News From New Mexico

As an Asian-American woman raised in the evangelical Christian tradition, I have been culturally and religiously conditioned to be a martyr. I received praise when I sacrificed my time, energy, and wellbeing for the people around me.  My bend toward martyrdom was reinforced (I thought) by the teachings of Jesus. A

Over the past few months, I’ve enjoyed tuning in to the CAC’s Everything Belongs podcast, not only for the brilliant guests, but especially to eavesdrop on Fr. Richard’s conversations with co-hosts Paul Swanson and Mike Petrow as they learn from one another. I feel like a fly on the wall, listening to these

Weather Report Severe storm warning. Resist the temptation to shelter inside. Go out into it, and bring calm steadiness. It will change the storm. —Steve Garnaas-Holmes While in prison, John the Baptist grew concerned about the actions (or nonactions) of Jesus. Apparently, Jesus was not behaving like

Death is my mentor, guide, and companion. Sudden death. Wrongful death. Accidental death. Threatening death. These are the spiritual mentors which have guided my life, my relations, my quiet moments, and my committed actions.  Some people believe I have had more sudden death in my life than most. There is no way

Poetry saved my life. I’ve heard many poets, including myself, utter some version of this sentiment over the years. Usually, this response is given after an interviewer asks a question like, “What is saving your life right now?” or “What is sustaining you these days?” The fact that questions such as these

When we begin shifting into a new life phase, we can often feel confused and vulnerable. Yet, while often difficult and intimidating, major life events can also offer us deep learning and transformation. Whether you are facing an empty nest or becoming a parent, getting married or divorced, or dealing with illness and

The root of violence — like the many social justice crises we’re facing today — is found in the illusion of separation. When we see ourselves as separate from God and creation (thinking God is “out there” rather than God is “in here”), we often resort to fear, anger, and hatred. A regular practice of

Like Jonah in the belly of the whale, many of us feel uncomfortable with our faith at times. When the religious teachings of our early life no longer align with our current worldview, we may enter a time of religious deconstruction. For some, deconstructing their faith can feel inspiring. For others, especially

Christians often associate sexual morality with a religious leader or denomination’s stance and rules about what is holy and pure, who belongs, and who doesn’t. That kind of rigid, dualistic thinking leads us away from the greatest commandment — love of God and love of neighbor. Have you ever been told that

"How could God conceivably be a punisher? God as an abusive father? It can't be true!" —Richard Rohr In this video, Fr. Richard Rohr invites us to reframe a metaphor of fire that is often shared in Christian circles. Consider shifting your understanding of Biblical fire by moving away from the fire of a punitive