An enlarged life
A life well lived is a normal human aspiration. But the challenges of everyday life can overwhelm us and seriously deflect our pursuit of a good life, writes John Haren.
The day I first met my mother
At Carrie’s funeral, her daughter speaks with simple clarity: “When my sister and I first met my mother, what I remember were the smiles, and the hugs. My beautiful mother.”
God, disturb me!
Listening to the story of another person’s painful experience can bring us out of ourselves and remind us that we are alive and of what drives us, writes Catherine McAleer.
Hear the heart sing
In the movie ‘Moana’ the heroine’s “voice inside” calls her to sail against convention. She dares to hope and dream of a better situation beyond the safety of the shore.
Advent: the season of the quiet adventure of the spirit
The lighting of a candle on the Advent wreath, the meditative moment, the perambulations through sacred spaces, the kneeling at a nativity scene, these are God times, writes Ann Rennie.
A Church of love
The strains of St Nicholas’ Church bells ring out over the harbour of Pothia. It’s Sunday morning, the mystical chanting of the priest dominates the sound space for several hours.
God does not have favourites
On the sixth Sunday of Easter this year, in various churches across Melbourne, women were given the opportunity to speak on the readings. It was an opportunity I gladly accepted.
My memory, my voice
Jennifer Tanti’s reflection ‘My memory, my voice’ was an entry in The Good Oil 2023 Writers’ Award, which has the dual purpose of supporting and encouraging emerging and published writers.
Life after death
The Christian view of life after death owes everything to the Christian view of God, writes Garry Everett. Our experiences of love are foretastes of God’s greater love for us.
Pulling towards justice
An Inter-Congregation Yarning Circle led by proud Ngiyampaa artist Sarah Richards was a space that fostered a rich sharing with renewed, ongoing and burgeoning friendships, writes Sister Anne McGuire RSM.
Finding my voice is an ongoing journey
Finding my voice in order to help my fellow humans is an ongoing journey which takes courage, compassion and hope, attributes I do not automatically possess, writes Mary Rowan Highfield.
The Pilgrim and the Apprentice: A regenerative learning journey
Each of us is uniquely called to wholeness and Oneness within nature, rather than living a divided life from Self and the splendour of planet Earth, writes Dr Bern Nicholls.