Excavate Your Soul A sabbatical is a sacred pause: a chance to listen beneath the surface of everyday life and notice what has been buried under busyness and achievement. Modern research similarly frames sabbaticals as more than time away: they can support mental and physical well-being, creativity, confidence, new perspectives, and profound personal and/or professional shifts. Summer Sabbatical is for anyone who yearns to step away from the constant hum of productivity and begin the deeper work of remembering who…
“Peace be still; Peace be with you; Peace, I leave you, my peace I give you.” We have heard these verses a million times. We quote these words and tell friends when they need to hear them. However, do we REALLY think about how deeply healing these words are? We want peace, we search for peace…yet somehow it eludes us. We want others to believe we are peaceful, we have it all together, or we have enough faith to be…
A Day to Rediscover Gratitude, Purpose & Peace in Every Season Can you imagine setting out on a long road trip with no GPS? No map, no directions — just hoping you'll find your way. You'd take wrong turns, miss the exits, arrive frazzled and late… if you arrived at all. Yet so often we navigate the bigger journey — these rich, full, sometimes uncertain years of life — without any map at all. We take a wrong turn into…
Embodied Living Through Mindfulness and Centering Prayer Imagine being present to your life, to yourself, and to those around you. Imagine being able to be with difficult emotions without being overwhelmed by them, finding the space to pause before reacting automatically, offering yourself more kindness and compassion, bringing a sense of curiosity and wonder to life, and being more aware of God’s presence. These are some of the benefits of contemplative practices such as mindfulness and centering prayer. Mindfulness is…
Chimamanda Negozi Adichie says, "When we reject the single story, when we realize that there is never a single story…we regain a kind of paradise." Our lives are not linear, but filled with nuances, curves, and start and stop movements. The world can be very quick to dictate or impose its own lenses and disregard the personal stories we carry. There is power in someone's voice; there is honor in someone's story that represents a village that has formed them.…
We are just ahead of the holiday season. It brings so much joy and so much anticipation. It also brings a full calendar, additional tasks on your to do list, special outfits and shoes, and a lot of stress. So before it gets too busy, take some time to learn about mindfulness and stress reduction through connection with God. Dr. Heather Alexander will be here November 19 to lead her (very popular) Mindfulness Retreat! After exploring the retreat, we encourage…
This weekend, Celtic teacher and author, John Philip Newell, is leading a sold out retreat at our Center. He and his colleague, Cami Twilling, are journeying with 70+ retreatants as they reawaken their awareness of what is sacred and that all things are sacred. John Philip and Cami travel the world teaching their course based on Sacred Earth Sacred Soul, one of Dr. Newell's books. We are delighted and honored to have them here with us! Today's blog post is…
We are in the midst of the Season of Creation, a time of year that Christians focus on caring for our earth through action and prayer. This is a worldwide and ecumenical celebration of the beauty of our world and a reminder of the utmost and urgent need to care for and protect it. We join the millions across the globe in this initiative and journey to and we invite you to join us! Seth Appiah-Kubi, National Director, A Rocha…
Later this week, we will commemorate the 23rd anniversary of September 11. We hold this as a solemn day to remember those lost, those that suffered, and those that risked their lives for others. Although we are 23 years removed from the devastation of that day, we continue to care for one another and move forward as a nation. Join us in prayer today and Wednesday... Holy God, Creator of all people and all nations, It is with sorrow and…
Seek Me with your whole being. I desire to be found by you, and I orchestrate the events of your life with that purpose in mind. When things go well and you are blessed, you can feel Me smiling on you. When you encounter rough patches along your life-journey, trust that My Light is still shining upon you. My reasons for allowing these adversities may be shrouded in mystery, but My continual Presence with you is an absolute promise. Seek…
