November 22, 2017
What's Happening This Week at SpiritualityandPractice.com
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Editors' Pick
By Maggie Oman Shannon
Maggie Oman Shannon -- a minister, spiritual director, and workshop facilitator -- has been a lifelong crafter. In this inspiring and practical book, she describes 40 arts and crafts projects for making thanksgiving a spiritual practice in daily life. Here are concrete ways to use our hands to express our hearts.
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Practices
"To speak gratitude is courteous and pleasant, to enact gratitude is generous and noble, but to live gratitude is to touch Heaven," wrote Johannes A. Gaertner. This spiritual practice section -- perfect for Thanksgiving -- abounds with art, articles, books, music, poetry, prayers, quotes, spiritual practices, and more. Enjoy also "My Beloved Slippers," a video clip from the DVD series Spiritual Literacy.
More Practices: Birthday of Isaac Bashevis Singer, Thanksgiving, Honoring Sojourner Truth, Birthday of Louisa May Alcott
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E-Courses
A new e-course by the S&P Team
December 3, 2017 - January 5 , 2018
To allow space for quiet reflection, this e-course gathers quotes to last from the First Sunday of Advent through the 12th Day of Christmas. It draws from the writings of Carl McColman, Mirabai Starr, Richard Rohr, Evelyn Underhill, Terry Tempest Williams, and many more people for whom daily life holds an infectious vibrancy and enchantment. Only $25! Read more and sign up:
www.SpiritualityandPractice.com/EverydayMysticism
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A new e-course by Contemplative Outreach
December 1 - 29, 2017
This e-course uses Scripture and the teachings of Fr. Thomas Keating and other mystical writers to explore the great themes of this season as they inform and enrich the contemplative life. We will practice Lectio Divina -- quiet, receptive readings of Scripture -- and meditate on art and music. Won't you join us? Partial scholarships available. Read more and sign up:
www.SpiritualityandPractice.com/LuxDivina
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Films
Directed by Stephen Chbosky
A boy born with a congenital disorder resulting in facial differences is fortunate to have two parents and an older sister who lavish love and affirmation upon him. With just the right mix of drama and sentiment, Chbosky has made a heart-affecting movie that shows what happens when family and friends consistently choose kindness.
More Films: The Divine Order, The Man Who Invented Christmas, Mudbound, Murder on the Orient Express
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DVDs
Directed by Shimon Dotan
With the ease of a veteran documentary director, Dotan mixes archival footage and contemporary interviews to look at issues that arise from 500,000 Israelis living in 200 settlements in contested territory taken by Israel in the Six Day War (1967) from 2.7 million Palestinians.
More DVDs: After Love, Aquarius, California Typewriter, The Good Postman, Kedi, Stefan Zweig: Farewell to Europe, Wind River, The Women's Balcony, The Wrong Light
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Books
With its insights into the Qur'an, the wisdom of Muhammad, and the Oneness of God, this substantive work offers
a relational spirituality that animates daily behavior and savors the bounties of community.
More Books: The Evolution of Imagination, In Search of a Prophet, Letting Go of Good
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Blogs
Process Musings Blog
By Jay McDaniel
Listening to jazz on a daily basis could help widen our sense of harmony so that we can better appreciate the many voices of our world, some of which are very different from our own.
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By Frederic Brussat
Research shows that people who are confident in institutions give more generously. High quality institutions promote co-operation and spark giving as a way of benefiting others.
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The Practicing Democracy Project
By Mark Gerzon
Amid vast and widespread disappointment and cynicism brought on by Washington gridlock, we need people calling for bridges rather than walls. Gerzon is such a voice, reminding us that "we want to work together to solve problems and strengthen our country."
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By Gregory C. Ellison II
Ellison charts the challenges of crafting communal spaces for asking hard questions, listening empathically, and inviting the soul to be present as a guide. An Associate Professor at Emory University, he founded Fearless Dialogues, a grassroots community initiative that draws unlikely partners together to create positive change in self and others.
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We continue to gather ideas to shape our new project. Please help by taking this short survey. We would like to get as broad a range of responses as possible, so feel free to share the web-address with your friends, family, colleagues, worship community, and anyone else you know who might be interested:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/5JWJD3T
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From Our Wisdom Archive
It has been a long, tough year for many people, so this may be a good time to remember that miracles are possible. If you're gathering with family this holiday and would like to share a film or two, or if you're by yourself looking for some uplift, here are a variety of movie choices to remind you of hopeful mysteries.
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A Thought to Carry with You
On Thanksgiving Day we gather with friends and family to celebrate the harvest of good gifts which came to us this past year. But imagine if on that day someone in our circle is experiencing a heartache: Surely the love of all those gathered flows towards that one! And what of our Mother, the Earth? We feel her bountiful generosity, but also her great sorrow.
This week, reflect with gratitude on the great gifts all of us constantly receive from the Earth -- sources of joy so long as we don't take them for granted. If you would like to deepen your practice, you may want to hold a Council of All Beings while you're gathered with your loved ones. As Earth's story unfolds around us, it's vital for all voices to be heard, not just those that advocate human prosperity.
Blessings,
Your Spirituality & Practice Team
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat
Patricia Campbell Carlson
Darren Polito
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