We often think of spiritual life as being ethereal, floating in the air like smoke. We assume spiritual life is theoretical, conceptual, vague, or even imaginary. The idea of spiritual life makes us a little uncomfortable. Spiritual life always seems to be just beyond our reach, outside our experience or understanding. For many of us, […]
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Thanksgiving Day will be here soon, one week from today. We think of Thanksgiving as an event. We celebrate it with large meals, parades, lots of football on television. For some of us Thanksgiving is the beginning of the retail season. There are people who have jobs which require them to work on Thanksgiving Day.
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Grace is a short word that carries a deep complexity of truth. It can mean very different things to different people. Some people understand grace as athletic, the ability to stay balanced as you complete challenging tasks. Dancers are graceful, skaters gliding across the ice. Grace is an elegance of movement, the ability to transform
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Seeking Surrender: How My Friendship With a Trappist Monk Taught Me to Trust and Embrace Life by Colette Lafia is an honest, intimate description of spiritual formation. We are shaped by how we reflect on and come to terms with our experiences. Spiritual life is sparked and stretched by challenges we face, disappointments and discouragements we feel, people
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There are people who believe spiritual life is based in being afraid. Some are afraid of what other people think of them, and what they think of themselves. Some feel guilty and responsible, and are afraid they will never be forgiven. Some are afraid that, when they break the rules, it means they are bad people. Some
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It can be a challenge for us to forgive each other, and a challenge to know when we are forgiven. Forgiveness almost always seems to come as a surprise. It is usually the product of long, hard work. Many of us do not have a clear idea of what forgiveness is, how it works. We are
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There are people who have an unshakable grasp on what is not possible. They know what can be done and are firmly convinced about what cannot be done. They have assessed their organizations and the people with whom they work. They have a clear picture of what is beyond their limitations. People who call themselves leaders
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There are people who believe spiritual life is inextricably interwoven with being religious. Some people are convinced they can only experience spiritual life in a church or other sacred location. They see spiritual life as dependent on where they are, what they do, who they know. They think spiritual life needs help to reach them;
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November is the month we get a gratitude booster shot. Several people I know keep public gratefulness journals in November each year. Each day we read their expressions of thanks for aspects of their lives. It can be helpful to be reminded every so often. We may forget we need to share our appreciation. There is power in giving thanks. Gratefulness transforms
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I have known people in positions of leadership who did not strike me as particularly creative. Some people try to be leaders who meet goals, tighten nuts and bolts, come in under budget. Their idea of leadership seems to be doing a little more or a little better than last year. Their leadership priority appears to
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