Time to Pause We have a labyrinth in our backyard which, weather permitting, is where I do my walking prayer every day. One day, while I was preparing for a group to come and join us for a walk, my husband caught this photo of our dog, Bella, sitting in one of her contemplative postures…
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Unpredictable: The Invitation to Come Home
Unpredictable: The Invitation to Come Home My summer had surprising experiences with several unpredictable happenings. My body was telling me in no uncertain terms to pay attention to my aging process. More than one round of issues with blood pressure and wellness told me that I needed to let go of a few events I…
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Writing from the Center: Persistence, Not Perfection
Persistence, Not Perfection Kathy Fleming is a talented visual artist (www.kflemingart.com) who serves as the Artist Coordinator for the Benedictine Center of St. Paul's Monastery. Her canvases are captivating both in their craftsmanship and the deep reflection underlying each one. Those who see the exhibits she designs in the Monastery Gallery benefit from her uncanny…
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The Search for Vitality and Ways Spiritual Direction Can Help
The Search for Vitality and Ways Spiritual Direction Can Help “I’ve had more energy around work this past month, but I’m worried because I feel some of that old intensity coming back. I want to continue experiencing the vitality of living from my centered self. I’m afraid that I will slip back into the old…
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Just Wave: Following that Holy Nudge
PHOTO CREDIT: Carol Jorgensen Just Wave The Benedictine Center welcomes stories of encounter that remind us of the nearness of God and that call us to living the way of hospitality Benedict commended in the Rule. This reflection by Carol Jorgensen, Hospitality Specialist for the Benedictine Center, captures the wisdom of one such moment. Just…
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Ice Break: Annotated Selections from a Book of Poems
Ice Break: Annotated Selections from a Book of Poems Writers too infrequently have the opportunity to witness people in the act of receiving their work. I was recently afforded that privilege as I shared a poetry reading with my friend and colleague Victor Klimoski. The experience encouraged me to annotate a handful of poems for…
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Cradle in the Corner
Cradle in the Corner Last Fall, a brief skirmish with some mice brought me to the far corner of my garage, where the breaker box is, right next to the driveway. That corner is the most chaotic because it’s the most convenient, and most of the stuff in that corner is damning evidence of my…
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Writing from the Center: In Praise of Mary Oliver and Her Call to Attentiveness
Writing from the Center In Praise of Mary Oliver and Her Call to Attentiveness We recently convened a gathering at the Monastery to celebrate the life and work of poet, Mary Oliver. She died January 17 at the age of 74, leaving behind a body of work that will sustain generations of readers. As a…
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A Tool for Attending to the Inner Dimensions of Leadership
A Tool for Attending to the Inner Dimensions of Leadership The everyday and lasting pressures of ministry can take their toll on Christian leaders—and venting only helps so much. Thankfully, what we can learn from the practice of spiritual direction is that Christian leaders are not alone in their struggles and that there are ways…
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The Erector Set: Adapting to Others
The Erector Set “[The abbot must] accommodate and adapt himself to each one’s character and intelligence ….” – RB1980 2.32 I’m no abbot, but I am trying to adapt myself to my son’s character. Toby’s a little like a cat—he’s stubborn and private, and I have to coax him to get him to come to…
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