When I was in undergrad, I had the privilege of participating in an experiment of sorts. The Dean of Students, Counselor, and Director of Student Activities at Lyon College invited Dr. Tom Balistrieri from Wochester Polytechnic Institute to come to our school over two years to introduce us to the wisdom of the Lakota Tribe--the... Continue Reading →
Contemplation and Community: A Gathering of Fresh Voices for a Living Tradition
Launching September 1, 2019! From the publisher's description (Crossroad Publishing Company): "All around the world a resurgence of Christian contemplative living is creating a new framework for spirituality inside and outside of formal religion. Building on and expanding from the thoughts and works of such as Richard Rohr, Thomas Keating, Tilden Edwards, Laurence Freeman, and... Continue Reading →
5 Points to Consider for the Mess We Are In
I was thinking today if I could describe a "formula" or framework for intentional conversations, given the anxieties and fear we face in the world (on one hand) and the call to Christian discipleship [also of course being a practitioner of any wisdom tradition] (on the other hand). Person after person in my parish shares... Continue Reading →
Good Friday Reflection: There is Energy in this Day
Good Friday. There is an energy to this day, for sure. We woke up this morning to the sound of the tornado alarm, and that felt true. So true. We gathered in the downstairs bathroom, huddled and wanting to know what was happening to us as the siren sounded through our neighborhood. There are alarms... Continue Reading →
An Open Letter to Pres. Trump and all political leaders, with Holy Week, Notre Dame, and the reality of human suffering
Dear Mr. Trump and political leaders, federal, state, and local: I write to you as a simple parish priest. We will probably never meet. I spend my days serving my community and being with my family and friends, tucked into the foothills of the North Georgia mountains. These days I am focused on Holy Week,... Continue Reading →
The Crucifixion in Five Glimpses: A Palm Sunday Reflection
The Crucifixion in Five Glimpses Palm Sunday Reflection The Rev. Dr. Stuart Higginbotham Today’s reflection is the first of a three-part reflection, that will continue at the Great Vigil of Easter and on Easter Sunday morning. Perhaps we could take advantage of this Holy Week space to meditate a bit longer. This morning, the... Continue Reading →
“But when he came to himself/But when the Church came to itself”– A Sermon
The Rev. Dr. Stuart Higginbotham Lent 4, Year C 2019 Luke 15:1-3; 11b-32 March 31, 2019 But when he came to himself/ But when the Church came to Itself But when he came to himself he said . . . I am dying here of hunger. . . I will get up and go... Continue Reading →
A Guided Exercise in “The Welcoming Practice”
https://youtu.be/maQPl_S3css Here is a short video of a guided reflection in the Welcoming Practice, from the Lansing Lee Conference at Kanuga Conference Center in Hendersonville, North Carolina. The Welcoming Practice, closely linked with the practice of Centering Prayer, is a remarkable took--if we are "courageous" enough to engage it. It asks us to become aware... Continue Reading →
An Invitation to a Gathering: The Need for an “Alphabet and Vocabulary of the Spirit”
A Gathering: The Need for an “Alphabet and Vocabulary of the Spirit” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V63-qoKHQRU I returned yesterday from helping lead a retreat at Kanuga, a wonderful space for reflection, rest, and growth. At this year’s Lansing Lee Conference, we delved deeply into conversations around civil discourse and justice, and we grounded ourselves in contemplative practices. Particularly... Continue Reading →
There’s Room Under Those Wings for Everyone: A Sermon
The Rev. Dr. Stuart Higginbotham Lent II, Year C Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18; Philippians 3:17-4:1; Luke 13:31-35 March 17, 2019 There’s Room Under Those Wings for Everyone When I was a child, it was quite clear to me that God was an old white man who sat on a cloud. He—and it was always He—had... Continue Reading →
Thoughts on a Contemplative Reformation 