Tag Archives: growth
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
Stumble and Fall
Dying Before You Die Stumble and Fall Sunday, March 31, 2019 Something in you dies when you bear the unbearable. And it is only in that dark night of the soul that you are prepared to see as God sees and to love as God loves. —Ram Das [1] Sooner or later, if you are… Continue Reading Stumble and Fall
Growing in Christ: Week 2 Summary
Growing in Christ: Week 2 Summary: Sunday, March 24—Friday, March 29, 2019 To grow toward love, union, salvation, or enlightenment (I use the words almost interchangeably), we must be moved from Order to Disorder and finally to Reorder. (Sunday) It seems we all begin in naïveté and eventually return to a “second naïveté” or simplicity,… Continue Reading Growing in Christ: Week 2 Summary
Oneness
Growing in Christ: Week 2 Oneness Friday, March 29, 2019 The eye with which I see God is the same eye with which God sees me: my eye and God’s eye are one eye, one seeing, one knowing, and one love. —Meister Eckhart [1] Today we continue reflecting on what David Benner calls “spirit-centered awakening.”… Continue Reading Oneness
At Home in God
Growing in Christ: Week 2 At Home in God Thursday, March 28, 2019 If I am not doing my Father’s work, there is no need to believe in me, but at least believe in the work I do; then you will know for sure that the Father is in me and I am in the… Continue Reading At Home in God
A Hidden Wholeness
Growing in Christ: Week 2 A Hidden Wholeness Wednesday, March 27, 2019 As we grow spiritually, we discover that we are not as separate as we thought we were. Separation from God, self, and others was a deep and tragic illusion. As we grow into deeper connection and union, the things that once brought meaning… Continue Reading A Hidden Wholeness
Human Development in Scripture
Growing in Christ: Week 2 Human Development in Scripture Tuesday, March 26, 2019 Walter Brueggemann, one of my favorite Scripture scholars, brilliantly connects the development of the Hebrew Scriptures with the development of human consciousness. [1] Brueggemann says there are three major parts of the Hebrew Scriptures: the Torah, the Prophets, and the Wisdom Literature.… Continue Reading Human Development in Scripture
My Own Journey
Growing in Christ: Week 2 My Own Journey Monday, March 25, 2019 One always learns one’s mystery at the price of one’s innocence. —Robertson Davies [1] We all came into this world gifted with innocence, but gradually, as we became more intelligent, we lost our innocence. We were born with silence, and as we grew… Continue Reading My Own Journey
