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Blog
Discernment Begins Now
Discernment Begins Now Discernment means a lot of things to people, but I like the approach of seeing discernment as a way of life. To put it another way, discernment is spending time in God’s presence today as a way to prepare for what’s coming tomorrow. The decisions or crises will still be hard, but…
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Discernment Flows From a Deeper Place
Discernment Flows From A Deeper Place During the School of Discernment a few weeks ago, Kathleen Cahalan described discernment in a way that was particularly meaningful. She said discernment can be practiced as a disposition, a way of life, instead of an occasional exercise we take up when we have a big decision to make.…
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Overwintering
Gardening slows my mind as my hands work, allowing for random thoughts to surface; some profound, most not very. I think it must be the touching of the earth that energizes these thoughts and brings them into focus. But perhaps it is just the time apart that draws me deeper into a pondering space.
A Day with Ministry on the Margins
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to befriend someone who had spent time in prison? S. Paula Hagen OSB has an experience to share about volunteering with S. Kathleen Atkinson OSB, who is coming soon to the Benedictine Center of St. Paul's Monastery.
Can Small Acts of Courage and Compassion Really Save the World?
Can Small Acts of Courage and Compassion Really Save the World? I have to be honest. I’m a bit of a skeptic when it comes to all-encompassing spiritual proclamations. You could call me a “yes, but…” doubting Thomas-type person when conversations get a bit “spirited” or overly idealistic. And my friends and I sometimes do…
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The Awakening: What Is the Gift of Shadow? (Part 3 of 3)
This reflection continues a three-part exploration of the unknown in our inner worlds, sometimes called the shadow. Part 1 took up the question “What Is Shadow?” and parts 2 unpacked the question “What Do We Do with Shadow?.” Third and finally, “What Is the Gift of Shadow?” The Awakening What Is the Gift of Shadow? (Part…
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The Summons: What Do We Do With Shadow? (Part 2 of 3)
This reflection continues an exploration of the unknown in our inner worlds, sometimes called the shadow. Part 1 took up the question “What Is Shadow?” while parts 2 and 3 follow the questions “What Do We Do with Shadow?” and “What Is the Gift of Shadow?” The Summons What Do We Do With Shadow? (Part 2…
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The Unknown: What Is Shadow? (Part 1 of 3)
This reflection kicks off a three-part exploration of the unknown in our inner worlds, sometimes called the shadow. Part 1 takes up the question “What Is Shadow?” while parts 2 and 3 follow the questions “What Do We Do with Shadow?” and “What Is the Gift of Shadow?”
Winter Reflections
From time to time the Benedictine Center invites contributors to share their spiritual writing as it results from experiences at the Benedictine Center. This example of story as a way of considering our life journey was written by Liz Jaeger. She wrote this piece during a series called "Writing Our Way to Understanding. Winter Reflections…
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