Laura Smith Writer

Category: Nonfiction

  • That where there is hatred, I may bring love

    Easier said than done. Hatred seems a strong word; irritation, dislike, animosity, loathing, disgust and abhorrence are the synonyms though, and I can see myself indulging in any one of those. St. Francis held a high standard, but it came a sense of peace that those around him felt. I ask myself: am I a…

  • Lord, make me a channel of thy peace

    What does it mean to become a channel of peace? It sounds as if it could be a wee bit new ageish. I think, writing in the 13th century however, Saint Francis wasn’t going for the psychic medium angle. In order to become a channel one must first clear away the debris, the violent thoughts…

  • The Prayer of Saint Francis

    Lord, make me a channel of thy peace; that where there is hatred, I may bring love; that where there is wrong, I may bring the spirit of forgiveness; that where there is discord, I may bring harmony; that where there is error, I may bring truth; that where there is doubt, I may bring…

  • Spiritual Anorexia

    I gave myself a gift the other day and went to Kripalu Yoga Center for their Retreat and Renewal Program. One day, one luxurious stress-free day filled with healthy vegetarian food, yoga, meditation and writing. As I sat writing in the sun room overlooking the Berkshire Hills and Stockbridge Bowl, I realized that although I…

  • Eclipsed by the Knight

    The knight in shining armor, dream of many a small girl, and many a full grown girl. We yearn for the fairy tale, the glass slipper, the beast that turns handsome, or Richard Gere climbing a fire escape to whisk us from a life of poverty. A few nights ago I watched the latest Twilight…

  • Let the Mosquitoes Be Your Guide

    I needed quiet time with God today. I also needed a long run, so I dropped my car off to get my snow tires removed (I think it’s safe) and headed South on the Appalachian Trail. I wasn’t sure what to expect as I entered a field that abuts Route 7. I turned off my…

  • Markings

    My son let it slip the other day that my father did not approve of the tattoos I have gotten over the last decade, and said that I was poisoning myself. Typical comment from a concerned parent and I might feel the same way if my own child walked in the door decorated. What my…

  • What's in a Name?

    Mother’s Day 2011. Happy day to all who are mothers, all who have mothered, and all who wish to do so. Giving birth to a child, an idea, or yourself, these actions, they all seem to blend. I know that labor is painful, I do remember those 20 hours it took on a cold December…