Recommended Read ...and a Challenge

The Art of Spiritual Writing

This book challenged me to become a mature artist and believer to create authentic spiritual writing. It argues that a block in your faith can be helped with art, and a block with your art can be helped by your faith.  Faith and art can nourish each other.

Challenge: Go outside for a walk and take time to observe the landscapes around you. Write something--a poem, a gratitude list, a paragraph, a prayer--that reflects the beauty of God you see in creation.  Watch God enrich your faith in the unseen using your senses.

Story Spotlight:

Elida's Sanctuary

Elida feels closest to Father God in his airy house--the Cathedral of Sky, surrounded by pillars of pine. 

Here is a sneak peek at her safest of places. This journal entry by Elida is after an embarrassing incident at church.

Sanctuary

Squirrels don't.

Don't what?

Tell you to stop holding white babies.
Look at you odd when they see your skin.
It was two weeks ago,
But still I can’t stop thinking
Of Little Her

Squirrels don’t say anything
Which is the beauty
Of having them
As creatures in your congregation.

I have a Sanctuary
In the forest behind the fields and Mr. Brown‘s cottage
I garden there, collect bits of things
Every day I can spare
Like this glorious Thursday afternoon

But mostly I go there to praise
The Father of all creatures
Freely
To the drumbeat of my heart
My songs warbling
Up the pillars of pines
To the cathedral of blue sky
Among the chatter of squirrels

So unlike the chatter of women
With Sunday hats and hard hearts
And the hypocrisy of Pharisees.