Tag Archives: Mercy
Choosing Heaven Now
Hell, No! Choosing Heaven Now Monday, September 13, 2021 The shape of creation must somehow mirror and reveal the shape of the Creator. We must have a God at least as big as the universe. Otherwise, our view of God becomes irrelevant, constricted, and more harmful than helpful. The Christian image of a torturous hell… Continue Reading Choosing Heaven Now
Shadow Work: Weekly Summary
Shadow Work Saturday, June 19, 2021 Juneteenth Week Twenty-Four Summary and Practice Sunday, June 13—Friday, June 18, 2021 Sunday The movement to second-half-of-life wisdom has much to do with necessary shadow work and the emergence of healthy self-critical thinking, which alone allows you to see beyond your own shadow and disguise and to find who… Continue Reading Shadow Work: Weekly Summary
Gazing on the Crucified Jesus
Trauma and Healing Gazing on the Crucified Jesus Friday, May 7, 2021 Those who “gaze upon” the crucified Jesus (John 19:37) long enough—with contemplative eyes—are always healed at deep levels of pain, unforgiveness, aggression, and victimhood. It demands no theological education at all, just an “inner exchange” by receiving the image within and offering one’s… Continue Reading Gazing on the Crucified Jesus
Love Revealed
All Will Be Well Love Revealed Tuesday, April 6, 2021 My dear friend Mirabai Starr, herself a mystic and author, has translated Julian’s Long Text (her second exploration of her visions) in a way that is both faithful to the original and understandable to today’s spiritual seekers. She introduces Julian’s work in this way: What… Continue Reading Love Revealed
African American Spirituality and Song: Weekly Summary
African American Spirituality and Song Saturday, February 13, 2021 Week Six Summary and Practice Sunday, February 7—Friday, February 12, 2021 Sunday The legacy of the spirituals is worth our continued attention now, not only as “museum music” . . . but also as a broad-ranging cultural tradition that remains relevant to pressing present-day social realities.… Continue Reading African American Spirituality and Song: Weekly Summary
Becoming Icons of Christ
Giving Birth to Christ Becoming Icons of Christ Friday, December 11, 2020 What is it that grasps and impels these men and women to push beyond conventional boundaries and so delight us, ultimately, with new creative spaces? Wisdom—God’s Playmate, the Feminine Principle of the Godhead—is at work, ever delighting in birthing new possibilities and inviting… Continue Reading Becoming Icons of Christ
A Mutual Vulnerability
Wounded Healers A Mutual Vulnerability Wednesday, September 16, 2020 Earlier this year, my colleague and dear friend Jim Finley gave an unpublished talk to Illuman, an organization that supports men in authentic spiritual development. Jim shared some stories from his own life, including how he began to heal from his own childhood abuse and trauma… Continue Reading A Mutual Vulnerability
Greater Proximity, Greater Mercy
Restorative Justice Greater Proximity, Greater Mercy Friday, September 11, 2020 Love is the motive, but justice is the instrument. —Reinhold Niebuhr (1892–1971) Bryan Stevenson is a lawyer, social justice activist, and founder of the Equal Justice Initiative and the National Memorial for Peace and Justice in Montgomery, Alabama. [1] In his book Just Mercy: A Story… Continue Reading Greater Proximity, Greater Mercy
A Radically Optimistic Theology
Julian of Norwich A Radically Optimistic Theology Friday, May 15, 2020 My friend Mirabai Starr is gifted with the ability to deliver the teachings of the mystics straight to our hearts. Here is what she says about Julian of Norwich: The medieval English anchoress Julian of Norwich bequeathed us a radically optimistic theology. She had… Continue Reading A Radically Optimistic Theology
Accountability Is Sustainability
Twelve-Step Spirituality: Part One Accountability Is Sustainability Friday, December 13, 2019 Step Five: Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs. [1] So confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, and this will cure you. —James 5:16 Both Christianity and the Twelve Steps… Continue Reading Accountability Is Sustainability