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| No images? Click here Saturday, March 20th, 2021 Richard Rohr's Daily MeditationFrom the Center for Action and Contemplation Week Eleven Summary and Practice An Expanding LoveMarch 14 - March 19, 2021
Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Simplifying Our Lives My spiritual father Francis of Assisi did not just tolerate or endure simplicity, he loved it and found his freedom there. He understood that living simply was a way to remedy selfish habits and cultivate generosity. This week’s practice from Kyle David Bennet invites us to consider ways that we might simplify our lives and material possessions. Pay attention to your purchasing habits. Do you buy in bulk? Are you an impulsive buyer? When do you feel the need to shop? If you buy in bulk, try getting only stuff for the week. Through trial and error, see how much you really need in a given week. If you’re an impulsive buyer, stay away from the things that ignite that impulse. If you know what makes you feel the need to shop, try to resist it in a constructive and healthy way. Go for a run or call a friend who can keep you accountable for your purchasing habits.How often we take out the trash is a sign of how much we use and consume and perhaps of how much we waste. Keep a record of how often you take out the trash. Mark it on the calendar, if that works. If you see an irregular pattern, and it’s not because you were away on vacation or hosted a party, then that’s a good sign that something is awry. In our household, that usually means that we combed through the fridge and disposed of a lot of spoiled food. These exercises help us rethink how often we need to purchase those items. Walk around your home, room by room, item by item, and ask yourself, “When’s the last time I used this?” Depending on the object, if you haven’t used it in a while, it might be something that you don’t need. Give it to someone who could use it. Sometimes we deceive ourselves and tell ourselves that we need more than we do. As a community (household, business, youth group, sports team), we should practice simplicity—not simply as individuals. Family, small group members, close friends, and even, to some extent, next-door neighbors can help us discern our needs. If you’re serious about it, muster up the courage and ask them: “Is there anything in my life that you think I don’t need?” “Is there anything that I have that you might need?” Use “spring cleaning” or however you clean your apartment or house to examine and evaluate how you can live simply. Every year I end up purging inessential books that I’ll never read again and donating clothes that no longer fit. Frequent exercises in purging can help us live simply. Experience a version of this practice through video and sound. Kyle David Bennett, Practices of Love: Spiritual Disciplines for the Life of the World (Brazos Press: 2017), 53–55. Image credit: Dorothea Lange. (1936) "Bum blockade." All heading north. South of King City, California. Difficult to get a record of this movement because these men wouldn't be photographed as a result of Los Angeles police activity (detail), photograph, public domain. Image inspiration: Who do we shut out from our love? May we walk bravely into the horizons of love allowing our hearts to expand and radically include. News from the CACA free email series from Every Thing is SacredFrom learning to see Christ in the simplest things—from a rock to a tree—to boldly embracing shadow work, Richard Rohr and Patrick Boland invite you to a free email series from Every Thing is Sacred. Each morning you'll receive a practice from the new book to help you explore practical ways to live more deeply in Christ. Rediscover Your True SelfJesus’ death and resurrection is an archetype for each human journey. Rediscover your forgotten self, which can never be destroyed, only transformed to live in eternal love. Register for our online Immortal Diamond course by March 31. Financial assistance is available to those who apply by March 24. JOIN NOWWas this email forwarded to you? Join now for daily, weekly, or monthly meditations. A Time of Unveiling Watch Father Richard introduce this year’s Daily Meditations theme to discover what A Time Of Unveiling means—and how God reveals infinite Love by unveiling reality. Explore Richard Rohr's Daily Meditations archive at cac.org. The work of the Center for Action and Contemplation is possible only because of people like you! Learn more about how you can help support this work. If you would like to change how you receive these emails you can update your preferences or unsubscribe from our list. Read our FAQ or privacy policy for more information. © 2021 | Center for Action and Contemplation1705 Five Points Road SW Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA 87105 Share Tweet Forward Unsubscribe |
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