“I need to be silent / for a while”

All beings
are words of God,
His music, His
art.

Sacred books we are, for the infinite camps
in our
souls.

Every act reveals God and expands His being.
I know that may be hard
to comprehend.

All creatures are doing their best
to help God in His birth
of Himself.

Enough talk for the night.
He is laboring in me;

I need to be silent
for a while,

worlds are forming
in my heart.

-Meister Eckhart

It has been a full week and I find myself longing for less words, more silence.  The photo above is of a marvelous statue I discovered in St. Augustine Church in Vienna.  I am feeling like that angel, wanting to rest on the support of my faithful beast and simply listen.  I am grateful for Sabbath time the next few days.

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* POETRY PARTY *

Have you stopped by this week’s Poetry Party yet?  Wonderful poems being offered there – submit your own for a chance to win a copy of Sacred Poetry: An Invitation to Write (the drawing is tomorrow!)

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* AWAKENING THE CREATIVE SPIRIT: *

EXPERIENTIAL EDUCATION IN THE EXPRESSIVE ARTS

May 23-28, 2010 with Christine Valters Paintner, PhD, REACE & Betsey Beckman, MM on the Hood Canal

Sign up by January 31, 2010 and receive $75 off the program fee!  Join us for a five-day intensive experiencing visual art, poetry, movement, music, and storytelling and ways to bring these gifts to ministries of soul care and compassionate listening (spiritual direction, chaplaincy, pastoral care, pastoring, etc).  Part retreat, part workshop, part transformative journey.  Do you long to gather with other creative souls in a beautiful setting to make art, write, sing, and move as authentic expressions of your soul?  Please email me with any questions!

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* REGISTER FOR A LENTEN JOURNEY! *

40 participants have already signed up for my Lenten E-Course on Benedictine Spiritual Practices, including four small groups journeying together.  Click the link for more details!

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© Christine Valters Paintner at Abbey of the Arts:
Transformative Living through Contemplative & Expressive Arts