Tag Archives: Dignity
Foundational Trust
Being created in the image of God gives everyone an equal and inherent dignity. Continue Reading Foundational Trust
A Path of Awakening
Christianity and Buddhism A Path of Awakening Tuesday, November 9, 2021 Unlike Jesus, who was born into a lower class, Siddhartha Gautama (who became the Buddha) renounced his high caste in the process of his transformation. Both teachers understood that our true inner nobility has nothing to do with external circumstances. Buddhist teachers Pamela Ayo… Continue Reading A Path of Awakening
Seeing Things as They Truly Are
Francis and the Animals Seeing Things as They Truly Are Monday, October 4, 2021 Richard continues exploring Francis of Assisi’s insights, pointing us beyond the “bird bath” spirituality for which Francis is too often known. Francis of Assisi knew that the finite manifests the infinite, and the physical is the doorway to the spiritual.… Continue Reading Seeing Things as They Truly Are
Good Power
Good and Bad Power Good Power Sunday, August 8, 2021 Despite the many abuses of power documented throughout history, power itself cannot be inherently bad. In the New Testament, the Holy Spirit is described as dynamis, which means power (Acts 10:38; 1 Corinthians 2:5). Jesus tells his disciples before his Ascension that “You will receive… Continue Reading Good Power
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
The Whole Is in the Parts
The Contemplative Call to Nature The Whole Is in the Parts Monday, April 19, 2021 St. Augustine (354–430) proclaimed in one of his great sermons, “The end will be the one Christ, loving himself.” [1] Paul preceded St. Augustine when he wrote that, in the end, “God will be all in all” (1 Corinthians 15:28).… Continue Reading The Whole Is in the Parts
Becoming Wise Fools
Wisdom Becoming Wise Fools Friday, February 26, 2021 Those who will lead into the future will have some hard-won wisdom. We might call them the “holy fools.” By the holy fool I mean what the Bible and mythic literature have always presented as the “savior.” They are persons who are happily, but not naïvely, innocent… Continue Reading Becoming Wise Fools