In These Uncertain Times We live in uncertain times. Few of us appreciated how uncertain they are just a few weeks ago. Most of us began the year hoping we could accomplish great things. We set out to lose weight or find love or make money and expected to make progress. Our resolutions were going to make our lives more healthy and our world a better place. Now we sit isolated, quarantined in our homes trying to remember how we got... Read more
Preparing for a Contemplative Easter This year is unique for us. It is unlike any other Easter, any other Passover, any other Ramadan we have experienced. We do not remember any like this one before and we will remember this week for a long time. It is a spiritual experience which will shape the rest of our lives. What is this time telling us about ourselves? How is it revealing spiritual truths to us? Who are the people it is... Read more
Listening and Sharing Our Stories Lent is a liturgical season when many of us think about spiritual practices. We decide to give something up or we choose to begin practicing something new. Most of us see spiritual practices as ways for us to behave. We hope we can behave our way into stronger spiritual life. Contemplative practices like centering prayer or other things we do on our own are often the first things which come to mind. This year Lent... Read more
Praying for Those Who Are Alone “Silence For all people in their daily life and work; For our families, friends, and neighbors, and for those who are alone.” — Prayers of the People from the Book of Common Prayer I remember, weeks ago, when we used to get together for things like church and work. We would meet face to face and do things together. Some of us shared meals and some of us shared stories. In some liturgical churches... Read more
Stillness on an Early Spring Morning It is less than a week old and this is already a challenging spring. We have grown accustomed to thinking of spring as filled with new life and vitality. An early spring morning is like a gift which we open outdoors. Our days become warmer and lighter and we grow eager to spend time in nature. Many of us remember each early spring morning as an opportunity to get out and explore. The snow... Read more
Practicing a New Normal for Lent Lent is a liturgical season which is all about embracing a new normal. Each year we discern changes we aspire to make in our lives. Some years we choose the changes we would like to make and other years the changes choose us. This year Lent is showing us where to find clear, practical transformation. Lent this year is presenting us with specific ways to embrace a new normal. These are not the changes... Read more
Our Pilgrimage Begins With Staying Home Almost all of us have begun a pilgrimage recently. Some of us are experienced pilgrims. We prepare for a pilgrimage by deciding on our itinerary and choosing what to pack. It is important to have the proper equipment, like strong walking shoes. Many of us like to plan as completely as we can. We want to know what we are going to experience before we experience it. Some of us carry a detailed guide... Read more
Stillness on Saint Patrick’s Day This year Saint Patrick’s Day has greater stillness than it usually does. Is there more to Saint Patrick’s Day than revelry and green beer or people who have Irish heritage? What is it all about? Saint Patrick’s Day begins with the story of a real person, the Patrick who became a patron saint. We do not have a lot of independent historical information about Patrick. Most of what we think we know about him is... Read more
Spending Some Time at Home Our world becomes dramatically more challenging by the day. Many of us are more afraid every day. We fear a virus we had never heard of when this year began a few months ago. Some of us are afraid the people we love could suffer. Beyond the fear of physical illness we are afraid we will lose what we have worked so hard to build. Some of us are afraid we will lose the jobs... Read more
Are We Embodying Spiritual Life? Some of us believe spiritual life is about what we think. They are convinced it is more deeply spiritual to hold certain opinions and ideas. For them, spiritual life is essentially analytical and intellectual. They see growing spiritually as learning and finding answers to questions. Being able to explain spiritual life reasonably and rationally is significant for them. Others of us are certain spiritual life is about behavior. They trust specific actions and practices to... Read more
Strategic Monk
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