Category: Religion
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Lighting the darkness
This is the first week of Advent, a time of spiritual darkness as we await the coming of the One who will set our hearts alight from within with his love. This is a hard time of year for many. Old grief resurfaces, broken relationships break us open, and the increasing darkness as we move…
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Walking the labyrinth
This weekend, my family attended our first church retreat at Calvin Center, a conference and retreat center about 45 minutes south of Atlanta. Situated near the edge of their lake is a large stone and sand labyrinth used for walking contemplation and prayer practice. I walked the labyrinth soon after arrival, which helped to distance me from my usual daily concerns and…
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Immersed in Spirit
I had the opportunity to attend the Immersion Experience: An Invitation to a Deeper Spiritual Life weekend course at Columbia Theological Seminary earlier this month. This is a foundational course for the Certificate in Spiritual Formation and future Certificate in Spiritual Direction offerings, but can be taken on its own for anyone interested in learning…
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Left hanging
I am reflecting today on the message of Good Friday and how it offers us the opportunity to examine the experience of human suffering as a spiritual wake-up call – to be more compassionate, empathetic and present for others. I have been thinking of all the ways that like Jesus, we are left to suffer – and how often…
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Give time to a worthy cause (Advent Day 3)
One of the most valuable services you can offer your community is to volunteer your time. During the holidays, many local non-profits, church ministries and grassroots organizations – especially those that serve the poor and homeless – are stretched thin helping those in need. If you have limited time, find out how you can help…
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Life is my monastery
Last night, my husband and I finished watching the beautiful documentary, Into Great Silence, an illuminating look at the lives of Carthusian monks of the Grande Chartreuse monastery in the French Alps. The monks live a simple, ascetic spiritual life, devoted to prayer and silence, Scheduled times are intentionally set aside for walks, conversation and, in…
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Whole, perfect and beautiful
Take heart and know that you are beloved and worthy beyond measure by our Creator. You are whole, perfect and beautiful, regardless of your circumstances or issues. Good People, most royal greening verdancy, rooted in the sun, you shine with radiant light. – Hildegard of Bingen The Divine beauty we see reflected in nature is also…
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Listen to the Spirit
I was looking through some boxes of books in our basement and came across Let There Be Light: Based on the Visionary Spirituality of Hildegard of Bingen. It had been given to my husband by a Sister of Mercy he used to work for at St. Joseph’s Hospital, and it is a 30 day meditation…
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I am I am I
Beautiful – speaks to the richness of our human experience and the opportunities for spiritual abiding.
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Psalm 23 Summer Faith Challenge: the comfort of God
For you are with me; your rod and your staff— they comfort me. This week at church, we are asked to provide a picture of or describe something that God uses to offer comfort, either now or in the past. I struggled a bit with this exercise because my inclination was to offer up something…
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