Christine was interviewed on the Faith Conversations podcast with Anita Lustrea about her latest book, A Midwinter God. In their conversation they talk about how we deal with darkness and grief in our culture and realize those moments are actually the path of true prayer. Listen to the podcast here.
I am delighted to share another beautiful submission to the Monk in the World guest post series from the community. Read on for Callie J. Smith’s reflection On Birch Branches and Everyday Reminders. A birch tree reaches out over the White River at a point very near my favorite bike trail. A clear view of it opens up from the hilltop north of an interstate bridge. From there I see many branches of many trees, but the birch’s vivid white bark often catches my attention. I first noticed the birch during the pandemic. Though an introvert who enjoys solitude, even
Hello dear ones, I continue to feel better on this new medication thankfully. I am far from pain-free, but better than I have felt in perhaps two years or more. I continue to take things slowly as I am keenly aware my health is often fragile and tenuous, so gently I go with gratitude and cherishing. I wanted to share a project that emerged out of this long season of my body flaring and sometimes feeling like my joy was being stolen from me. I turned to one of the things that has always served me well—writing. Specifically the writing
A Blessing for the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi*Wild and dancing God, you gave us the example of Francisto show us what it means to embody love on Earth.He danced in celebration of everything that you created:the sun, moon, stars, water, wind, earth, and fire,he called them each brother or sister,he cherished the birds, the wolf, and the grasshopper,and even Death became an intimate companion,a teacher of how precious life is.Francis saw the whole world as his monastery,as the place where your sacred presenceshimmers forth like silver.Give us the courage to follow his exampleof holy foolishness, to find our
I am delighted to share another beautiful submission to our Monk in the World guest post series from the community. Read on for Kellie Brown’s reflection on walking with care in a body that is chronically ill, and her poem Circumambulate. The wise philosopher-teacher of Ecclesiastes wrote: “A generation goes, and a generation comes,/but the earth remains forever.” This passage goes on to describe the circular life of nature— the sun that rises and sets, the water that flows in then out, the wind that goes “round and round.” Ancient and modern monastics have been keenly attuned to the lessons
A Blessing for Hope*Dreamkeeper,bless me with vision to see the possibilities for this hurting and broken world. Help me to remember that hope is not a thingbut an action, I cannot know that what I do is of any consequence, but I must do something. I must walk in trustthat I plant seeds for others,that my kindness ripples out into the world, that justice is necessary, that my joy mattersthat love is at the foundation of everything. On those days when hope feels so far away, surround me with kindred soulswho can help sustain hope when I must let go.
I am delighted to share another beautiful submission to the Monk in the World guest post series from the community. Read on for Wisdom Council member Dena Jennings’ reflection on making and sharing music as a spiritual practice. I was 12 years old in 1976. It was an election year and the bicentennial celebration of the United States. My parents were community leaders in Akron, Ohio, the Rubber Capital of the World. There were more events and parades that year than I had known. My oldest sister was a beautiful majorette in an award-winning high school band. And my middle
God is not simply in the light, in the intelligible world, in the rational order. God is in the darkness, in the womb, in the Mother, in the chaos from which order comes . . . darkness is the womb of life. —Dom Bede Griffiths Dearest dancing monks, artists, and pilgrims, I am thrilled to share that my newest book A Midwinter God: Encountering the Divine in Seasons of Darkness has been published by Ave Maria Press and is available to order from your favorite booksellers! To celebrate we have two gifts for you: First, is a reflection guide with questions to companion
A Fool’s Blessing*God of upturned expectations,bless us with holy foolishness.Help us take ourselves less seriouslyand believe in what we did not think could be done: impossible situations,limited resources, injustices demanding rectification,traumas needing healing. Grant us a restless heart when we witness oppressionand exploitation, hunger and war,poverty and destruction. Kindle in us a need to extend our handsin service to a hurting world, joining with kindred souls in communities of care, knowing ourselves to not be alone. Help us trust in the tiny seeds we plant,that they grow vigorously and flourish,let the ripples we send across the watersof life be multiplied
We are delighted to introduce the newest member to our Abbey of the Arts team. Delaney Hart (she/her), sister to Wisdom Council member Cassidhe Hart, is joining us from Illinois. To begin, her work will focus on increasing the accessibility of our self-study retreats through transcripts and closed captions for select videos, and creating reflection guides for some of Christine’s books. The guide for A Midwinter God: Encountering the Divine in Seasons of Darkness is available now. Meet Delaney Squirrels and trees, music and dance, curiosity and tears — these are Delaney’s teachers and guides. While listening for the inherent
