Tag Archives: Experience
The Belly Center
Enneagram Part One: Body Center The Belly Center Tuesday, February 25, 2020 My friend Russ Hudson of the Enneagram Institute has spent his life studying and teaching the Enneagram. I will be sharing many of his insights over the next three weeks, because he has such compassion for each Enneagram type, and he helps us have… Continue Reading The Belly Center
To Know Thee More Clearly
Ways of Knowing To Know Thee More ClearlySunday, February 9, 2020 O most merciful Redeemer, Friend and Brother, May I know Thee more clearly, Love Thee more dearly, And follow Thee more nearly. —St. Richard, Bishop of Chichester (1197–1253) [1] Ways of knowing are inseparable from human existence. As Paula D’Arcy says, “God comes to us disguised as our lives.” While Christians emphasize Tradition and/or Scripture as sources of truth, I… Continue Reading To Know Thee More Clearly
Reorder
Twelve-Step Spirituality: Part Two Reorder Friday, December 20, 2019 I have known and cared deeply for people in recovery for most of my professional life. In my experience, it is as if they live inside a much bigger world full of endurance, meaning, hope, self-esteem, true desire, and, most especially, a bottomless pool of love… Continue Reading Reorder
Gender and Sexuality: Weekly Summary
Gender and Sexuality Summary: Sunday, October 20—Friday, October 25, 2019 With all the changing ways of understanding gender and sexuality, most of us truly need contemplative eyes and the guidance of the Holy Spirit to “rupture simplistic binaries” and be compassionate and respectful of difference and diversity. (Sunday) Jesus, like the cosmos itself, is about… Continue Reading Gender and Sexuality: Weekly Summary
Coexistence: Beliefs and Experience
Ways of Knowing Coexistence: Beliefs and Experience Monday, October 14, 2019 We cannot know God only by thinking thoughts. Unfortunately, for much of Christianity, faith largely became believing statements to be true or false (intellectual assent) instead of giving people concrete practices so they could themselves know how to open up (faith), hold on (hope),… Continue Reading Coexistence: Beliefs and Experience
A Big Experiment
The Perennial Tradition A Big Experiment Friday, August 16, 2019 Rami Shapiro, a rabbi, teacher, and author on Judaism and spirituality reflects on the enriching, powerful experience of interspiritual dialogue initiated by Fr. Thomas Keating (1923–2018). In 1984 Father Thomas Keating invited a small group of contemplatives from eight different religious traditions—Buddhist, Hindu, Jewish, Islamic,… Continue Reading A Big Experiment
Beholding
The Perennial Tradition Beholding Tuesday, August 13, 2019 My friend and Christian philosopher James Danaher writes about unfiltered divine encounter as a core element in the Perennial Tradition. There is a perennial philosophy that is not relative to history, culture, or language community. It is a philosophy, or perhaps better termed an alternative epistemology, that… Continue Reading Beholding
Transformative Spirituality
Interspiritual Mystics Transformative Spirituality Monday, August 5, 2019 Catholic monk and mystic Wayne Teasdale (1945–2004) recognized the wisdom in many religious traditions and helped to cultivate respect and understanding between faiths. Though I did not know him personally, Teasdale had an early, long-standing relationship with a community of Franciscans in Massachusetts. He worked tirelessly until… Continue Reading Transformative Spirituality
Opening the Doors of My Being
Mystic: Howard Thurman Opening the Doors of My Being Monday, July 22, 2019 This week we’re reflecting on the writings of Howard Thurman. (See Sunday’s meditation for my introduction.) Today Thurman explores how prayer is not a transaction, nor is it about changing God. It’s about opening our hearts, minds, and bodies to be receptive… Continue Reading Opening the Doors of My Being
Experiential Knowing
Introduction to Christian Mysticism Experiential Knowing Monday, July 15, 2019 When I use the word “mystical” I am referring to experiential knowing instead of just intellectual, textbook, or dogmatic knowing. A mystic sees things in their wholeness, connection, and union, not only their particularity. Mystics get a whole gestalt in one picture, beyond the sequential… Continue Reading Experiential Knowing
