Journal

Category: Contemplative Life

Take, Eat, Be : Living the Eucharist

Mother Teresa said once “If I can give you any advice, I beg you to get closer to the Eucharist.” JRR Tolkien wrote in a letter to his son Christopher, “Out of the darkness of my life, so much frustrated, I put before you the one great thing to love on earth: the...

A Good Man, A Good Life, A Good Death

On December 31, 2013, Bill Scherer, father to Tara and father-in-law to me, entered the larger Life.  He was a founding board member of Coracle, and instrumental in enabling Corhaven to come into reality, among so many other things.  Below is the homily that I...
And He Came

And He Came

Almost 20 years ago, I had three weeks in between graduating from college and heading off to seminary.   And one of those weeks I spent with my dad, canoeing the chain of 10,000 lakes in the vast, wild, and absolutely unpeopled Boundary Waters between Minnesota and...

Stars in Spiral Song

“Stars in Spiral Song” Penetrate me with passion, pure and holy flame. Wild and free, galaxies spin cast forth, strewn like dice loaded and shot wide; a sweep and stars dance comets sing, take flight on sparkling wing to find wonders, and praise Your name....

It Spreads for Thee

It Spreads for Thee by Bill Haley Dark and warmly damp waits the wood While white mist hovers thick with scent. Solace and solitude kiss Give rise to strength and rebirth To dance again. Hidden ‘tween the trunks of trees Protected lies the slitted door, Veiled in the...

Come and See

I recently had the privilege of leading a small memorial service for my great aunt and uncle and shared these words below. I hope they minister to you, as they ministered to me and my family in our time of grief. I was reading scripture earlier this week and God led...

The Stones of Prayers and Dreams

The Stones of Prayers and Dreams by Bill Haley We walked through rain and dripping heather Conscious of the gift of the place, Aware that “together” was our greatest gift. So the weather could not dampen our joy On that Emerald Isle, The place of prayers and dreams....

A Transforming Internship

When Bill asked me to write about my experience as an intern this summer, I felt overwhelmed. How could I begin to put into words the gift that was my ten weeks at Corhaven? I can’t. However, I can tell you one thing and that is this: my internship at Corhaven...

I Shall Emerge Someday

I Shall Emerge Someday by Bill Haley I shall emerge someday a nugget of gold though covered with clay I shall emerge someday mud made to gold though covered with clay Rising from the pit gold though covered with clay I shall emerge someday Some will see clay, some...

Our Deepest Essence…a double entendre

Since the first centuries of the Christian church until now, across the Catholic, Orthodox, and Protestant spectrum, noteworthy leaders have made the same assertion, and it is a bold one. In the 2nd century, St. Irenaeus said it: ‘Through his transcendent love, our...

Thrust

Thrust by Bill Haley Trust in God’s goodness, Faith in his power; These are the weapons To get through this hour. These the tools, These the bedrock Diving in an ocean of love A heaven of love Without words, without knowledge Naked intent Desire full bore Undone and...

The Heart of our Spiritual Journey

by Kit Elmer God has had me on a journey of desire. He reminded me recently of the story of Bartimaeus. He is a blind man begging along the streets of Jericho.  When Jesus comes along  he shouts “Jesus son of David have mercy on me!” Everyone is telling him to be...

Present, Speak Today

Present, Speak Today by Bill Haley Present, speak today It matters not the voice A kiss from the salt sea spray A pleasant wind’s embrace Long listening of a trusted friend Soft strong words said clear It matters not how you send But, you, speak So I can...

Eucharist *

Eucharist* by Bill Haley The new day breaks with golden hue and sunlight fills the room, with promise and peace and promises of peace, three coming inconsistently while they wrestle with a season’s gloom. But still they come, a warrior trinity to fight fiends and...