True Place Spiritual Direction

Father Greg Boyd so excellently articulates spiritual direction: listen, listen, love, love.

Fr. Greg Boyle on Spiritual Companionship - "Can you receive people?" - SDI Engage 2022 Hear from Father Greg Boyle as he shares a bit about the work of spiritual companionship. What he learned from a course taught by Henri Nouwen at Harvard is ...

Yes!

Trans people, like all people, are beloved by God.

Whoa. Did I ever need this today.
Create in my a clean heart, O God...

Unfolding Light Daily Reflections by Steve Garnaas-Holmes

If you don't already subscribe to the Center for Action and Contemplation, I highly recommend you do!! Here's a beautiful truth for today--such a great and informative image in the Cosmic Egg...

Richard Rohr Meditation: The Three Domes Just as the body needs food, so the soul needs meaning, and the spirit needs ultimate meaning. Often that meaning is communicated through story. The function of all mythologies, religion, and even family lore is to help us situate ourselves inside of a safe and meaningful universe. This week’s med...

On this inauguration day, a word of hope...

Unfolding Light Daily Reflections by Steve Garnaas-Holmes

"The LORD is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be afraid?"—Psalm 27:1

In this season of Epiphany and growing light when the days are again getting longer (ever so slowly), we are reminded of the warming and renewing light of Christ. The above psalm was the verse I memorized and recited on my confirmation day in 1980 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Owatonna, Minnesota, as stained glass streamed light onto the white marble steps upon which my friends and I stood. I have leaned on this verse’s promise in so many times of darkness, and am reminded of it now, deep into this pandemic, tired and weary and waiting for the light.

As you walk through this Epiphany season, be mindful of the light. Look for the light...the many qualities and hues and shadows. Be reminded of the light of Christ when you flip on the light switch as you walk into a room, as you strike a match and light a candle. Send light to one another as a form of prayer, bathing each other in Holy and mysterious light, lending luminosity and sharing the shining light of Christ.

The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness cannot overcome it.
You are the light of the world. Let your light so shine that others may see and glorify God.

Spiritual practice —breath prayer.

Breathe in: The Lord is my light and my salvation
Breath out, slowly: whom shall I fear?

Breathe in: The Lord is the stronghold of my life
Breath out, slowly: of whom shall I be afraid?

Bless you, my friends!

true place spiritual direction True Place Spiritual Direction in Stillwater, Minnesota, set in a tiny house. Zanny Johnson, Spiritual Director, graduate of Hesychia School of Spiritual Direction, is owner and operator of True Place Spiritual Direction.

On the heels of my posting/sharing yesterday and my reticence about kingdom language comes this clarifying definition by Brian McLaren-- "God’s kingdom turns all of those associations upside down. Order becomes opportunity, stability melts into movement and change, status-quo government gives way to a revolution of community and neighborliness, policy bows to love, domination descends to service and sacrifice, control morphs into influence and inspiration, and vengeance and threats are transformed into forgiveness and blessing." (Read the whole post for fullest understanding...)

Richard Rohr Meditation: The Kingdom's “Common Sense” My friend and colleague Brian McLaren has thought deeply and practically about what Jesus means when he speaks of the “Kingdom of God.” He views it as synonymous with the Gospel itself.

Even though I (Zanny) struggle with kingdom language, I especially appreciate this part of the Center for Action and Contemplation's devotion today, which emphasizes beloved community, and Lisa Sharon Harper's eloquent description thereof:

The Kingdom is about union and communion, which means that it is also about mercy, forgiveness, nonviolence, letting go, solidarity, service, and lives of love, patience, and simplicity. Who can doubt that this is the sum and substance of Jesus’ teaching? In the Reign of God, the very motive for rivalry, greed, and violence has been destroyed. We know we are all part of God’s Beloved Community.

Author, activist, and community organizer Lisa Sharon Harper describes it in this way:
Evidence of the presence of the Kingdom of God is thick wherever and whenever people stand on the promise of God that there is more to this world—more to this life—than what we see. There is more than the getting over, getting by, or getting mine. There is more than the brokenness, the destruction, and the despair that threaten to wash over us like the waters of the deep. There is a vision of a world where God cuts through the chaos, where God speaks and there is light. There is a vision where there is protection and where love is binding every relationship together.

Richard Rohr Meditation: The Reign of God as Community The world has suffered much from the various forms of Christian colonialism. Yet the Reign of God is an alternative to domination systems and all “isms.” Jesus teaches that right relationship (i.e., love) is the ultimate and daily criterion. If a social order allows and encourages strong connect...

Recently I was invited to participate in a webinar called Taste of Spiritual Direction by my friend Laura Lies. Enjoy this video of a sampling of spiritual practices and directors, including my own teacher, Teresa Blythe!

Taste of Spiritual Direction Webinar Want to learn more about Spiritual Direction? Meet 5 Spiritual Directors and experience a sample taste of contemplative, spiritual exercises. https://streams...

Such great wisdom...step back (give space to a situation--take time), step up (when you have connected with your center, take the higher road), step out (do something creative from that place).

Step Back! Step Up! Step Out! - Gratefulness.org These recent weeks have been a time of extended stress for many people; and the stress continues. So, what is the secret of living gratefully in times like these?

Friends, I've been invited to be a guest on this webinar to give you a taste of spiritual direction. Join us to meet five spiritual directors (including my teacher Teresa Blythe--author of 50 Ways to Pray and Spiritual Direction 101), engage in a few short spiritual practices and refresh your soul. Follow the link to register for this free event on Thursday, September 17 at 6pm CST. Hope you can join us!

Register Now! Taste of Spiritual Direction Webinar: Meet 5 Spiritual Directors, Featuring Special Guest, Teresa Blythe Register Now for the Taste of Spiritual Direction Webinar: Meet 5 Spiritual Directors, Featuring Special Guest, Teresa Blythe Live on Thursday, September 17 at 7pm EDT/4pm PDT on Zoom Can’t make it…

These five minutes will bring you joy and peace...as we are so beautifully reminded to be grateful for this day.

A Grateful Day with Brother David Steindl-Rast - Gratefulness.org Ten years ago, Br. David recorded A Good Day, which has been watched well over 1 million times. We invite you to join us in celebrating this timeless message...