I am delighted to share another beautiful submission from one our newest Wisdom Council members. Read on for Michael Moore’s “Reflections on the Contemplative Life.” What is Contemplative Life? When I first became aware of the term, I associated it with Monks and Nuns in Monasteries and Convents who lived in relative isolation from the outside world. To be honest, I didn’t really see how it could apply to me during my 21 years as a US Air Force Chaplain. That understanding began to turn during the last three years I was in the Air Force. I found myself going through a divorce

I am delighted to share another beautiful submission to the Monk in the World guest post series from the community. Read on for D.G. Hollums’ reflection on carving space for the nourishing Sacred Heart. I love.  I love passionately and deeply as a self proclaimed contemplative extrovert and neo-friar.  But I’ve also found that loving deeply and passionately also means hurting deeply and passionately sometimes.  Life has taken me on some very desolate and dark times.  Times that have rocked me to my core and have tried to rob me of that passionate love and joy, both of which are

I am delighted to share another beautiful submission to our Monk in the World guest post series from the community. Read on for Jan Blencowe’s reflection “Drawing the Book of Creation.” The quietest pond edge, the still winter woods or the silent desert floor are never really quiet, though it does take a certain kind of listening and seeing to become aware of the life there. I have always had a very strong and sacred connection to nature, even (perhaps especially) as a child. In those younger years it seemed easy to converse and commune with the aliveness of nature.

We welcome you to submit your reflection for possible publication in our Monk in the World guest post series. It is a gift to read how ordinary people are living lives of depth and meaning in the midst of the challenges of real life. There are so many talented writers and artists in this Abbey community, so this is a chance to share your perspective. The link to the reflection will be included in our weekly newsletter which goes out to thousands of subscribers. Please follow these instructions carefully: Please click this link to read a selection of the posts

I am delighted to share another beautiful submission to the Monk in the World Guest Post series from the community. Read on for Adam Webber’s reflection, “The Lady Loves Me.” Tuesday morning, I wake up grumpy. I don’t want to go to work. Lying in bed, I recite the Breastplate of Saint Patrick to myself: “I arise today through a mighty faith….” I don’t know whether I have a mighty faith this morning or not, but I arise anyway. In my church office I go over the lectionary readings for next Sunday. I am the pastor of this church, and it

I am delighted to share another beautiful submission to the Monk in the World guest post series from the community. Read of for Mary Van Denend’s post “Girls in the Trees.” My granddaughters are playing “jungle,” scrambling up branches as high as they dare go, in a leafy playground tree, fat as a hot air balloon.  We’ve exhausted the slides, the swings, the merry-go-round, the balance beams, and me. It’s only April but the day has turned unseasonably warm.  The tree’s shade offers coolness. Lucia, the youngest, screeches from her perch in a red and purple peasant dress we just purchased at

I am delighted to share another beautiful submission to the Monk in the World guest post series from the community. Read on for Anne Marie Walsh’s reflection, “Deep Within.” Silent retreats, generally considered “time apart”, also point a way for me to be contemplative in the world moment to moment. Sometimes I arrive in exhaustion, feeling there is no time even for this retreat, what was I thinking, how on earth is this going to help? But allowing the sure footedness of the decision to come, now after many such retreats, I know it is a great gift to enter