. Or at least, I do. The other day, Kim and Jason of Escape Adulthood (a great blog for rediscovering enjoyment of life) talked about music that has meaning in your life. I live to my own soundtrack. You guys know that I have annual theme songs (this year's being Sinatra's "I'm Gonna Live Until I Die"). Did you know that I cling to songs like a security blanket? Tracy Chapman’s "Give Me One Reason" reminds me of vacuuming and mopping sticky bathroom... Read Full Story

I started a new book last week! Writing the first few pages helped deteriorate the fear crippling me. I stalled and stalled knowing that what comes out on the page will never be what's in my head. It'll never be good enough. I have to write anyway. With that in mind, here's a peek into my life: That's the bulletin board over my desk (which my husband would argue was his desk confiscated by a foreigner). Notice the fairy crown on the left. Needed for inspiration, of course... Read Full Story

We all love Moleskine® notebooks. The quality of the paper and cover, the simplicity of the design, and the feel in your hands. Now they have come out with great new colors in their New Moleskine Volant Collection in Blue, Green, Pink, and the standard Black.   I really welcome the new colors and appreciate the moods they can generate. They come in 3 different sizes and are packaged in sets of two shades: Lighter pink with darker pink, lighter green with darker green, lighter blue with... Read Full Story

In January of 1996, I walked into a grocery store in Shrewsbury, MA with my father and my sister. I was seventeen . I don’t recall where exactly the store was, why we where there, or what we bought while there, save one item. The first journal I ever owned. I remember walking down the aisle with the school supplies and glancing down at the notebooks lined up on display. I looked quickly over the spirals and spotted the familiar black and white marbled cover of PenTab... Read Full Story