The Practice of Gratitude Taking the five loaves and two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks… I’m writing a book. Have I told you that? Well, I am. It’s a book about this whole recovering abundance concept and about all the amazing the amazing people like you who are bringing renewal and [...]
Tag: Thomas Merton
The Rest of the Story: One Confession, Ten People, and Many Questions about Racism and Rural Action
"What's the deal with that colored fella out in the parking lot?" An older patron asked me this question when he came into the library to return his DVDs. It was so unexpected and inappropriate that I stood dumbfounded for a few seconds before responding with a mix of confusion and irritation: "Pardon me?" "I [...]
Take Courage: Some Things I Learned in 2019
2019: It was the best of times; it was the worst of times. Every year brings its own gifts and challenges. For me, though, 2019 brought a lot of both. It was a hard year in some respects. More conflict than normal. Many tears. Wrestling with hard questions and hard answers. Raging at the darkness [...]
Recovering Abundance Through Retreat
Some days I wonder if I should change the name of this ministry. How can I talk about the possibilities of abundance when I feel surrounded by scarcity? I turn on the news, check my bank account, or learn a family member is seriously ill and the world doesn't seem like a place of abundant [...]
Recovering Abundance Through Risk
*This post is lightly adapted from a message given by Andy for ESR (Earlham School of Religion) Day at Richmond First Friends Meeting in Richmond, Indiana. Good morning, Friends. It’s great to be here to worship with you and share with you all. I will say to you what I said to Winchester Friends a [...]
Renewal > Resolutions: Retreating with People and Places
"There must be a time when a person of resolutions puts their resolutions aside as if they had all been broken, and learns a different kind of wisdom." ~Thomas Merton It's 2018! Indeed, we are now a couple weeks into it. The new year comes with much celebration--sometimes because a new year has begun and sometimes [...]
Recovering Abundance 