From Oralee
Since childhood, I have been curious, playful, imaginative, and a lover – of people, pandas, flower fairies, starry nights and dandelions.
When I turned 50, I told a friend my goal was to be an outrageous 80-year-old. “Why wait until 80?” she asked. “Good point!” I answered. I upped the level of my curiosity and creativity. I called on Angels to help with everything! 
I created altars in my home to bring solace in despair: death of my grandson; betrayal in relationship; cancer treatment; loss of my house; family turmoil. I created altars to focus on hope and gratitude: birth of a grandchild; finding a home, love, marriage; safe return from travel; recovery from illness; inner peace. 
I encouraged others – use what you already have around you and create an altar. Gaze at it, pray, change it as you change. Welcome the wisdom of spiritual traditions. There are numerous ways to grow through relationships with the Divine and with our human family.
“You’re rich, aren’t you, Grandma?” This question shocked me. My 10-year-old grandson and I had spent time shopping at Goodwill and searching the grocery store for Kosher food for him. I had turned down many of his requests.
“What makes you think that?” I asked.
“Because you are happy with what you have!”
I let his observation sink in and transform me. “Yes, YES!! In that way, I am outrageously rich.” My life continues to be full of loving relationships, challenges to stretch me, opportunities gifted to me. I am so blessed.
Being outrageous: I changed my profession from an outward oriented teacher, civil rights activist, and entrepreneur – to an inward oriented spiritual director and hospice volunteer, from Doing to Being (well, OK, still Doing – in different ways – with more Being thrown in). Now I love being very present to people as they share their stories, spirituality, questions. I hope to awaken them to their loving compassion for themselves and for all relations. I love the awareness of guidance and wisdom being offered and coming through me.
I feel very privileged to have a profession that improves with life experience and long-range perspectives as well as promoting the on-going relationship to the mystery and divinity of life.
About Oralee
Oralee began her work as a spiritual director in 1993. She continues it in both Portland and Central Oregon as a member of the Interfaith Spiritual Center. For seven years, she served as the pastoral care associate at Meridian United Church of Christ in Wilsonville, Oregon. During the 80’s, she and her sister, Marzenda Stiles McComb, created and ran Stiles for Relaxation, a book, music, self-help store and metaphysical resource center in Portland. Her extended family of siblings, children and grandchildren engage her in seeing the world through many perspectives and push the edges of her compassion and understanding of the variety of the human experience.
Her religious journey began in the Protestant bouquet – Baptist, Congregational, Presbyterian, Methodist, Lutheran. It was enlarged by diving into her daughter’s and grandchildren’s lives in Orthodox Judaism; 
Catholic training in Spiritual Direction; Buddhist mediation practices; and, “altaring” experiences with the Divine Feminine. She is in awe of the vast universal ever-creating presence of an accepting, loving and Divine Force.
In 2014, Oralee married Harry Hamilton and moved to his home in central Oregon. She continues her work in Portland and also in Sunriver.
Mothers Save the World, the Vision from 2020 is a short story written by Oralee about the possibilities of mothers bringing major changes to the way we live. Read it here.
Growing Together is a book co-authored by Oralee and her Jewish daughter, Aliza. It tells the story of love and adaptation between a Protestant mother and observant Jewish daughter, her husband and six children. It is available on AbiteofTorah.com
