There seems to be a fundamental division within the very idea of humanity. On the one hand, the word connotes the best of what our species can do and be: People who embrace the idea that we are 'the measure of all things' are called “humanists;” areas of study that explore our creativity and wisdom are … Continue reading Only Human
Continuing on the narrative kick I’ve been on lately, this week’s practice turns from looking at the wisdom we can find in literature to the potential and pitfalls of the stories we tell ourselves from moment to moment. BackgroundPaying attention to the narratives in our heads is nothing new. It is for example the basis … Continue reading The story I’m telling myself is …
I’ve been thinking a lot about narrative again lately. Partly this is because I’ve been in a run of excellent novels. Partly it’s because of the ‘Fiction as a Sacred Text’ practice from last week. But also, particularly this week, a number of books, podcasts, and other media (particularly the truly remarkable Nanette) have in … Continue reading Owning Your Story (Or, the Best Date I’ve Ever Had)
I’m a great lover of books, and especially fiction. I’ve been in a particularly good run of interesting and thoughtful books lately, so, I was excited to see this week’s sacred practice come up on the schedule: to treat a piece of fiction as a sacred text. Background Like most people, I was first exposed … Continue reading Fiction as a Sacred Text
This week’s sacred practice is ancient and venerable, but less of a specific practice than it is a way of looking at the world through the eyes of faith. This week, I returned to my prayer corner and prayed with icons. BackgroundLike many artifacts of the Christian tradition — the Nicene Creed being a great … Continue reading Icons
Matthew Root 