A weekly curated collection of essays, poetry, and reflections for your spiritual journey. From The Wisdom Years.
Let’s slip out the side door of sorrow/Round past the watchman of worry/And make room for the green fields beyond…An act of joyful defiance.
-Steven Charleston, Spirit Wheel: Meditations from an Indigenous Elder
Love Is Stronger than Hope
One of our problems is that we tie hope to outcomes, says Brian McLaren. “When our prime motive is love, a different logic comes into play. We find courage and confidence, not in the likelihood of a good outcome, but in our commitment to love.”
A Jeweler’s Eye
Suleika Jaouad writes that he would not reverse his diagnosis of cancer if he could. It has given him a “jeweler’s eye” – the ability to focus on the reality of what is right before you. “Rather than fighting your circumstance, rather than wallowing in sorrow and anger, you can begin to see it as an invitation. You can begin to interrogate it, to watch new and unexpected things emerge.”
From Awakin.
Honoring Grief and Taking Action
Frances Perkins was the first woman to serve on a U.S. Cabinet, appointed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt as Secretary of Labor in 1933. Among her practices was taking a personal retreat once a month. “Who better to advocate for the needs of the everyday worker than one who knows her own need for refreshment?” writes Ann Benton Fraser.
From Grow Christians.
Faith Seeking Understanding
The story of Thomas is one of the most moving in the gospels, writes Br. Geoffrey Tristram. It is a story of love, not proof. “The story of Thomas is rather the story of a man who comes to believe not because he has enough proof, but because he has actually touched the mystery of divine, self-sacrificial love.”
The Rise in Multigenerational Households
An old trend has become a new trend – three or four generations living together. It’s mostly about cost of living, says this article. It’s also good for both older and younger families.
Found in Marketplace.
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