I have been asked if I would make my recent article in Presence (the journal of Spiritual Directors International) available. It is on Using the Arts in Spiritual Direction and Discernment, and you can read it here.
Also, Christian Century posted a great article about the RevGalBlogPals, a webring I am a part of. You can read that one here.
Christine Valters Paintner had a conversation on Creativity, Chronic Illness, and Contemplation with Mike Petrow on his podcast The Healer with a Thousand Faces (also available through audio podcast channels). Joins us in Lent 2027 for the retreat The Wisdom of Our Wounds: Chronic Illness
I am delighted to share another beautiful submission to our Monk in the World guest post series from the community. Read on for Jaqui Eicher’s reflection and poem. After reading Christine Valters Paintner’s poem, “St. Gall and the Bear,” I responded in writing to the prompt:
For Deeper Gratitude*Spirit of Generosity,we come to you with heartsoverflowing with gratitudefor your abundant creation.As we awaken each morning,help us to rememberthis day is a gift,this breath is a grace,this life a wonder.Remind uswith every flower we see,every act of kindness,every moment of connectionto something
3 Responses
Ah yes…releasing into the Great Mystery of the world. That pretty much sums it up!
Thanks for your very kind words Bette. I love that quote from Rilke and I do think it speaks to releasing our cares to God, for me though it is also about releasing into the Great Mystery of the world. That life is not a linear story, but an unfolding spiral, and there is so much about which we understand very little — what happens after death for instance. Honoring the Mystery of all that is and recognizing that’s God imagination is always far greater than our own.
Thank you for sharing your article. I’m not completely finished reading it yet as I need to run some errands, but wanted to make a quick comment.
You say… [ The poet Rilke wrote “have patience with everything unresolved in your heart and to try to love the questions themselves . . . Live the questions now.” ] This speaks to me in that I often get stuck on trying to figure out the unresolved…or better yet….my frustrations and disappointments really. Perhaps Rilke’s thoughts are similar to the act of releasing your cares to God?
There are so many great things in your article….wonderful little treasures and gifts for my life.