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From Soul Nourishing Resources, to Event Re-Caps, Musings, Teachings, and more, The Blog is an abundant source of inspiration and information for you to explore.
Maundy Thursday Lectio Divina with Poetry
When I cam across this poem by Mary Oliver, found in the pages of the book ‘Devotions’ which sits in the select stack of books by my bedside, I knew it would become a feature of my own Holy Week practices, as well be featured throughout the season during sessions of Spiritual Direction.
The poem quickly became a favourite as it brought God’s incredible creation into the narrative at the garden at Gethsemane. As I’ve been going through the 19th Annotation (the Spiritual Exercises of Saint Ignatius over 32 weeks), all of creation— from the atoms to the ants, the distant stars and melting snowflakes, the seen elements and the unseen energy— all respond to Christ.
It’s the idea of the world bearing witness to Christ during a time of such pain and suffering that continued on in my experience of scripture as I continued the exercises through the murder and resurrection of Jesus. Before we arrive at these parts, we find ourselves in the garden…
As you engage in Maundy Thursday, perhaps this Lectio Divina practice with the poem titled ‘Gethsemane’ can add a new depth, spin, or contemplative gaze to your day.
Palm Sunday Lectio Divina with Poetry
When I cam across this poem by Mary Oliver, found in the pages of the book ‘Devotions’ which sits in the select stack of books by my bedside, I knew it would become a feature of my own Holy Week practices, as well be featured throughout the season during sessions of Spiritual Direction.
The poem draws attention to an often overlooked being in the story— the donkey🫏.
As a lover of animals, and one who loves engaging in imaginative prayer, the draw to the seemingly insignificant— the parts of the story often overlooked for ‘the bigger message’— is where I often find the most profound seeds of grace.
As you engage in Palm Sunday, perhaps this Lectio Divina practice with the poem titled ‘The Poet Thinks About The Donkey’ can add a new depth, spin, or contemplative gaze to your day.
Soul Nourishing Practice: Soaking Prayer
You know that feeling when the chill in the air makes the world feel crisp, but the sunlight beaming down on you makes your entire body feel warm and cozy and drenched in goodness?
That sun-soaked feeling is unlike anything else.
You could probably close your eyes and imagine a moment like that where, on a snow-filled winter day, melty spring day, or autumn arrival day, you stood outside, noticed the warmth, then closed your eyes just to bask in it. Letting it fill your body with such joy and delight.
That is how soaking prayer feels.
Discovering Lent Recap
There’s nothing like crisp, below freezing temperatures and bright morning sunshine to welcome you to the day. When Discovering Lent arrived on Saturday, February 22nd, the snow-dusted world was just awakening to the sun-filled promise of warmer days ahead, while still firmly rooted in the chilly reality that winter is still here.
Discovering Lent
“I’m giving up chocolate for Lent.”
I think that might be one of the most cliche things we think of (and have probably heard… or have even said ourselves) when it comes to the season of lent.
The sacrifice of delight in chocolate is this idea of giving up something you love for 40-days, and then on Easter Sunday, when chocolate is plentiful in the shapes of bunnies and eggs, we get to enjoy those first bites of this delicious treat we gave up. It tastes sweeter, we savour it a little more, and in the post-Easter days, we most likely return to our previous chocolate eating habits.
I like to think of this idea described above as the ‘starter version’ of lent.