Bonja the Bodger

Grace…

June 29th, 2026

One little gesture can be the pebble that starts an avalanche.

Even something as simple as holding the door for someone, or a smile, or talking with someone in a respectful way.

That might be the only gracious human contact that someone has had, potentially, in years, and our kindness might actually serve as a reminder for them that there’s something larger than themselves that loves them.

And if that’s the case, then perhaps they can move out into the world and treat somebody else that way, too.

And it can just keep going.

We never know…
5:08…

June 27th, 2026

I think back to those times in my life when certain things were presented to me – things I never expected, like being called to step up and serve our spiritual community in a deeper way.

And all I had to do was say yes.

And I did…

And the healing that I’ve gotten, the wisdom that’s come from it, the things that I’ve learned, could never have come into my life any other way.

So, what’s holding you back?

What’s in your life right now that’s calling you to step forward?

Can you stand there, unaware of what it might be, but feeling the pull, throwing everything aside, and just say, “Yes…”
Gone to seed…

June 22nd, 2026

I’ve sat quite a bit. I’ve prayed a lot. I’ve waited. And now, it feels as though the wind is beginning to take me.

And so, let me ask you: Can you do the same?

If you haven’t found your way yet, can you sit? Can you wait? Can you allow those seeds to germinate within yourself, so that when you do open up, the wind can carry them forward – so that they can take root, and serve the people?
Let them die…

June 19th, 2026

One of the most difficult aspects of our emotional recovery is the countless number of little deaths we’re going to be asked to endure along the way.

The people we knew, the places we used to go, the habits we used to have; all these things that came into our lives when we were sick – even because we were sick – we’re going to have to let them go.

They’re going to have to fall away and die.

And we’re going to have to grieve them…
Right on time…

June 17th, 2026

Those of us who’ve been at it for a while know that feelings and buried memories can come back as we work through the processes of our emotional recovery.

And sometimes, we can experience them without even being aware of the context. So, they can show up as mystery emotions – mystery aches and pains.

But sitting with all of that really helps us learn what’s at the heart of it…
For the sake of…

June 12th, 2026

These gifts that we have, the ones we’ve been carrying with us since we were born, they often need hard times to crack them open.

They run on a deep amount of faith.

And it’s the kind of faith that can only be found when we’re pushed to the brink, when we feel like there’s nowhere else to go…like we’ve lost everything.

But afterwards, when we’ve finally come out of it, we find that the only thing we’ve really lost is everything that stands between us and moving forward…
Walking with beauty…

June 9th, 2026

When you’re in the middle of things, and you feel like you’re in a tunnel; you’re keeping your head down, and you’re moving forward the best you can, it’s often hard to be aware of moments of beauty when they come up.

But then, something’ll happen – a sunrise, a song, a smile on the face of a child…whatever it is – and it cracks you open. It reaches inside, and you can feel it…
Self, other, God…

June 7th, 2026

One of the things about working with others, either one-on-one or in circles, is that you really get to experience every aspect of humanity. You get to see the pettiness. You get to see the anger. You get to see the guilt, and the shame, and the fear.

And you get to find those things within yourself, too.

You get to see how your actions affect your immediate circle, and even a much wider portion of the world. But there’s also something else you get to see.

You get to see the love – the unconditional love…
Is it worth it…

June 4th, 2026

It’s an absolutely beautiful morning.

I’m out here, barefoot in the garden, harvesting some greens for a salad. I just cut some lettuce, Swiss chard, kale, spinach…

As I’ve gotten older, I’ve become more acutely aware of the passage of time. One of the things that I’ve really learned is that none of us knows for certain how many more beautiful days like this we’re going to get. So, when one comes up, you can bet your ass I’m going to take advantage of it.

That’s not to say that it’s not important to put aside for the future, or to have dreams. If my wife and I hadn’t done that, I probably wouldn’t be out here doing this right now.

But here’s the truth:

As we put aside for the future, as we chase our dreams, it’s also important to remember that we might just be building those dreams on a foundation of sand, and that there might not actually be a future in store for us…
Won’t it or will it…

June 2nd, 2026

One example that I keep in my heart and in my mind when I work with someone is that of the mother bird. When she kicks her babies out of the nest, those who flap their wings will fly; those who don’t, won’t. She doesn’t dive out of the nest after them, grab the ones that are faltering, and flap their wings for them.

I don’t say this to be cold.

I say it because it’s the truth.

We only have so much time. And when we bring our gift into the healing arena, we’re not walking alone. We’re walking arm-in-arm with those who’ve taught us, and those who’ve taught them, and those who’ve perhaps passed this gift down from generation,

to generation,

to generation.

And every time we sit with someone, they’re watching.

The way we approach our work is the way we honor their work. Our gift, our lives, our time, our healing, is no less valuable than that of any other…