by Wade Ballou | Dec 24, 2013 | Contemplative Life
In the Joseph portion of the Christmas story (Matthew 1: 18-24), Joseph reverses his decision to put Mary away due to his encounter with an angel of the Lord who comes in a dream. In the Mary portion of the Christmas story (Luke 1: 26-56), Mary accepts the word of the...
by Soren Johnson | Dec 23, 2013 | Liturgical Seasons
It was a chilly evening in Bethlehem. No snow, but definitely a bitter wind that made you want to seek cover. Not long after graduating from college, I was there. Privileged to attend a Christmas Eve Mass at the 4th century Church of the Nativity, I prayed just a few...
by Coracle | Dec 18, 2013 | Contemplative Life
by Kit Elmer A wise friend once told me “God is alive in the present moment and in eternity. Satan’s territories are the past and the future.” Those words impacted me greatly and I realized that is why these two questions, “What if?” and “If only?” can be and have...
by Bill Haley | Dec 15, 2013 | Contemplative Life
A Homily in Memoriam for Peggy Buresh, December 15, 2013 My enduring memories of Peggy Buresh will not be her body in the last year of her life on this earth the way that this earth is now. They will be of all her years of life leading into this past year, and there...
by Lucas Koach | Dec 13, 2013 | Contemplative Life
Who has achieved more for global peace, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon or…Fozzy Bear? The gospel of Jesus is radiated long before it is communicated. What is radiated is what is communicated. “For we are the aroma of Christ” (2 Cor. 2:15); the truth of our...
by Bill Haley | Dec 6, 2013 | Contemplative Life
Recently, I had another all too familiar conversation with a man preparing for a retreat at Corhaven. He said, “Even though I’ve been a Christian for many years and heard a hundred sermons on this, I have a hard time accepting God’s love for me. If I had to climb 10...
by Wade Ballou | Nov 29, 2013 | Contemplative Life
A Japanese red maple graces the front of our home. We planted it about 20 years ago. It provides wonderful shade while in leaf and lately has been home to a family of doves. It does however have the bad habit of dripping a sticky resin onto our cars. In the Fall its...
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 Coracle | Nov 27, 2013 | Contemplative Life, Liturgical Seasons
by Carol Jackson Appealing: attractive or interesting. synonyms: attractive, engaging, alluring, captivating, tempting, enticing, irresistible, winsome, 2. (of an expression or tone of voice) showing that one wants help or sympathy. “an appealing look”...
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 Coracle | Nov 16, 2013 | Coracle News
Some wonderful women who’ve recently come to Corhaven for retreats have blogged about what they experienced. Read reflections from Lori Smith and Sarah Klotz. We continue to be amazed and grateful for how God meets people here. It’s not what we...
by Soren Johnson | Nov 7, 2013 | Church Unity, Contemplative Life
The original blog was posted on the catholic herald. “Long-confession-line graces” I’m still trying to make sense of it all. In the past few months, I’ve attended several Catholic mega-gatherings where penance was offered. In each, men, women and children...
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 Bill Haley | Aug 23, 2013 | Vocation
The following is the edited transcription of a talk given to participants of The Washington Institute’s “Come and See” Vocation Conference July 16-17, 2013 in Washington, DC. Jesus came into the deep mess—the mess of the human experience. Of course,...
by Coracle | Aug 7, 2013 | Contemplative Life
by Chrissy Koach Movie fans may already know what I’m talking about: one is obsessed and the other is oppressed. One is consumed with desire to possess something, and one is feeling crushed by circumstances surrounding him. Neither one is perfect: George verbally...
by Coracle | Jul 31, 2013 | Contemplative Life
The other week, I assisted my wife and some other adults in advising a group of sr. high aged kids from around the country, in a week of service and volunteering. This “Work Camp” was held in Concord and Charlotte, NC at a therapeutic horse farm...
by Soren Johnson | Jul 15, 2013 | Contemplative Life
The other day, I was driving home with my boys after a rained-out Little League practice. Lightning flickered behind receding clouds, a headache lingered from a long day at the office, and my 8-year old, Owen, predictably asked if they could play outside when we got...
by Lucas Koach | Jun 30, 2013 | Contemplative Life
A mantle is the place where we display prized valuable possessions in the most prestigious spot in our house. I always feel like my mantle at home is always missing just the right object. By contrast, a simple bird house, exposed to the elements, is built to be...
by Bill Haley | Jun 30, 2013 | For the World, Pilgrimage
Recently I took a very strange pilgrimage to Israel and Palestine. Open the PDF for all the reflections from the trip. Israel Palestine blogs
by Wade Ballou | May 23, 2013 | Contemplative Life, Liturgical Seasons
Two on a journey have an encounter: upon reflection, “weren’t our hearts strangely warmed,” they said. (Luke 24: 13-35) Jesus sending his followers out by twos with instructions not to take anything and with authority over the unclean spirits. They...
