Articles on Nature

  • Snowdrops

    Snowdrops

    Today’s blog is by Bill Dietrich Recently someone who knows I enjoy gardening asked what I did during winter when there was “nothing to do in the garden.” I found myself reacting impulsively with a “to do” list of garden tasks: pruning, raking, protecting tender plants, building retaining walls, tidying up the compost pile, and,…

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  • To Have Eyes to See as the Saints See!

    To Have Eyes to See as the Saints See!

    An Evening in Assisi In the spring of 2016, I spent ten days in Assisi and its surrounding region on a Shalem pilgrimage to visit the sacred sites of the lives of St. Francis and St. Clare. I went without knowing much about either saint or Assisi, but trusting that whatever the trip offered would…

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  • Learning To Sit With Not Knowing

    Learning To Sit With Not Knowing

    Today’s Special Video Blog is by Carrie Newcomer, the recipient of Shalem’s 2019 Contemplative Voices Award on October 27! “Learning To Sit With Not Knowing” from “The Point of Arrival”   “Abide” by Carrie Newcomer and Parker Palmer from “A Permeable Life”   “Room At The Table” from “A Permeable Life”

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  • Note to Self When Walking (Because I Forget)

    Note to Self When Walking (Because I Forget)

    Today’s blog is by Carrie Newcomer, recipient of Shalem’s 2019 Contemplative Voices Award When walking in the woods, Or on a path, Or down the street, In a store, Or just upstairs, When you are intent on going, Wherever it is you are going, Stop. Stand still. Notice how the mind can chatter, Like purple…

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  • Niksen: A Time for Be-ing

    Niksen: A Time for Be-ing

    Today’s post is by Mary van Balen There is a Dutch word for doing nothing: Niksen. I know this not because of my Dutch heritage but from an article that made its way to my email inbox. What does it say about our modern sensibilities that an article about doing nothing and not feeling guilty…

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  • A Space for Silence & Prayer

    A Space for Silence & Prayer

    Article by Judy Walsh-Mellett – September 2019 eNews As a child walking in the woods, I was not compelled to ponderous thinking or righting the world’s wrongs. I simply walked and paused breathless if a deer or a rabbit passed by. Or gazed in awe if I chanced to see a Lady Slipper’s rare glory,…

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