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January 2020

January 11, 2020

Practices From the Inside Out: Sitting in Darkness Remembering Our Mistakes

Sitting in Darkness Remembering Our Mistakes Some nights I get out of bed to sit...

January 09, 2020

Monastic Strategies: Cinema Divina: A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood

Cinema Divina One of the first contemplative practices I learned from monastic life is...

January 07, 2020

Listening to Sacred Stillness: Stillness on a January Morning

Stillness on a January Morning There is nothing quite like the stillness first thing on...

January 04, 2020

Practices From the Inside Out: Why Do We Practice Prayer?

Why Do We Practice Prayer? Practicing prayer is coming across my screen a lot this...

December 2019

December 31, 2019

Monastic Strategies: Are We Ready to Become Beginners Again?

Are We Ready to Become Beginners Again? There are no tricks and no short cuts....

December 28, 2019

Practices From the Inside Out: On the Fourth Day of Christmas

On the Fourth Day of Christmas I know people who are happy and relieved because...

December 24, 2019

Listening to Sacred Stillness: Stillness on the Night Before Christmas

Stillness on the Night Before Christmas "Twas the night before Christmas, when all through through...

December 21, 2019

Practices From the Inside Out: It Is Better to Light One Candle Than to Curse the Darkness

It Is Better to Light One Candle Than to Curse the Darkness We, where I...

December 19, 2019

Guest Post: Monastic Strategies: Matt Tenney & Making Love Our Leadership Priority

As we enter more deeply into this season which inspires us to love well, I...

December 17, 2019

Listening to Sacred Stillness: The Stillness of a Silent Night

The Stillness of a Silent Night We sit still, breathing deeply, calming down, listening to...

December 14, 2019

Practices From the Inside Out: How Are We Practicing Generosity?

How Are We Practicing Generosity? Some of us assume generosity is when people donate millions...

December 12, 2019

Monastic Strategies: Why Would Anyone Explore Contemplative Spirituality?

Why Would Anyone Explore Contemplative Spirituality? It is easy for us to assume being contemplative is...

December 10, 2019

Listening to Sacred Stillness: Dark Evenings by the Fireplace

Dark Evenings by the Fireplace One of the ways I most enjoy listening to sacred...

December 07, 2019

Practices From the Inside Out: Celebrating What Inspires Us

Celebrating What Inspires Us Moments of triumphant achievement may inspire us. We receive the recognition...

December 05, 2019

Monastic Strategies: Living as Lights Shining in the Darkness

Lights Shining in the Darkness We live in a world of deep darkness, searching for...

December 03, 2019

Listening to Sacred Stillness: The Stillness of Our Own Breathing

The Stillness of Our Own Breathing Sally Rooney, in a novel called Conversations With Friends,...

November 2019

November 30, 2019

Practices From the Inside Out: Backing Our Way Toward Advent

Backing Our Way Toward Advent It may be because some of us are afraid of...

November 26, 2019

Monastic Strategies: Saying Thank You and Saying Goodbye

Saying Thank You and Saying Goodbye It can be challenging for us to say thank...

November 23, 2019

Listening to Sacred Stillness: Grateful for the Gifts Stillness Gives

Recognizing the Gifts Stillness Gives It can be a challenge for many of us...

November 20, 2019

Practices From the Inside Out: We Practice Living Outside the Box

We Practice Living Outside the Box I talk with quite a few different people. Men...

November 16, 2019

Monastic Strategies: Celebrating a Saturday Morning in November

Celebrating a Saturday Morning in November November can be a particularly contemplative month. It begins...

November 14, 2019

Practices From the Inside Out: Practicing Our Way to Gratitude

Practicing Our Way to Gratitude Some of us spend this month practicing 30 Days of...

November 12, 2019

Listening to Sacred Stillness: Echoes of Remembered Stillness

Echoes of Remembered Stillness Some of us experience our contemplative practices as new each day,...

November 07, 2019

Monastic Strategies: My Stepping Stones from Evangelical to Contemplative

My Stepping Stones from Evangelical to Contemplative I am not a natural contemplative and I...

November 05, 2019

Listening to Sacred Stillness: A Few Words About Words

A Few Words About Words Our lives are full of words. Written or spoken, they...

November 02, 2019

Practices From the Inside Out: Investing Our Daylight Savings

Investing Our Daylight Savings Most of us adjust our clocks at least twice each year. Depending...

October 2019

October 29, 2019

Listening to Sacred Stillness: Finding Our Rest Within Stillness

Finding Our Rest Within Stillness We live in times of constant and overwhelming stimulation. Some...

October 26, 2019

Practices From the Inside Out: Is Our World a Frightening Place?

Is Our World a Frightening Place? Many of us are getting ready to celebrate the frightening aspects...

October 24, 2019

Monastic Strategies: When Perfection is Not Enough

When Perfection is Not Enough Some of us seem to believe spiritual life is about being...

October 22, 2019

Listening to Sacred Stillness: Struggling Toward Stillness

Struggling Toward Stillness I have heard people describe contemplative practices of listening to sacred stillness...