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Ambrose Kim’s Story
A Testimonial for the Leading Contemplative Prayer Groups and Retreats Program by Hong-il (Ambrose) Kim Whenever I talk with people in affliction and pain during retreats, I realize that they are “divided” in themselves. I am not sure why they struggle with their dual self-hood, but I can see that they are not living with…
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The Energy of Emotion
Today’s post is by Savannah Kate Coffey. I sometimes sit by the ocean in the evening light when the air is soft and the clouds are pinky-orange. The youngest children have gone to bed. The sandcastles of this day are giving way to the fresh grainy canvas of tomorrow. Lovers walk holding hands. Vacationing families,…
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Practicing Contemplation on the Road
Today’s post is by Leah Rampy My hands are locked on the steering wheel as I sit in the mass of vehicles inching down I-395 during morning rush hour. I look straight ahead, my eyes locked on the truck just ahead of me. I carefully avoid eye contact with the driver of the car to…
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Contemplation of Nature’s Offerings
Today’s post is by Bryan Berghoef. Contemplation doesn’t have to be complicated. In fact, it’s incredibly simple. When I tell myself I’m entering into a contemplative space, it’s as if everything else sort of blurs around me, and the center focuses more sharply. My physical surroundings become secondary to my inner state of mind and…
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Becoming Love
Today’s post is written by Kate Coffey. I’ve been told there are only two states of being: fear and love. All the other inner landscapes that seem so real are simply shadows of one or the other. Just as we are rarely aware of the air we breathe, we often consider it normal to live…
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Changes
By Stephanie Gretchen Burgevin. Stephanie is a writer and retreat leader. She is an associate faculty member of Shalem and a graduate of their Leading Contemplative Prayer Groups and Retreats Program and leads spiritual and secular programs. Stephanie manages Shalem’s blog. You can see more of her writing atblessedjourneyblog.com. Photo by Stephanie Gretchen Burgevin. We’ve all heard the…