In Cynthia Bourgeault’s book, Wisdom Way of Knowing, she recounts a last conversation with a dying friend. He asks her, ‘Are you fearless yet?’ and adds ‘Fall fearless in love.’ In theory, I read the rest of the chapters that I was supposed to read for a conversation on a Zoom meeting. In truth, I…
Tag: prayer
From Above and From the Journal
From the journal… Went up to the balcony as I had wanted to… The time of day was perfect, and the day itself—still full of light even at the sighing time when sun prepares to exchange the vigil with moon. First thing I noticed was the temperature shift when walking through the doors—so sudden. Where…
Wednesday Peace
Ms. Tippett: In 2006, I sat across from [Elie Wiesel] in a hotel room that my producers had turned into a makeshift studio and I asked him to tell me what happened after he lost his faith forever, as he wrote, at Auschwitz. He answered: “What happened afterwards is in the book. I went on praying.” Ms….
Orion, Cassiopeia, Polaris
I went to the midweek contemplative service at Saint Andrew’s United Church of Canada last night. One of the many reasons I love going to this is the quiet opening I can feel inside of me…the combination of a grounding and a freeing that has me pick up a pen and paper with a certain…
Light finds Like
Compel me to know your ways, O Love; instruct me upon your paths. Lead me in your truth, and teach me, for through you I will know wholeness; I shall reflect your Light both day and night. -Psalm 25 I paused here this morning while praying., considering the reflection of Light…Light offered and Light received…
Sighs Too Deep: A Poem
Of late I have been going to a contemplative prayer on Wednesday evenings and finding it to be profoundly nourishing. Sometimes I come home and write out of the fullness I feel because it’s more than I can hold inside…I find that poetry is a good container for what spills over. Too Deep Too deep,…
On Prayer
Homily @Saint Andrew’s 18 February, 2024 OPEN: I had a recent conversation with a friend who was going to attend a conference on Artificial Intelligence. She had been asked to open the conference with a prayer and decided she’d ask ChatGPT to write it. I was so curious about the result! I asked her to…
Senses of Contemplation (a poem)
Senses of Contemplation (Wednesdays at Saint Andrew’s)Warm dust and candle;stained glass archways into the story; smooth-worn wooden spirals bearing your light;the comfort-music of stillness;the full-bodied enticing awareness of limitless, of home, of Still Morethat was you and is you now and will be so onward and deeper intothe unknown Mystery of what is,as yet, beyond the embraceof our imagination….
Frying Pans, Spirals, and These Wintry Days
I have occasionally referred to a communication style I call ‘the compassionate frying pan.’ Direct, possibly jarring, but with heart. I have sometimes employed it, especially when teaching, and other times I have been the recipient of it… when the message that is needed isn’t coming through any other way. I’ve received it from well-intentioned friends, mentors,…
Right book, right moment
As a librarian—and now as an occasional bookseller, I have said to the people who approached me with frustration at not liking the book they recently read— Before you dismiss it entirely, consider that it might not be about the book…it might be about the moment. Keep your mind, eyes, instinct, open for the book…
Consider the Lilies 