Voices of the Community
No words are needed
Voices of Community
The past two years my family has endured a devastating loss with the passing of my beloved sister. She was stricken suddenly with a terminal illness and endured tremendous amount [...]
Voices of Community
When I am among the trees,especially the willows and the honey locust,equally the beech, the oaks and the pines,they give off such hints of gladness.I would almost say that they [...]
It helps me remember …
Voices of Community
It can be a challenge to remember all those who have asked for our prayers. I wrote this poem 52 years ago while in the 5th grade, but continue to [...]
Voices of Community
Thought for today: I cannot follow what I can not see! Question for contemplation: Am I “seeing” my life with eyes formed by the Word or by the World? I [...]
silence
Voices of Community
let us go adore himlet us go implore himmy soulto make us whole let us stopand just dropall attractionsdistractionsaddictionsafflictionspossessionsobsessionsattachmentsinvolvementsall desires worriesanxieties memories –our old self forsake this one decision make:shed [...]
Called to the Desert
Voices of Community
Ordinary time is over and now we are presented with a different, sacred time: one of fasting, reflection and penance. This period of Lent mirrors the forty days Christ spent in [...]
The Time of Lent
Voices of Community
Lent a time to start over a time to take stock a time to see the truth a time to lay it all down Kathleen [...]
Safe
Voices of Community
I was on a silent retreat sitting outside having a cup of tea watching a little critter poking his head and periodically I’d see dirt flying up out of the [...]
Voices of Community
In gratitude for all of what Thomas Keating and Contemplative Outreach has done in supporting my spiritual growth. My meditation* began with use of the symbol of a cross: [...]
God’s Embrace
Voices of Community
I’ve been practicing Centering Prayer since early 2008; up until then most of my prayer could be described as some reflection on God, but mostly trying to talk to God [...]
Ocean Blue
Voices of Community
Drifting grey,Rising blue,Crested white,Golden light.I am notAnd God is. Joanne Alban, Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA [...]
Voices of Community
In his book, Invitation To Love, Thomas Keating writes: “On the spiritual Journey there is usually someone in our family, our business or in our community whom we cannot endure, someone [...]
Voices of Community
When I was ordained in 1965 I had no idea what spiritual formation meant or how to experience God, which is another way of saying I didn’t know how to [...]
Voices of Community
In college, I happened to work the early morning shift at the Crowell Hall Reception Desk at Moody Bible Institute in downtown Chicago. After I sorted the morning papers, I [...]
Voices of Community
“Slow down, you move too fast.” These are lyrics that I grew up on. I really did not fully understand what they meant until about five years ago when I [...]
Voices of Community
It is Autumn. As I make the daily drive North from Rio Rancho to Santa Fe I am aware that Brother Sun rises later and later. No matter how many [...]
Voices of Community
“In the silence we are guided by the spirit.”Thomas Keating As I sit and think about my life’s journey, I am keenly aware of God’s presence and action and how [...]
The Wind
Voices of Community
fierce wind blowingwidely splittinghigh white blue skyever opening enter all into the circlesit upon the tiles of treesgather quietsilence round uscalmly breathinghoping peace fierce wind blowingrushing wildlydown snow mountainsblasting free [...]
Relationship Isn’t Easy
Voices of Community
I often wonder about my Centering Prayer practice even though I have been doing it for over 15 years. There are times when all seems well and then many times [...]
Prayer of Diminishment
Voices of Community
Each day, Oh Lord,May I offerless to You;Each day to be diminished,Until I am so decreasedby Your Hand and your loveso grown in meThat I become totalemptinessfor You to fillor [...]
A Poem
Voices of Community
The reptile’s top priorities are fewFull tummy, sunny rock, and babies newIts consciousness is narrow as its tailSurvival pure and simple will prevailOur human brain includes the serpent styleOur lowest [...]
Voices of Community
On my flight from Chicago to Denver, my talkative seatmates clearly thought I was out of my mind: “You’re not going to Snowmass to ski but to pray? For ten [...]
Voices of Community
I am an ordained Protestant minister who has benefited greatly from contemplative prayer. I speak from experience with a way of being open to contemplative prayer called Centering Prayer. I [...]