I am delighted to share another beautiful submission for the Monk in the World guest post series from the community. Read on for Lance Baker’s reflections about cultivation as a metaphor for our spiritual life and practice: A Life of Cultivation A certain form of existential paralysis has shadowed my inner life in the past. I’ve had so many questions, dreams, longings, and have been exposed to a range of paradigm-shifting experiences in a relatively short period of time. As a result, I spent a number of years paralyzed by indecision and lacked discernment on how to operate the world with meaning, purpose, and

I am delighted to share another beautiful submission for the Monk in the World guest post series from the community. Read on for Kate Kennington Steer’s wisdom on living as a monk in the world through illness: powerlessness and infinite possibility What if we knew that within our very cells is a God-given energy, a source of light that possesses the secret of God’s beautiful and complex design? (Paula D’Arcy) In 2008, when I was experiencing acute depression, I was sitting in a group therapy session attempting to describe how I felt. Getting to these sessions early in the morning was a huge trial

I am delighted to share another beautiful submission for the Monk in the World guest post series from the community. Read on for Keren Dibbens-Wyatt’s reflections on discovering her inner monk through illness: Journey to the Centre of the Earth For eighteen years I’ve been too sick to have a job, so I have had to discover other ways of being and doing, which is good training for the contemplative life! Alternatives, new perspectives are ever there for the finding. For me, someone who rarely leaves the house, being contemplative is like treasure hunting. Deep in the ravines of the presence of God,

I am delighted to share another beautiful submission for the Monk in the World guest post series from the community. Read on for Robert Walk’s wisdom on living as a monk in the world through praying the Hours: One Monk’s Approach to the Office My initial contact with the life of the monk occurred more then two decades ago when I visited the Benedictine monks of Weston Priory in Vermont.  In a way that was hard to put into words I was deeply moved by the rhythm of their day — the daily office, work, rest, play, etc.  In the late 1990’s I spent

I am delighted to share another beautiful submission for the Monk in the World guest post series from the community. Read on for Valerie Holt’s wisdom on encountering her inner monk on the labyrinth: A few years ago, I was on a sales trip to San Francisco, working at a convention center across the street from Grace Cathedral.  I was exhausted from my work and searching for a few moments of peace and quiet.  On the second day I stepped out of the convention center for some fresh air and caught sight of the cathedral set up on a hill, beckoning me to cross

I am delighted to share another beautiful submission for the Monk in the World guest post series from the community. Read on for Edith Ó Nualláin’s reflections about mindful writing as spiritual practice:   Mindful Writing as a Spiritual Practice Like many seekers who set out on a spiritual pilgrimage, I discovered that journaling as a spiritual practice took me to places only the written word could go. It was as if the word, my word, was the way, like a finger pointing to the moon. Falling in love first with those writers who penned their spiritual autobiographies, sharing the tales of their

I am delighted to share another beautiful submission for the Monk in the World guest post series from the community. Read on for Bryan Berghoef’s wisdom on finding your inner monk outside the boxes of your calendar: Letting Go of the Schedule “A good traveler has no fixed plans, and is not intent on arriving.” ~Lao-Tzu My usual mode of operation involves a certain amount of busyness. True for all of us, no doubt! We have a schedule. Appointments to keep. A certain amount of anxiousness occurs as we drive to the meeting or hop on the subway to arrive on time. Preferably we’ll