Journal

Tag: silence

“Christ Be With Me”

“Christ Be With Me”

In this “Space for God” devotional, Rev. Bill Haley (Coracle Executive Director) guides us through a time of music, scripture, and silence oriented around St. Patrick’s famous “Breastplate Prayer.”  Whatever burdens you happen to be...

Brother Lawrence & The Nearness of God

In this “Space for God” devotional, Karla Petty (Coracle Dir. of Program Development) guides us through a time of learning from the life and wisdom of Brother Lawrence (1614-1691). She weaves together scripture, music, and stories from Brother Lawrence to...
“Beauty in Prayer”

“Beauty in Prayer”

In this “Space for God” devotional, Rev. Mary Gardner guides us through a contemplative encounter with artistic depictions of prayer, paired with helpful prompts to spark our own prayer. We hope it will be a blessing to you as you pray with your mind,...
Teatime with Jesus

Teatime with Jesus

A little over three years ago, my life got pulled out from under my feet.  I experienced one loss after another, starting with the sudden death of my father.  One sweet friend asked a few months into this winter season of life how I wasn’t cowering in a corner from...
“Space For God” Devotional Archive

“Space For God” Devotional Archive

Since the fall of 2020, we have offered weekly opportunities to make “Space for God” at the start of our day.  We gather online every Tuesday morning from 8:30-9:00 AM (ET) and every other Thursday at 8:30-9:00 AM (PT)Join Us at Next Tuesday’s...
Beyond Lament and Necessary for Action

Beyond Lament and Necessary for Action

These are remarkably intense days in an unprecedented year for America.  We’ve seen before some of the things we’re living in now, but never all at the same time like this.  One writer draws out “a fascinating breakdown of 2020 and its historical parallels (so far):...
God’s Presence in Our Pain

God’s Presence in Our Pain

by Lori Smith “Jesus is here and He is loving you,” Bill said to me as I began my retreat out at Corhaven several years back. It was a message I couldn’t fully embrace yet.  I knew God loved me, I’d known that for as long as I could remember.  BUT … there had...

Pilgrims on a Journey

By David Brubaker Abbeys… Trees… Trails… Hills… Valleys… Cows… Sheep… Inns… Food… Prayers… Silence… Connection… Peace… Surrender. Each summer I schedule something to nourish my soul. I have done 8-day silent retreats at a Jesuit Retreat Center in Pennsylvania and...

The Trouble with Silence

In kindergarten music class, I remember my teacher running an experiment with us.  She had us sit in silence for a full minute. No talking, no moving. Then immediately after she gave us another full minute where we could talk or be silly. Guess which minute seemed...

Reflections on the Longest Day of the Year

By: Giovanna Meek June 20th, 2016 was the Summer Solstice in the northern hemisphere, when the sun’s zenith reached its northernmost point away from the equator.  Throughout history, the astronomical events of that day have been cause for celebration across cultures...

Quiet in the (Beltway) Chaos

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...

Begin the Song Exactly Where You Are

“Singing Bowl” by Malcolm Guite Begin the song exactly where you are, Remain within the world of which you’re made. Call nothing common in the earth or air, Accept it all and let it be for good. Start with the very breath you breathe in now, This moment’s pulse, this...

Henri Nouwen on Spiritual Direction (kind of!)

“Listening in the spiritual life is much more than a psychological strategy to help others discover themselves. In the spiritual life the listener is not the ego, which would like to speak but is trained to restrain itself, but the Spirit of God within us. When...

Three cures for the ‘selfie age’

This blog was originally posted by a Coracle board member, Soren Johnson.  Here is a bit of non-news: Americans today are decidedly overwhelmed, self-absorbed and hyper-social. We download apps to monitor our breathing, sleeping and our every move. We are...

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...