Thoughts on a Contemplative Reformation
A space to explore silence, practice, and Christian community
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 →
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 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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
The Rev. Dr. Stuart Higginbotham Ash Wednesday, Year C 2019 March 6, 2019 We Need to be Put in Spiritual Traction I realized the other day that I had slipped back into my old pattern of checking the news first thing when I wake up. I caught myself sitting on the side... Continue Reading →
The Rev. Dr. Stuart Higginbotham Last Sunday after Epiphany, Year C Exodus 34:29-35; 2 Corinthians 3:12-4:2; Luke 9:28-36 March 3, 2019 Put the Paper Sack Over His Face We Don’t Know What to Do Or The Dynamic of Subtle Energies in the Transfiguration How, in our heart and souls, do we... Continue Reading →
