Jean Grou, in his book, Manual for Interior Souls, addresses a common theme in spiritual direction: consolation and desolation. Experiences of consolation are those experiences of God?s felt presence, tangible comfort, refreshing insight or energizing guidance. The Christian life feels good in seasons of consolation. Experiences of desolation are those times when spiritual disciplines are […]
Faith Like a Child
Earlier this month, my family was out of town to visit with some friends near Colorado?s Tenmile Range. The change from the norm always amazes me. And to see that change in the eyes of our four year old is even more fun. Our stay at a mountain cabin was one of the highlights of […]
Leadership as Soul Care
One of the spiritual directors whose writings have helped me is Reginald Somerset Ward, an Anglican spiritual director who died when I was one. Here he describes the task of spiritual direction, which he here calls ?the physician of souls.? (The language is male as this was written nearly 60 years ago. FYI). ?The task […]
Praying Psalm 63
One of the rich practices that I?ve come to appreciate is the ancient tradition of praying the psalms. Communities of faith have been doing this together for centuries. Sometimes, I will simply journal my personal response to a particular psalm. Psalm 63 has been a recent place of encountering God?s grace for me: ?O God, […]
Suffering & Sacrifice
Editor’s Note: This post was written by Joy Mosbarger, not Gem Fadling as previously posted. During my college and young adult years, there were numerous authors and speakers who had a significant impact on my life. One whose influence was most noteworthy was Elisabeth Elliot. A few weeks ago, on June 15, 2015, Elisabeth Elliot […]
Deep Roots, Fresh Fruit
Recently I was doing something I?ve done hundreds of times over the last 25 years?listening to retreatants share their stories of encounter with God after they?ve engaged in what we call ?EPC? (extended personal communion with God). It?s our way of talking about the practice of solitude, silence and prayer. The power of EPC as […]
The Heart of True Surrender
Below is a paragraph from Gerald May?s Care of Mind/Care of Spirit about ?true surrender.? How often do we offer what we think is surrender when it is really a thin guise for something a little more selfish? May we discover that every door of invited surrender, no matter how scary it may look, is […]
