One of the first posts I wrote on this blog was called “Religion that Works.” It touched on what has been one of the most persistent elements of my faith, even within a spiritual journey that has been topsy turvy: More than anything else, I want a faith that changes lives. I remember, when I … Continue reading Words that Work
We live in anxious times — politically, socially, economically, and increasingly environmentally. More and more it seems that more and more is in turmoil. All this has been weighing heavily on me lately and, to be honest, I’ve been finding it difficult to have much hope for the future. But, considering hope is one of … Continue reading Three Hopeful Things
I recently noticed that one area that has been underrepresented in my explorations of sacred practices has been creativity. And so, in the hopes of beginning to rectify this gap, this week I explored the making of and meditating on mandalas. Background The word ‘mandala’ originates in Sanskrit and refers to a circle representing wholeness, … Continue reading Mandalas
The Gospel reading from today’s Morning Office contains a line that struck me anew this morning: “Can anything good come from Nazareth?” It’s one of the most famous lines in the Gospels not spoken by Jesus. And it’s a line that has much to say to our present moment. The first thing that struck me … Continue reading Nazareth
This week, I returned to a Scripture reading practice. What sets this practice apart from the other Scripture-related practices I’ve explored in this space is that the primary focus is on the reading of the text, rather than on interpreting it or experiencing it. This week, I read from the lectionary, a set list of … Continue reading The Lectionary
Matthew Root 