The unfolding of your words gives light; it imparts understanding to the simple. • Psalm 119:130 • • • In our second post on Fr. Charles Cummings’ book, Monastic Practices, we take up the first of the three basic practices of monastic daily life, in order to consider how they might inform the spiritual formationContinue reading “Spiritual Formation Talk: Sacred Reading”
Category Archives: Spiritual Formation
Another Look: Who and What Are Forming You?
A classic IM post by Michael Spencer from April, 2007. Every time I feel like I have lost my way in the Christian life, I find myself back looking at monasticism, and the lessons I learned in two decades of reading Thomas Merton. I’m not attracted to Catholicism, but I am very much attracted toContinue reading “Another Look: Who and What Are Forming You?”
Sunday Formation Talk: Monastic Practices
. . . the following reflections on the basic elements of our daily life spring from a belief that the ordinary things we do every day constitute our normal monastic path to God. • Fr. Charles Cummings For Sundays from now through the fall, we’ll be focusing on the topics of spiritual formation and spiritualContinue reading “Sunday Formation Talk: Monastic Practices”
Unholy Busyness
Unholy Busyness by Lisa Dye Now I am saying this for your own benefit, not to put a restraint on you, but because of what is proper and so that you may be devoted to the Lord without distraction. — 1 Corinthians 7:35 My mother-in-law is 90 years old, works two part-time jobs, prays dailyContinue reading “Unholy Busyness”
Our Life and Witness: Local, Quiet, Pastoral
9 But we don’t need to write to you about the importance of loving each other, for God himself has taught you to love one another. 10 Indeed, you already show your love for all the believers throughout Macedonia. Even so, dear brothers and sisters, we urge you to love them even more. 11 Make it your goalContinue reading “Our Life and Witness: Local, Quiet, Pastoral”
Christian Wiman: Religious Despair as Defense
Note from CM: During my weekend at Gethsemani, some of the most insightful reading I did came from Christian Wiman’s luminous book, My Bright Abyss: Meditation of a Modern Believer. Here is one of the passages that gave me pause, for your meditation today. * * * Religious despair is often a defense against boredomContinue reading “Christian Wiman: Religious Despair as Defense”
Another Look: Come to the Quiet
Note from CM: I will be going to The Abbey of Gethsemani in a couple of weeks for a few days of retreat. Having confirmed my reservation today, I was reminded of this simple invitation to silence from August, 2012. * * * Yet in our busy, noisy, overstimulating mission field of the world, itContinue reading “Another Look: Come to the Quiet”
The Good Scout and the Denial of Jesus’ Way
Note from CM: Before I write today’s post, I must say that yesterday’s discussion provides a superb example of why I love being part of Internet Monk. That was one of the most thoughtful and respectful conversations I’ve ever been privileged to witness. I had a busy day at work so wasn’t able to participate tooContinue reading “The Good Scout and the Denial of Jesus’ Way”
No Right Way Once and For All
What you must realize, what you must even come to praise, is the fact that there is no right way that is going to become apparent to you once and for all. The most blinding illumination that strikes and perhaps radically changes your life will be so attenuated and obscured by doubts and dailiness thatContinue reading “No Right Way Once and For All”
Facing Aging
The way of the righteous is like morning light that gets brighter and brighter till it is full day. – Proverbs 4:18 (CEB) Remember your creator in your prime, before the days of trouble arrive, and those years, about which you’ll say, “I take no pleasure in these”— before the sun and theContinue reading “Facing Aging”
The Internet Monk Archives 