Tag Archives: growth
Freedom: An Infinite Possibility of Growth
Inner and Outer Freedom Freedom: An Infinite Possibility of Growth Monday, June 15, 2020 The spirituality of CAC faculty member James Finley has been deeply influenced by the writings of Thomas Merton (1915–1968). In this passage, Jim explores the paradoxical wisdom that true freedom does not come from following our own will but in knowing… Continue Reading Freedom: An Infinite Possibility of Growth
Courage in Times of Trouble
Teresa of Ávila and John of the Cross Courage in Times of Trouble Monday, April 20, 2020 Tessa Bielecki is a Christian hermit in the tradition of the Desert Mothers and Fathers. Co-founder of the Spiritual Life Institute, she was a Carmelite monk and Mother Abbess for almost 40 years, establishing experimental monastic communities of men… Continue Reading Courage in Times of Trouble
A Dynamic Symbol
Enneagram Part Three: Head Center A Dynamic Symbol Monday, March 9, 2020 One of the most confusing aspects of the Enneagram can be the nine lines and “arrows” that seem to crisscross the Enneagram symbol but are the basis of its foundation and wisdom. In The Sacred Enneagram, Chris Heuertz explains what these lines mean:… Continue Reading A Dynamic Symbol
Action and Contemplation: Part Three: Weekly Summary
Action and Contemplation: Part Three Summary: Sunday, January 19—Friday, January 25, 2020 The desert mystics’ primary quest was for God, for Love; everything else was secondary. (Sunday) This describes many Desert Fathers and Mothers: high states of union but low levels of cultural, historic, or intellectual exposure to coherent thinking. (Monday) The desert mystics saw solitude, in… Continue Reading Action and Contemplation: Part Three: Weekly Summary
Patient Trust
Summary: An Evolving Faith Patient Trust Sunday, December 29. 2019 God keeps creation both good and new—which means always going somewhere even better. God keeps creating things from the inside out, so they are forever evolving, yearning, developing, growing, and changing for the good. If we understand the Eternal Christ Mystery as the symbolic Alpha… Continue Reading Patient Trust
If We Were Christian
Church: Old and New If We Were Christian Friday, November 1, 2019 All Saints’ Day A Circle expands forever It covers all who wish to hold hands And its size depends on each other It is a vision of solidarity It turns outwards to interact with the outside And inward for self critique A circle… Continue Reading If We Were Christian
Breakthroughs
Church: Old and New Breakthroughs Thursday, October 31, 2019 Whether or not they are acknowledged publicly, those on the margins and their allies recognize acts of injustice. Sebastian Moore presents the crucifixion of Jesus as an unjust political act that claimed a human life. Every time it happens, no matter when or where, no matter… Continue Reading Breakthroughs
The Gate of Heaven
Heaven Now The Gate of Heaven Thursday, May 2, 2019 James Finley, one of the Center for Action and Contemplation’s core faculty members, was a spiritual directee of Thomas Merton (1915–1968) at the Abbey of Gethsemani. Drawing from this experience and his own insights as a student of the mystics and a clinical psychologist, Finley… Continue Reading The Gate of Heaven
The Universal Pattern
Jesus’ Resurrection The Universal Pattern Monday, April 22, 2019 Earth Day To believe that Jesus was raised from the dead is not really a leap of faith. Resurrection and renewal are, in fact, the universal and observable patterns of everything. We might just as well use non-religious terms like springtime, regeneration, healing, forgiveness, life cycles,… Continue Reading The Universal Pattern
Dying Before You Die: Weekly Summary
Dying Before You Die Summary: Sunday, March 31—Friday, April 5, 2019 Until we are led to the limits of our present game plan and find it to be insufficient, we will not search out or find our real Source. (Sunday) Contemplative practice might be five or twenty minutes of “dying,” of letting go of the… Continue Reading Dying Before You Die: Weekly Summary
