More than 800 people shared their word for 2013!  It is truly amazing and inspiring to read through the submissions, so consider pouring a cup of tea and perusing what others have posted.  Please feel welcome to share your word, even though the date for being entered into the random drawing has passed (see winners below). There are also some pretty wonderful photos being shared at this month’s Photo Party where you are invited to share images inspired by your word for the year (you can also take a quick look at the Flickr photo pool here – also worth some

To receive this love note straight to your in-box, subscribe here (and also receive a free gift!) You must give birth to your images. They are the future waiting to be born. Fear not the strangeness you feel. The future must enter you long before it happens. Just wait for the birth, for the the hour of the new clarity.—Rainer Maria Rilke Dearest monks and artists, I have arrived in our new home in Ireland and am slowly settling in while trying to be ever so gentle with myself in this transition.  The day we got here was also the

. . . Evelyn who wrote the poem “Winter Dancing”!  Evelyn, let me know Self-Study Online Class you would like: with a choice from Soul of a Pilgrim, Eyes of the Heart, Water Wind Earth & Fire, Seasons of the Soul, or Lectio Divina. Thank you to everyone who participated.  The Poetry Party was, as always, overflowing with beauty and wonder.  Pour some tea and linger with your fellow monks’ creations for a while.  A beautiful way to pause during this time of holy stillness.  

I am not sure what it reveals about me, but when Patheos told me that one of the books they were featuring for their upcoming Book Club was titled Seven Deadly Sins: A Visitor’s Guide, my heart lept a little with excitment.  You see, I love the wisdom of the desert mothers and fathers and know that they have much to say about vice and virtue, and I have yet still much to learn. Lawrence Cunningham’s book is a delightful short romp through what can be a dense theological arena.  He writes, not as moral theologian, but with a pastoral

I adore Paula Huston’s work and wise spirit.  She is a fellow monastic oblate and writer of several books on spiritual practice, including one of my favorites The Holy Way: Practices for a Simple Life.  I had the gift of participating in a writing workshop with her several years ago in New Mexico. Her new book Season of Mystery: 10 Spiritual Practices for Embracing a Happier Second Half of Life is a part of the current Patheos book club.  She again weaves together personal narrative along with riches from Christian mysticism to invite us gently into practices which are “antidotes to

. . . Rachel Parrish!  Rachel, please send me your email address and which Self-Study Online Class  you would like as your prize: (with a choice from Soul of a Pilgrim, Eyes of the Heart, Water Wind Earth & Fire, Seasons of the Soul, or Lectio Divina) Thank you to everyone who participated!  The photos are beautiful to longer with.  Come back for our next Poetry Party on Sunday, December 16th.

Abbey of the Arts is thrilled to offer another beautiful CinemaDivina meditation for this month of December.   Marilyn Freeman is a fellow pilgrim on the Benedictine path and she offers this videos as a way of inviting us to pray visually through the medium of film. (You can read her description of it here). Give yourself the gift of a holy pause for just three minutes right now.  Pour some tea, close the door, and turn off any distractions.  Breathe deeply, put your hand on your heart, and give yourself over to three minutes of reflection and see if you can welcome