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Evergreen Testament

December 26, 2012 by Watt Childress 6 Comments

Suddenly I feel like I’m standing on sacred ground. My sense of kinship with the place expands in the company of cedars, some large enough to barely get my arms around. I press my palms against the taut skin of their trunks. I revel in the scent of sprigs picked up from earth their kind have nourished for lifetimes.

[Read More]

Filed Under: Culture, Nature, Spirit, ULE Tagged With: cedar, Clatsop-Nehalem Confederated Tribes, Glencoe High School, Lewis Hyde, potlatch

Holiday classic bridges communities

November 28, 2012 by Willa Childress 3 Comments

For years, the Coaster Theatre was perhaps best known for its annual production of some version of Dickens’ classic “A Christmas Carol.” Since the 1970’s, members of the community—from sandwich makers to librarians to students—came together to dress up in top hats and spread some holiday cheer. Those community members who didn’t take part in the show were sure to come and watch. The theatre truly brought the community together. [Read More]

Filed Under: Culture, Song and Dance, Spirit, ULE Tagged With: Cannon Beach Coaster Theatre, Scrooge the Musical

Indian Summer

October 5, 2012 by Watt Childress Leave a Comment

Autumn conjures up hallowed thoughts of education. Scholars conversing under sturdy campus oaks. Visits to libraries late at night, haunted by information.

Yet harvest’s end heralds an older turn from physical to mental labor, one that predates mortarboards and standardized tests. It’s a release of time to reflect on our ways, raid the smokehouse of knowledge, slice into some farm-cured ideas. [Read More]

Filed Under: Culture, Nature, Spirit, ULE Tagged With: Appalachia, Dobyns-Bennett Indians, Kingsport, Long Island of the Holston, Tennessee, Warrior's Path, White Buffalo

Prairie Dogs, Tunnels, and Politics; Welcome to My World

September 8, 2012 by Stevie Stephens Burden 5 Comments

Why is it that we are always so sure of ourselves, so convinced that we’re right, about everything, all the time? Why do we consistently act as if how we perceive the world is “the one truth” – the RIGHT way?

[Read More]

Filed Under: Culture, Politics, Spirit, ULE Tagged With: culture, humor, Oregon, Oregon Coast Stories Humor Mayor, politics, spirit, Stevie Burden, Stevie S. Burden

In Praise of a Quiet Life

September 4, 2012 by Tricia Gates Brown 2 Comments

The quiet life is about listening and attending to your existence and to that of the universe and spirit around you. It is about stilling the noise enough that you can hear. What you hear will depend on your singular vocation, your calling.

[Read More]

Filed Under: Art, Culture, Featured Writing, Spirit, ULE

I don’t think so

August 25, 2012 by margaret 3 Comments

The horses slipped through the small cracks in the crowd. They entered a few feet, then stopped and shifted around. Not sure what to do, surrounded so closely on all sides by quietly standing humans, the horses seemed deeply uncomfortable about stepping on people. They seemed to say to their riders, “What are you doing! You want me to hurt these people who have been petting my nose for the past month? No. I don’t think so.” [Read More]

Filed Under: Culture, Politics, Spirit, ULE Tagged With: Horses, Occupy, Portland

One and One

August 12, 2012 by Watt Childress 2 Comments

Counting steps one
is open to chaos.

One ankle is sprained
feeding ducks before work.
Then glasses are squashed
during one lame hunt for
the perfect book to wow
a whitewater scholar.

Filed Under: Poetry, Spirit, ULE, Uncategorized

Oregon

July 23, 2012 by George Gilmer 2 Comments

This is Oregon
Her coastline a tattered skirt torn from the sea
Stiff boots of stone propping
Up the dear old lady and baring legs of old-growth wood;
Her ferns are showing but she doesn’t mind if you look.

[Read More]

Filed Under: Feature, Nature, Poetry, Spirit, ULE Tagged With: Oregon

Watt’s Gospel at the Farmer’s Market

July 17, 2012 by Rick Bonn 6 Comments

Stop and talk to Watt Childress (who founded this website) any day at Jupiter’s Books in Cannon Beach and you’ll hear the gospel of community. The good news that our community is full of talent and special people and that we have much to give each other if we would find ways to share. Upper […]

Filed Under: Culture, Food, Song and Dance, Spirit, ULE Tagged With: Brian Johnstone, Cannon Beach, Cranky Sue's, Jupiter's Books, Nehalem Bay Pie Company, O Falafel, The Farmer's Market, The Juice Box, Watt Childress

We are gathered

June 25, 2012 by Watt Childress Leave a Comment

Beloved is the word
we share round
today’s wedding of
reader and poet.

We ring this word
hither and dear
with each waltz
into the microphone.

Filed Under: Poetry, Spirit, ULE, Uncategorized

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More Gleanings

Memoir

February 13, 2026 By Steven Mayer Leave a Comment

End of the Street

August 4, 2025 By Steven Mayer 2 Comments

Here Try Some of This Ointment

April 17, 2024 By Watt Childress 4 Comments

We are the Luminaries

August 8, 2023 By Watt Childress 2 Comments

Open Letter for Creation’s Caregivers

June 19, 2023 By Watt Childress 5 Comments

Additional Wisdom...

Readers’ Comments

  • Watt Childress
    July 2, 2026 at 7:45 am
    on Every Patronus Will Lead Our Parade
    Fills my heart with joy that you read this Michael. The musical synchronicities in this piece really moved me as
  • Michael Simpson
    July 1, 2026 at 7:34 pm
    on Every Patronus Will Lead Our Parade
    A lovely expression of the true American experience. Thank you, patriot!
  • Watt Childress
    June 13, 2026 at 2:40 pm
    on Reverend Billy wants Oregon to Legalize Potlucks
    I can see how one comes to that conclusion, given all the frustration that accompanies disempowerment. Here's a truth that
  • DHCG
    June 7, 2026 at 2:49 pm
    on Reverend Billy wants Oregon to Legalize Potlucks
    “ They could encourage togetherness by example, tee-up other practical reforms to help free folks from the overreach of top-down
  • Susan Banyas
    June 7, 2026 at 11:00 am
    on Opening the Book of Indigenous Grief
    "The future is made from grief that has been grieved." Thank you Cliff. Thank you Little People, for this gift
More Comments...

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