Articles on Contemplation in Action
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The Power of Fasting
(Roy is co-leading the upcoming Holy Week Fast For Peace with Rev. Dr. Margaret Benefiel) Fasting formerly was a common spiritual discipline dating back to Biblical times. The practice continued through the early church up to the Reformation. During the Middle Ages, however, fasting fell into disfavor as it became linked with excessive ascetical practices,…
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Growing Through Crossing the Threshold
When I began Crossing the Threshold two years ago, two things were apparent: I lacked a vital spiritual life and was overwhelmed by work. The two are interrelated of course and of serious concern for a pastor. My relatively new ministry at a Los Angeles protestant cathedral posed challenges as unique as that string of…
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Wasting Time with God
As a former energizer bunny with a calendar in my head, I’ve always been physically and mentally doing something. So, attending the Group Spiritual Direction Workshop three different times – both as a participant and assistant facilitator – was life-changing for me. Each weekend during these programs gave me the opportunity to practice the art…
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Iona: A Touchstone to a Longer Horizon
The Buddhist monk Thich Nhat Hanh loved to tell a parable about a man and his horse. The horse is galloping quickly and everyone who sees the man fly by assumes that he is on a mission, going somewhere important. At some point a man standing along the road shouts at him, “Where are you…
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A Sense of Belonging
Several years ago, during a difficult time in my life, I found comfort in reading books that introduced me to a new way of experiencing God that was different from the AME church I attended as a child, and was different from the Baptist, Methodist and non-denominational churches I found myself cycling through as an…