First Sunday of Lent: Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane Mark 14:32-40 (RSV) And they went to a place called Gethsemane. And he said to his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” And he took with him Peter and James and John, and began to be greatly distressed and troubled. And he said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death. Remain here and watch.” And going a little farther, he fell on the ground and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him. And he said, “Abba, Father, all things … [Read more...] about First Sunday of Lent: Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane
devotional
Writing Exercises My Respect Muscles (Writing As a Spiritual Discipline Series)
“Respect, I think, always implies imagination—the ability to see one another, across our inevitable differences, as living souls.” (Wendell Berry, The Art of the Commonplace) In South Africa where I lived for many years, the basic “hello” greeting, sawubona, translates literally, “I see you.” In this mundane greeting, people declare to each other a tiny reminder that “I see you as a human, and I respect you.” Writing offers an opportunity to say the same: “I see you; I respect you.” In writing, we slow down long … [Read more...] about Writing Exercises My Respect Muscles (Writing As a Spiritual Discipline Series)
Words of Authority (Scholar’s Compass)
Scripture “See what large letters I use as I write to you with my own hand!” (Gal 6:11, NIV) Reflection I have the privilege of being an engineer who follows the great engineer of the universe. Our great engineer set out the laws of nature so that we can harness them and respond to his command to “subdue” the earth. In large engineering projects such as the construction sites I work on, engineers rely on documents issued by others to make decisions and build things under time constraint. A “for construction” stamp … [Read more...] about Words of Authority (Scholar’s Compass)
The Spiritual Act of Naming: Truth Telling in Writing (Writing As a Spiritual Discipline Series)
Heather Walker Peterson continues our new series, Writing As a Spiritual Discipline. See the first piece in the series here, and see other work by Heather here. Telling the truth is a task entrusted to Adam as he names the animals; it is a responsibility of redeemed humankind which has been told the truth about itself in Jesus. Oliver O'Donovan My desire to write comes from an experience of reading. I read a transforming word. As I am transformed, I wish to influence transformation in a confusing and unjust … [Read more...] about The Spiritual Act of Naming: Truth Telling in Writing (Writing As a Spiritual Discipline Series)
Writing as a Spiritual Discipline: Limits and Creation
Today ESN launches a new Spring 2017 series on Writing As a Spiritual Discipline. At various points throughout the spring semester, authors in a variety of disciplines will share how they experience writing as part of their spiritual lives. Brandon Spun starts off the series today. See Brandon's previous ESN reflection on hospitality here. What do the films Funny Farm, Throw Mamma from the Train, and The Shining have in common? They each feature writer's block as a central motif. Writer's block is a … [Read more...] about Writing as a Spiritual Discipline: Limits and Creation