Tag Archives: growth
Pulling Back the Veil
A Time of Unveiling Pulling Back the Veil Sunday, January 3, 2021 The future, however, is finer than any past. —Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, The Making of a Mind If you are anything like me, there is some part of you that was relieved to turn the calendar over to 2021. The new year puts… Continue Reading Pulling Back the Veil
The Ability to Hold Paradox
Order, Disorder, Reorder: Part Three The Ability to Hold Paradox Monday, August 24, 2020 Beyond rational and critical thinking, we need to be called again. This can lead to the discovery of a “second naïveté,” which is a return to the joy of our first naïveté, but now totally new, inclusive, and mature thinking. —Paul… Continue Reading The Ability to Hold Paradox
Going on the Full Journey
Order, Disorder, Reorder: Part Two Going on the Full Journey Friday, August 21, 2020 This journey from Order to Disorder must happen for all of us. It is not something just to be admired in Abraham and Sarah, Moses, Job, or Jesus. Our role is to listen and allow, and at least slightly cooperate with… Continue Reading Going on the Full Journey
Dying as Disorder
Order, Disorder, Reorder: Part Two Dying as Disorder Thursday, August 20, 2020 Dying is not extraneous to life; it is a part of the mystery, and we do not understand life until we stand under death. —Richard Rohr There may be nothing more disordering than being diagnosed with a terminal or chronic illness. It upends… Continue Reading Dying as Disorder
Disorder: Stage Two of a Three-Part Journey
Order, Disorder, Reorder: Part Two Disorder: Stage Two of a Three-Part Journey Sunday, August 16, 2020 Last week’s Daily Meditations focused on Order as the first stage of healthy development. To continue growing, we must go through a period—or even many periods—of Disorder. The pattern of transformation involves at least some measure of suffering. Part… Continue Reading Disorder: Stage Two of a Three-Part Journey
The Universal Pattern
Order, Disorder, Reorder: Part One The Universal Pattern Sunday, August 9, 2020 It seems quite clear that we grow by passing beyond some perfect Order, through an often painful and seemingly unnecessary Disorder, to an enlightened Reorder or resurrection. This is the universal pattern that connects and solidifies our relationships with everything around us. This… Continue Reading The Universal Pattern
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