Reflections

In the midst of my sorrow, waiting, and unknowing, there has also been great joy here at the Abbey.  I am blessed to be able to dedicate a great deal of time to writing these days which makes my heart sing.  While they are not due out until April and July 2011, there is a special delight that happens when an author gets to see her book covers and anticipate holding them in her hands.  I love what both publishers have created for the exterior to support the books’ messages inside and am eager to share these resources with you, dear

Last week I offered to donate 50% of the profits from registrations for two of the Abbey’s online classes for those who registered in the last couple of days.  I am delighted to report that the response was great and I was able to make a donation of $1000 to National Wildlife Federation’s Gulf Oil Spill Restoration Fund!  Thank you so much for your support of the Abbey.  (Registration for  Eyes of the Heart: Photography as a Contemplative Practice is still available – begin the class at any time!) You can make your own donation to NWF here. Make sure you go by this

Two wonderful new reviews of Water, Wind, Earth, and Fire: The Christian Practice of Praying with the Elements (click the link to purchase your own copy on Amazon.com) Reviewed by Spiritual Directors International: Spiritual director Christine Valters Paintner describes sitting on an Oregon coastal shore piled with sand and stones, watching the setting sun while gulls glide on a Pacific Ocean breeze. She writes, “Here in this place, wind, water, earth, and fire all meet in a glorious window onto the Divine extravagance” (138). Encountering the four elements in one place is exactly what Water, Wind, Earth, and Fire does, inviting