by Bill Haley | Sep 29, 2015 | Contemplative Life, Spiritual Direction
It’s one of the greatest pictures and promises in the Bible, and for many of us, one of the most frustrating. The picture and promise is that God speaks, and that he speaks to each one of us. Implied in this is that we can hear him. And that’s where the...
by Coracle | Aug 25, 2015 | Contemplative Life
Here is a post by a friend of ours about a reflective prayer practice called the Examen Prayer. It is a powerful way to recognize God in our everyday activities. This Summer I Prayed the Examen by Abby Deatherage This summer, by happenstance and friends-of-friends...
by Wade Ballou | Jul 6, 2015 | Contemplative Life
We live in a frenzied and seemingly chaotic world. We drive ourselves to distraction with our devices and multitasking. We strive for the next customer, contract, or position. For many the electronic world means that the work world is always present. We carry our...
by Abigail Whitehouse | Jul 2, 2015 | Contemplative Life
In Psalm 21:4, it says that David “asked life” from God and God “gave it to him – length of days forever and ever,” as the New King James renders it. When I read those words last week, I was struck by David’s request. He wanted...
by Coracle | Mar 16, 2015 | Contemplative Life
[What does a monk do and why? Members of the Coracle community just got some answers as we returned from an experiences that you’ll read about below. It was great, truly great. I asked the Abbot, Fr. Robert Barnes, “What is the deepest essence of why a monk does...
by Coracle | Jan 5, 2015 | Contemplative Life
Dear Jesus, help us to spread your presence everywhere we go. Flood our souls with your spirit and life. Penetrate and possess our whole being so utterly, that our lives may be only a radiance of yours. Shine through us, and be so in us, that every person we come in...
by Bill Haley | Dec 3, 2014 | Liturgical Seasons
“At the Beginning of Advent” by Bill Haley Father, now comes Advent again, Our response is to pause, and recall, That you sent Jesus, for us and for the world, Your glory unfurled vulnerably sweet, that we might see who You are, and be your body to this suffering...
by Coracle | Nov 26, 2014 | Justice and Mercy
We cannot escape the news and the situation in Ferguson, nor should we. Lord, have mercy. These events remind us that there is much work to be done for racial reconciliation in America. Not only do we pray for peace in Ferguson, but we pray for change in our own...
by Coracle | Sep 11, 2014 | Contemplative Life
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...
by Coracle | Jul 3, 2014 | Coracle News
Impact- A forceful contact or influence. I think it is safe to say that the new addition to the woodshop at Corhaven has made an impact on the space. Dirt has been dug, concrete has been poured, and walls have been put up. The shape of the rectangular retreat...
by Coracle | Jun 23, 2014 | Coracle News
And so it’s begun! The addition to the Woodshop has been in progress for about a week now, and below we have a snap-shot from early in the progress. Please pray about this project and those involved to make it happen including donors and workers! Prayers also...
by Coracle | May 7, 2014 | Contemplative Life
“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...
by Wade Ballou | Nov 27, 2013 | Contemplative Life
I have been trying to write about icons since attending Betsey Malloy’s retreat at Corhaven on Praying With Icons (June 2, 2013). I own a handful of icons. They look nice. But, pray with them? Afterward, I agreed to write a reflection and it would “not...
by Bill Haley | Nov 19, 2013 | For the World
“They tried to put me in solitary confinement but that is actually impossible as God is everywhere.” James Mawdsley What would you go to jail for in Burma? Burma itself, in the case of James Mawdsley. Mawdsley is a Brit who, in the late 1990s, got...
by Wade Ballou | Nov 3, 2013 | Contemplative Life
Several weeks ago we celebrated with our son Daniel his marriage to Brittany and I was able to share the following blessing: Daniel, you have our blessing to leave our home and to make a new home with Brittany and to take with you the best that we could give you....
by Gabriel Dodd | Oct 17, 2013 | Justice and Mercy
“No more hurting people. Peace.” These are the words of 8-year-old Martin Richard, of Dorchester, Massachusets. They are from a poster he created in school, after the shooting death of Trayvon Martin. When Martin Richard was killed in the bomb blast at...
by Coracle | Sep 25, 2013 | Contemplative Life
Recently a man in his mid-30s (professional, deep Christian, father of four young children) came out to Corhaven from Arlington for a retreat, and met God. He was kind enough to put it into words. He had an experience that was uniquely his, but one that I’ve heard...
by Wade Ballou | May 9, 2013 | Contemplative Life
(to be read slowly, with much silence between the thoughts) In John 21:3 Simon Peter said, “I am going fishing.” They said, “We’ll go with you.” Although they fished all night, they caught nothing. After being directed by Jesus,...
by Bill Haley | Apr 25, 2013 | Contemplative Life, Vocation
Recently with World Relief in Philadelphia, mention was made in a room of about a hundred people that I had met (very briefly) Mother Teresa some years ago. A few minutes later, a man found me across the crowded room, because he wanted to share his own experience. ...
by Gabriel Dodd | Mar 21, 2013 | Contemplative Life
What is retreat, and why do we do it? Retreat is defined by Merriam-Webster as “a period of group withdrawal for prayer, meditation, study, or instruction under a director.” A Christian retreat is often referred to as a definite time spent away from...
