Tag Archives: acceptance
Contemplation Creates Compassion
Compassion Contemplation Creates Compassion Sunday, September 26, 2021 A practice of contemplation is one of the surest ways to develop the virtue of compassion—for both ourselves and others. Father Richard speaks to how this loving gaze is developed between ourselves and God. Much of the early work of contemplation is discovering a way to observe… Continue Reading Contemplation Creates Compassion
Participating in Love
Life as Participation Participating in Love Tuesday, September 7, 2021 I want to share again from the series of talks I gave years ago on the Great Themes of Paul: Life as Participation: For Paul, love is clearly the word by which he describes this participatory life. It’s what he calls the greatest of the… Continue Reading Participating in Love
The Gift of Tears
Everybody Grieves The Gift of Tears Tuesday, August 3, 2021 The human instinct is to block suffering and pain. This is especially true in the West where we have been influenced by the “rationalism” of the Enlightenment. As anyone who has experienced grief can attest, it isn’t rational. We really don’t know how to hurt!… Continue Reading The Gift of Tears
Forgiving Reality and Forgiving Ourselves
Choosing Love in a Time of Evil Forgiving Reality and Forgiving Ourselves Thursday, May 20, 2021 Dr. Edith Eger was just 16 years old when she was taken to Auschwitz with her family. She lost her mother and father to the gas chambers the very day they arrived, and she survived with the help and… Continue Reading Forgiving Reality and Forgiving Ourselves
Making a Choice
Choosing Love in a Time of Evil Making a Choice Wednesday, May 19, 2021 Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom. —Viktor Frankl The quote above sounds like something a teacher of contemplation would say! The… Continue Reading Making a Choice
Coming to Terms with Life and Love
Choosing Love in a Time of Evil Coming to Terms with Life and Love Tuesday, May 18, 2021 I have been deeply moved by the wisdom of Etty Hillesum (1914–1943) for quite some time, and found myself returning to her journals many times over this past year. She died at Auschwitz at the age of 29, but her… Continue Reading Coming to Terms with Life and Love
Healing Takes Place Here
Trauma and Healing Healing Takes Place Here Monday, May 3, 2021 Claude AnShin Thomas suffered for years from the trauma of war as a Vietnam combat veteran. A retreat with Buddhist teacher Thich Nhat Hanh set him on the path of mindfulness and healing. He is now a Zen Buddhist monk. He recounts his story:… Continue Reading Healing Takes Place Here
Love and Friendship
Friendship and Grace Love and Friendship Sunday, April 11, 2021 When you looked at me your eyes imprinted your grace in me; for this you loved me ardently; and thus my eyes deserved to adore what they beheld in you. . . . Let us go forth to behold ourselves in your beauty. —John of… Continue Reading Love and Friendship
When Things Are Unveiled
A Time of Unveiling When Things Are Unveiling Friday, January 8, 2021 I have read the scriptures since childhood and preached on them continually over the last fifty years in my role as a priest; but over the last year, I’ve found myself drawn to them in a different way. I have been looking, if not… Continue Reading When Things Are Unveiled