Amber Andreasen! Amber, let me know your choice of self-study/on-demand classes for your prize (which you can also give as a gift).
Thank you to everyone who participated in this week’s Poetry Party celebrating summer. Pour yourself a cup of tea (maybe iced!) and go linger for a while with the words offered there.
Abbey Poetry Parties will be on a break for July but will return again as a monthly feature in August.
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