Articles on Contemplation in Action

  • Roots of Love and Fruits of Imagination: Three Examples for our Time

    Roots of Love and Fruits of Imagination: Three Examples for our Time

    As I write this, protests rock the U.S. and protesters call for justice. The protests rightly draw our attention to the more than 400 years of racism and white supremacy, and the vast majority of protesters are peaceful. Violence and looting have also erupted, and the media often gives far more attention to such cases…

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  • Step by Halting Step: Leadership in Uncertain Times

    Step by Halting Step: Leadership in Uncertain Times

    In this season of the year, following the crucifixion and resurrection and Jesus’s subsequent forty days among the disciples, Christians celebrate the ascension, the time when Jesus left the disciples and ascended into heaven. What a roller coaster that month and a half must have been for the disciples (as I mentioned in the eNews…

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  • Who is God?

    Who is God?

    A byproduct of living a long life is I have come to accept the coming and going of faith. I have accepted that part of the essence of believing is to sometimes doubt and not believe. Like many of life’s bigger questions, when I gave up the struggle, the journey became more interesting. And the…

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  • Grieving and Rejoicing

    Grieving and Rejoicing

    On Good Friday, no one anticipated Easter. The disciples, in shock and grief, hid away in fear. Neither the disciples nor Jesus’s enemies expected resurrection. And then the resurrection came. Unbelievable. How could this be? Still in shock and grief, the disciples weren’t ready. Even after Jesus appeared to the disciples, they kept hiding in…

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  • A Mindful Loaf

    A Mindful Loaf

    Sunday, I decided, was the perfect day to use some of my precious yeast and flour to make a single loaf of bread—the day Christians set aside to gather and remember God’s great gift of self, given and shared with all creation. Baking would be my prayer. The cover of my old Tassajara Bread Book…

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  • Despair and Revelation

    Despair and Revelation

    The Gospel story this week (Luke 24:13-25) is of two downcast followers of Jesus walking the long road home from the City of Peace with heavy hearts. Their world had collapsed, their hopes were crucified, and they kicked up dead dust with each plodding step. Then Jesus draws near, though their eyes are kept from…

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Mission

Our mission is to nurture contemplative living and leadership.

Vision

In 2025, Shalem will be a dynamic and inclusive community, empowered by the Spirit, where seekers engage in transformation of themselves, their communities, and the world through spiritual growth, deep connection, and courageous action.

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