In the beginning, when God created the heavens and the earth, she spoke the cosmos into being. When she said ‘let there be light’ there was light. When she said ‘let the waters be separated from the waters’ dry land appeared. The Word God spoke in the beginning was none other than Jesus Christ, the … Continue reading Peace Chant: Participating in the Music of Creation →

In the sermon on the mount, Jesus teaches us to pray in secret, closed off from the outside world. This private room is called a cell in the monastic tradition. Just as we can retreat into the seclusion of a private room, we can also retreat into the hidden sanctuary of the soul. This is … Continue reading The Cell of the Heart: Where Multiplicity Returns To Unity →

I was recently blessed by a conversation I had with my friends Carmen Acevedo Butcher, Owen Rachal, and Julie Holtz. We discussed spiritual direction and spiritual practice, touching on a wide array of topics including: Wounded healers, Charlie Brown's Christmas tree, Brother Lawrence, the Cloud of Unknowing, the transmission of peace, things we learned from … Continue reading Listening to Silence, Translating the Heart →

The last little while I have been dipping my toes into the deep waters of hymn writing. I would like to share one I wrote the other day, inspired by the writing of Dionysius the Areopagite. In chapter 15 of his book Celestial Hierarchy, Dionysius explains how fire is a symbol for God - both … Continue reading The Nature of Fire: A Candle Lighting Hymn →

Hallelujah! Christ is risen! The day before Palm Sunday last week, my friend Toto posted an invitation to imaginative prayer in our Contemplative Christianity Facebook group. I've been back in the pulpit every Sunday this year, covering for a local minister on sabbatical, and I had already written my sermon when Toto made the post. … Continue reading Easter Liturgy →

Throughout Lent I have been blessed enough to work on a project with my friend Gilbert Márkus, a faculty member in the department of Celtic and Gaelic at the University of Glasgow. Gilbert can often be found in our Celtic Christianity Facebook group, generously sharing his expertise and resources with the rest of us. At … Continue reading The Prayer of Saint Brendan: A Personal Liturgy From Medieval Ireland →

Today being Saint Patrick's day, I thought I would write about the historical Patrick, who is often lost in the weeds amidst fountains of green beer and reflective shamrock hats. While most of what people associate with Patrick comes from later legends, we actually have two written works that survive from his own pen. One … Continue reading Saint Patrick and the Fight Against Oppression →

Every person needs a hearth to call home. Somewhere we return to throughout our lives, where we are met with familiar faces and support. It is our nature to come together in community, sharing the blessings and hardships of life with one another. Having a home base means you can go out into the wilderness, … Continue reading A Prayerful Hearth: The Families We Choose →

One time, while Columbanus was walking in the dark woods, far from anywhere, meditating on the scriptures, a sacred question emerged in his mind. He wondered which was better: to fall into the traps set by his fellow human beings or to be attacked by wild beasts. He made the sign of the cross and … Continue reading Not Feeding the Wolves: The Path To Inner Stillness →

At the core of every person there is a radiantly beautiful spark of eternity, kindled by the beating of our hearts, which no darkness can overcome. It is the light of Christ, the law of love imprinted in our minds. When we allow our inner flame to shine unobstructed, every part of our soul is … Continue reading The Light which Sees →