Journal

Category: Contemplative Life

Ministry is Relational Living

When I first got married, it did not take long for me to figure out that I was a “fixer.”  I always needed to fix everything.  If there was a conflict, or a disagreement, or even a bad day, I always felt like it was my job to solve the problem.  One day,...

A Most Powerful Prayer

Charles de Foucauld (1858-1916) from France was a small and simple man whose unusual life of great faith and sacrifice would come to inspire many Christians and non-Christians alike. Serving in the French army in north Africa, the religious devotion of the Muslims he...
Lament, Dream, and Invision

Lament, Dream, and Invision

Remembering 9/11, a part of God’s story comes to mind when God’s people were under harsh times, and were trying to recover from an attack.  Years had gone by, and food was scarce, and people hungered for help from the Lord.  When Joel lifts these things up...

“How did you meet God at Corhaven?”

After most group retreats at Corhaven and often personal retreats, we ask a few questions about people’s experiences and ideas.   And we always ask “How did you meet God?”.  The following replies are just a few taken from recent retreatants.  Praise God that he meets...

Silent Suppers…

“In the silence of the heart God speaks. If you face God in prayer and silence, God will speak to you. Then you will know that you are nothing. It is only when you realize your nothingness, your emptiness, that God can fill you with Himself. Souls of prayer are souls...
A Light to the World is the Missio Dei

A Light to the World is the Missio Dei

This post was written by Gabriel Dodd During my first semester studying at Eastern Mennonite Seminary, I have enjoyed a class called Missio Dei in Cultural Context.  I have come to an understanding that if ten people were in a room, and we asked them what the Mission...
Camping Retreats at Corhaven

Camping Retreats at Corhaven

It’s safe to say that for me personally, a critical part of my spiritual formation earlier in life came through spending time alone with God, in nothing but nature, sleeping in a tent, with no other company except God and the wonders of creation and a constant...

Deep Inspiration from a Life Cut Short

Recently while in China, I had the opportunity to reconnect with Chris Hickey, a good man who I’d gotten to know while at St. Brendan’s.  He shared with me a hard story of the death of one of his good friends, Brad Ipema, who died too young. Chris forwarded on to me...

Befriending Benedict

Laura Merzig Fabrycky wrote this blog originally for The Washington Institute, and asked if we can post it on our website.  These are her reflections after co-leading the retreat on “Rhythms and Vocation: An Experiential Introduction to the Rule of St....