Articles on Contemplation in Action
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Prayer Circles for Peace
“I am a cosmic citizen, a planetary being who lives in the Americas in the United States.” This was a line shared by a teacher I had one summer. It sure blows open any narrow attachment to a certain country or geographical place and calls forth a whole new perspective on who I am related…
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Seeing When It’s Not Pretty
It is his feet I notice first. My mind right away says, homeless. It is uncomfortable to see, but something in me says don’t turn away, stay with your feelings, don’t opt out. I am on the Metro early this November morning on my way to catch an Amtrak train from DC to NC to…
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Your deepest gladness, the world’s deep hunger
The place God calls you is where your deepest gladness and the world’s deep hunger meet.
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Gabriel’s Towing Service
I was rescued by an angel named Gabriel. It was the last day of our retreat and our leader offered some suggestions. She said it was best to not rush off from the retreat to try to catch up on all the things we didn’t get done. She encouraged us to take our time, drive…
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Silence, Seeing, Solidarity, Salaam
Last fall I was in Iraqi Kurdistan with Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT). CPT has been a peaceful presence in Iraq since 2002, first from Baghdad and since 2006 from Sulaymaniyah in the Kurdistan region of Iraq, at the invitation of and in solidarity with local people of peace. To see what makes for peace is…
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Shalem Summer Reading 2014
SHALEM STAFF READING PICKS Have you ever wondered about the books the Shalem staff reads? Here’s what some of the Shalem staff have been enjoying over the last year. From Bryan Berghoef: Anthony DeMello, Awareness This book was a surprising and enjoyable read. Taken almost verbatim from lectures given at a retreat, DeMello’s style is…