ldquo How do I love thee Let me count the ways rdquo Those words from Elizabeth Barrett Browning rsquo s Sonnets from the Portuguese are among the best-known poetry in the English language She wrote them to Robert Browning before they were married and he was so moved he encouraged her to publish her entire collection of poems But because the language of the sonnets was very tender out of a desire for personal privacy Barrett published them as if they were translations from a Portuguese writer Sometimes we can feel awkward when we openly express affection for others But [... more]

ldquo Look Papa Those trees are waving at God rdquo As we watched young birches bending in the wind before an oncoming storm my grandson rsquo s excited observation made me smile It also made me ask myself Do I have that kind of imaginative faith Reflecting on the story of Moses and the burning bush the poet Elizabeth Barrett Browning wrote that ldquo Earth rsquo s crammed with heaven And every common bush afire with God But only he who sees takes off his shoes rdquo God rsquo s handiwork is evident all around us in the wonders of [... more]