Articles on Nature

  • Spiritual Guidance as Love Activism

    In the Northern Hemisphere where I live, we’ve passed the autumnal equinox and are entering one of my favorite seasons – fall. As the days become shorter and the nights lengthen, we’re invited to lean back and settle into this fecund, pregnant, obscure season heading towards winter. During fall our Jewish brothers and sisters celebrate…

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  • St. Clare of Assisi: Leading with Soul

    St. Clare of Assisi (1194-1253), for centuries best known as St. Francis’ “little plant,” eventually emerged as a strong leader in her own right in thirteenth-century Italy and beyond. While St. Francis took center stage with his extroverted charismatic leadership, St. Clare quietly built stronger structures behind the scenes. As I muse on St. Clare…

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  • More Shalem Picks for Contemplative Resources

    Spirituality is for Every Body: 8 Accessible Ways to Connect with the Divine When Living with a Disability By Allison V. Thompkins, Ph.D.Allison V. Thompkins, Ph.D., shares how spiritual practices have sustained her and how the Spirit has guided her to fulfill her purpose of advocating for the disabled. She illustrates each spiritual practice with…

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  • 2024 Shalem Picks for Contemplative Resources

    A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life’s Purpose by Eckhart TolleI’ve enjoyed reading Eckhart Tolle’s A New Earth which clarifies very simply the development of consciousness in human evolution and the role of Ego in undermining higher consciousness. Immortal Diamond by Richard Rohr is another book that addresses similar issues as A New Earth but from…

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  • Interfaith Reflections on a Hurting World

    “The place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world’s deep hunger meet”.-Frederick Buechner “When we seek what is truest in our own tradition, we discover that we are one with those who seek what is truest in their tradition.”-James Finley Frederick Buechner’s words deeply speak to me, and…

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  • Five Gathered: A Reflection on Group Spiritual Direction

    I had the bountiful blessing of making four very close friends this past week. It was not your typical friendship. Five individuals gathered together in faith, in silence, in prayer, and in profound empathy. The gathering was not by chance. No, something else, rather someone else, was at work — One I will call the…

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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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