On faith. And work.

This bit of news encourages me to keep speaking up and sharing my spirituality along with my work.

The Inspired by Faith Conference met last month at Oxford University, giving prominent social entrepreneurs a chance to speak on faith, and how to integrate it into daily life. 

"Spirituality is a place to come from, not a thing to do." Absolutely. It is an incredible thing to let our lives be guided by our inner compass, not the clock, the dollar, or any other force. You can read about the recommended Seven Practices here.

 

We who write so many things, sometimes need to let words go. Letting our lives be unsketched, free to unfold in spontaneous story.

What can you leave unwritten today?

More thoughts inspired by David James Duncan.

I wonder. Do you?

 "Wisdom begins in wonder." --Socrates.


Art begins with "I wonder," too. Here, the artist was curious about creating an outdoor installment with found objects she had saved for an unknown purpose. A visit to a wooded meadow transformed "I wonder" into beauty. This truly reflected Julia Stoops' wisdom on the creative process. 

I couldn't decide which of my blogs to post this on. Didn't know whether I wanted to focus on the spirituality of wonder, or the art of it, but in the end, spirit and art are mingled together in mystery, adding to the questions, adding to the beauty.

Clouds to Remind

Not in entire forgetfulness,
And not in utter nakedness,
But trailing clouds of Glory do we come
From God, who is our home 

--William Wordsworth

What beauty and truth  can you see in the clouds today? What might they show you about who you really are? 

God in a Violin

When you can't seem to find goodness in the world, you just might find God hanging out in an old violin . . .







Amos Lee live performance of Violin, Nov 2010, New York City.

Your whole life is now.

"When ______ happens, that will be my real life. That's when I'll be happy." I caught my thoughts this morning as I started my prayer session.

I was devaluing this day, this time in my life, this moment sitting in my bedroom chair next to an unmade bed below dusty blinds, while outside the earth rumbled with the sounds of the sprinkler starting up.

And I realized, this moment is not only all I have, it's my whole life.

"If I can't recognize, accept, love and experience ALL of my life right now, I never will."

Changed by Creation

"Creation happens to us, burns into us, changes us, we tremble and swoon, we submit. Creation - we participate in it, we encounter the creator, offer ourselves to him, helpers and companions."                     --Martin Buber