This week, as I continued my conversations with Natural Burial advocates across the country, I learned about new developments in California and Pennsylvania.

Most immediately, this weekend Jane Hillhouse of Final Footprint will be a featured exhibitor at the 10th Annual New Living Expo at the Concourse Exhibition...

Natural Burial is gaining ground all across the country. Sometimes it even gets media attention, as in the case of Lynn Redgrave's funeral. Two events featuring natural burial -- the Solar Living Institute's Solfest XIV in Ukiah, California on September 25th & 26th and the September 27th evening...

I was listening to this...

There's been quite an interest lately in clergy burnout in the media. The New York Times has published several pieces on the subject: "Taking a Break from the Lord's Work" by Paul Vitello, and "Congregations Gone Wild" by G. Jeffrey MacDonald. The Clergy Health Initiative at...

Jane Hillhouse has been part of the movement to "green" the funeral industry since 1994. She learned about the natural burial movement when she was visiting her native England, and then brought that interest and commitment back to the United States.

I first heard of natural burial when a local...

The Natural Burial Expo 2010 is being held on Saturday, April 24 and Sunday April 25, 2010 at St. Paul's Christian Church in Raleigh, NC. Organizers report that this is the first event of its kind on the East Coast. It is being organized in response to the growing concern...

In January, I began following the 442 students of Charlotte Middle School in Charlotte, Tenn. who had decided to partner with UMCOR, one of the world's largest relief organizations, to provide "hands-on" support for Haiti by making 442 health kits.

Once they knew what each health kit needed to contain...

Jesus did not say, "forgive and forget."

Yet, for twenty-three years, as a spiritual director, clergywoman and mental health director, I have heard women struggle with the advice they receive from family, friends, therapists and pastors to stop complaining, "forgive and forget," and move on. My current research shows...

Two of the most highly regarded health care nonprofits in Haiti are making an urgent plea for 120,000 lights to assist them in delivering health care to persons who are now dispersed in the rural areas. These efforts to provide urgently-needed medical care to the hundreds of thousands of people...

The University of Notre Dame is offering Professor Karen Richman's "Creole Language and Culture" class as a free online course. Dr. Richman recommends this course for anyone who is planning to participate in the ongoing disaster relief effort in Haiti or who works with Haitians in other countries....

You can send a Valentine... or a Spring Festival/New Year's gift... to Haiti.

Through Community Coalition for Haiti, your gift can make a long-term difference for a rural Haitian community.

• $25 = Heirloom seeds that can be planted in the coming rainy season (April...

There is an expression that is often used in Haiti: "pa za pa." It means "step by step."

That's how relief efforts are right now -- both in Haiti and here in the United States. Friends in Haiti say that it can take up to two hours to travel...

People all over the world are praying for the people of Haiti, for those involved in relief efforts, and for the leaders of all the governments who are working with the government of Haiti.

Here are a variety of ways you can join in the global prayers for Haiti:

Something we often take for granted -- lighting - is essential for safety and security, self-empowerment and self-sufficiency. Even before the earthquake, 85% of Haitians did not have electricity. Now the situation is even worse. You can help. For $10, you can empower a group of 10 people in Haiti...

Last week I began following the 442 students of Charlotte Middle School in Charlotte, Tenn. who are partnering with UMCOR, one of the world's largest relief organizations, to provide "hands-on" support for Haiti.

The Charlotte Tigers were already focusing on the positive character trait of generosity for the month of...

I am overwhelmed with gratitude when I hear about the miracles that are going on in Haiti. I want to share one of those with you.

Just this morning, the U.S. State Department shared an interview with Air Force Colonel Buck Elton, the Commander of the Joint Special Operations in...

Today I learned that only one major relief agency is still on the ground rebuilding Louisiana after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Over 1,100 families are relying on this group to help them rebuild their homes by the end of 2010 -- and anyone over the age of 14 can help!

The 442 students of Charlotte Middle School in Charlotte, Tenn. are partnering with one of the world's largest relief organizations to provide "hands-on" support for Haiti. And you can do the same!

The 6th, 7th, and 8th graders at this Dickson County school are gathering supplies to make 442 "health...

When I was in Haiti in 1993, I quickly discovered the grace and strength and resiliency of the Haitian people in a situation that was -- even then -- far, far worse than anything I experienced when I was in Nicaragua during the Contra War. I also learned how much...

To tell the truth, I didn't want to see Avatar. The film's trailer promoted it as another action flick, albeit with stunning 3-D graphics. The clips were about making a difference by being in a para-military group on another planet. It was advertised as one of James Cameron's action films,...