Articles on Listening
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Where Does Gratitude Fit in the Spiritual Life?
With Thanksgiving approaching we might ask: Where does gratitude fit in the spiritual life? The following is a meditation on the place of gratitude in Ignatian spirituality. The traditional first step of the examen, the end-of-the-day prayer that St. Ignatius Loyola told Jesuits never to omit from their day, is gratitude. You recall the good things that happened to…
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Surprised by Joy
Recently a fellow spiritual guide described her surprise and delight at the joy she experiences meeting with directees. I’m not sure why, but I was taken aback. Because I experience it too- I just hadn’t expected it. When I thought about it, remembering the pursed lip smile of my spiritual director as he slightly nodded…
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Earth and Soul
In reading Earth & Soul: Reconnecting Amid Climate Change, some of the information about nature’s interconnectedness was new to me and some brought back many happy childhood memories of walking around the small farm I grew up on with a beloved uncle who loved to teach me about the natural world around me, about how…
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“Residency”- A Transforming Community Poem
Beckoned and gatheredDrawn ever closeWe beganSharing storiesOur yearningsOur souls Exposing deep woundsAnd time worn scarsWe shared hopesNamed our fearsAnd lifted our hearts Emboldened,EncompassedEnthralled We spokeWe listenedWe heard And we dancedAnd we stompedAnd we walked and we paused Wisdom teachings, traditionsShared and brought forthWe gathered as peersEncouraged, reinforced Summoned each by SpiritIn silence and prayerWe opened…
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A Letter from Rev. Jeffrey Ross, President of the Shalem Board of Directors
Dear Shalem Community, For the last ten years, the Shalem Institute has been blessed by the dedicated and skilled leadership of the Rev. Dr. Margaret Benefiel. As Margaret shared in her letter above, she has let the board know that she is ready to retire as Executive Director. As Executive Director, she enhanced the financial…