That’s Not How This Works
My brain is hyperactive. It likes to spin out ideas, fantasies, things I want to say, actions I want to take. An insight comes to me and within seconds I’ve leapt to wordsmithing it for [...]
Black Lives Matter—Which Is Why I Hesitate to Publish This Post
Part of my job description as a contemplative involves paying attention. When world events come to the fore, I try to listen deeply, take the events into my heart and mind, and let them make [...]
From a Deep Inner Stillness
We, as solitaries…allow the Light penetrating our lives to shine out as through stained glass windows and awaken others to the beauty, hope, and goodness that surrounds us. —Karen and Paul Fredette, “A Word from [...]
We’re the Product of Many Forces, but We Are Not Helpless
For the months of March and April, I’d been in an odd place spiritually—not traumatic, just unsettling. Sorting through it took some serious work: a number of journal entries, an intense session with my spiritual [...]
Silent Prayer Made Easy (Sort Of)
Quick: what does contemplation mean? (No fair peeking at this post.) If you’re drawing a blank, don’t worry. It took me forever to understand it even a little—and I’m trying to live it. Contemplation doesn’t [...]
Why I’ve Hit the Pause Button on Dialogue
Not so long ago, most of my writing was devoted to dialogue. Dialogue and Donald Trump. Dialogue and the debate over guns. Dialogue and why my website isn’t called Dialogue Venture anymore. A whole book [...]
Hurricanes, Prayer, and Gazing at Barbuda
Before Irma, I had never heard of Barbuda. How could I have known it would alter the way I pray? The hurricane had sent my wife and me scurrying to Google Maps for a crash [...]
Depression, the Dark Night, and Why We Should Pause Before Shouting
I’ve been away from this space awhile, and with good reason. The good reason is hard to describe. It could have been an episode of severe depression, or a dark night of the soul, or [...]
Do Contemplatives Make Lousy Bloggers?
Three weeks gone and I’m already in trouble. Last month I attended a series of webinars on social media for spiritual writers. Sponsored by Writing for Your Life, the series was a pleasant surprise: it [...]
Dialogue and My Facebook Detox
I’m in the fourth day of Facebook detox. If you read this space regularly, you’ll know that Facebook has inspired a good many dialogues (and articles) for me. Some of my favorite colleagues I know [...]