Tag: Contemplative Life
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a most beautiful thing
Today I saw the most beautiful thing.I walked back to the creekwhere I had seen the turtles and ducksjust the other day—the turtles and ducks that saved usat the beginning of the pandemic,when the whole worldturned upside down.I stood on the bridge,peering over the railing.No turtles.No ducks.Perhaps it has gotten too cold,I thought,which sent my…
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for the women
for the womenby Lindsay L. O’Connor A social media post that went viralasked women what they would doif there were no men on the planetfor 24 hours.The answers would make you weep…“Go on walks at night.”“Dance around town at 3am without fearing for my life.”“Wear whatever I want.”“Leave my drink unattended at a bar.”“Get a…
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nighttime rose: resurrection musings
I wrote this in honor of my daughter’s birthday about a month ago:nighttime rose:resurrection musings My daughter—my first child—my once-presumed-lifeless but miraculouslyresurrected-while-still-within-me child—the one who turned the tomb of my womb into a cradle that rocked her gently and protected her from every harsh thingwhile she formed intothe baby I met months later—I have witnessed…
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5 Star Reads So Far in 2022
Can you believe we are just over halfway through 2022?! I’m on vacation with my family and was reflecting on what an amazing year in books it has been already. These are my top reads since the beginning of the year, including some I’ve read with my 11 year old. The complete list: 5 Star…
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in the ring
In the RingLindsay L. O’Connor Well today, I was just fighting with God.I mean fighting. I woke up early, stomach upset,and was just “doing panic” for an hour.I reminded God of all the lovely ways God has helped me through panic before,but God would not be moved. “We’ve done this before,” I said.“Remember the reassurances?The…
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soul song
soul songby Lindsay L. O’ConnorI’ve been slowing down, saying, “No,”striving less, nothing to show.Takes such energy just to grow,and I’m spent.Not trying to grow, produce, or figure out,keep breathing, try a new route.If you’re wondering what it’s all about, I don’t know.I’m just trying to feel my own soul again,to remember that I’m whole again.Life’s…
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to Sabbath like a lizard
To Sabbath Like a LizardI didn’t read my Bible today.I sprawled out on our aging deckand kicked off my shoes.The skin of my bellyinadvertently made contactwith the sun-warmed wood underneath.I can see why lizards do this, I thought.I heard the leaves rustle overheadas the breeze swept through my haira dog barkeda bird warbledI became aware…
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Holy Drudgery
“Anything can become a spiritual practice once you are willing to approach it that way—once you let it bring you to your knees and show you what is real…” -Barbara Brown Taylor, An Altar in the World When I’m anxious, I make my way to the laundry area before I even realize it. I watch…
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breath prayer for anxious souls
Breath Prayer for Anxious Souls Inhale: O Holy One, come swiftly. Exhale: Return me to myself. Breath Prayer for Authenticity Inhale: Emmanuel, God with us, Exhale: Help me stay with myself. God gave each of us the gift of a Self. During panic attacks, high anxiety or high emotion moments, or just regular old stress…
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liminal space
“Much of the work of authentic spirituality and human development is to get people into liminal space and to keep them there long enough that they can learn something essential and new.” -Fr. Richard Rohr “Liminal space” derives from the Latin for “threshold.” It is the space where we are no longer where we were…
Lindsay L. O'Connor 