First published in 1995, the journal has been published very occasionally for the last several years in the West Virginia/Mid-Atlantic region of the U.S. Since I still enjoy wood-pulp, ink and staples, I hope to continue to publish a paper version of the free journal, which in the past has survived with a lot of help from its friends. We still need such support. Past subscribers and supporters of the journal may have wondered if it had evaporated, but no, the effort lives on. As they may notice, some features of past paper issues have been incorporated into this digital debut, in order to get this child launched out onto the wide waters of the Web.

The journal's name was inspired by the Richard Nelson quote above. So often, we go looking far afield, in many different places, often exotic and strange, for the tracks of the spiritual path. Yet where else is it to be found but in the day-in, day-out round of our workaday lives? We climb the same mountain every day, rising from sleep, putting our faces back on for the world, heading out to work or school.We collect insults, setbacks, pains and losses that confuse or weary us. We return home to the same faces and walls, collapsing into bed. We begin it all over in the morning.

But if we are open to learning from whatever occurs, and if we can get a better handle on the moment-to-moment experience of life as it plays out in our minds, body and spirit, we can awaken to the spiritual path wherever we are. Instead of disparaging that mountain -- that same old mountain every day! -- which faces us down each dawn, we may instead climb it with greater freshness, more alive to its latest lessons and challenges, however difficult the trudge can sometimes be.

In its own small way, "Hundred Mountain" is intended as a mountain climbing support group.

Be well | NOVEMBER 1998