What kind of inspiration has meant something to you these days? What inspire and sustains you? We’d love to learn about what you’re reading, seeing, and discussing. Send us your thought, ideas, and responses. If you have an inspiring thought, picture, or quote, or link, send it to office@staidanschurch.org and maybe it can be added to this page.
St. Aidan’s parishioner Robert Woodcock has published this very interesting article on the role of spirituality in well-being:
https://www.aacsb.edu/insights/articles/2023/01/the-role-of-spirituality-in-mental-well-being
Click HERE to view the video.
Cooking with Kaley!
Rev. Joyce and I have been chatting about new ways to connect in this time, and one of the things we are thrilled to offer is a weekly video workshop called “Cooking with Kaley.” I will be walking us through simple, nourishing, vegetarian-forward recipes that will help keep us holistically well and creatively connected during these times. — Kaley Casenhiser
Cooking with Kaley, Episode 1 — Blog with podcast (audio) and photos.
Click HERE to read Kaley’s poem “Magdalene in the Garden.”
Food for Thought:
“And the people stayed home. And read books, and listened, and rested, and exercised, and made art, and played games, and learned new ways of being, and were still. And listened more deeply. Some meditated, some prayed, some danced. Some met their shadows. And the people began to think differently
"And the people healed. And, in the absence of people living in ignorant, dangerous, mindless, and heartless ways, the earth began to heal
"And when the danger passed, and the people joined together again, they grieved their losses, and made new choices, and dreamed new images, and created new ways to live and heal the earth fully, as they had been healed."
~Kitty O'Meara
Paul Simon sing his “American Tune"
Craig Gordon, Guest Lecturer of Artificial Intelligence Principles at Lehigh University Department of Journalism, has created an entertaining and informative video lecture called “How Artificial Intelligence Helps Control Pandemics.” Watch it by clicking the link HERE.
A Prayer of Awareness and Transformation:
Holy Wisdom, Mother God, you hold my time in your hands. Your providence guides the stars and my cells. Your compassion opens my heart to healing in the midst of pain. Help me rest in you, trusting the future in your care and giving comfort to those who mourn, hurt, and face personal challenge. In Christ's name, Amen.
Community is a Quality of the Heart
"The search for community is a deeply human search and I have felt that the ideal community remains mostly the object of my hopes and dreams. But I have also experienced that if I keep those hopes and dreams alive, true community will reveal itself in the most unexpected places and times. Somehow, community is first of all a quality of the heart, a quality that touches all those whom you meet in your life, not only your own family, but also the people you work and play with.
"The source of all community, however, is your most intimate relationship with the Lord because the deeper you enter into communion with him, the more clearly you will find that all those whom you love are hidden in his heart. This truth does not solve all our pains and problems, but it certainly can set us free at times to travel on and to move forward even though our emotions can make us feel very lonely.
"Keep close to the Bible and taste it to the full. There is a very deep hunger in many people for the life in the Spirit and many people need to be nurtured continuously by the Word of God."
-- Henry Nouwen
Family Pandemic Dynamic
Have a college-aged child living back at home due to the pandemic? Read about Ann Stout’s experience by clicking HERE.
Storage — A Poem by Mary Oliver
When I moved from one house to another
there were many things I had no room for.
What does one do? I rented a storage
space. And filled it. Years passed.
Occasionally I went there and looked in,
but nothing happened, not a single
twinge of the heart.
As I grew older the things I cared
about grew fewer, but were more
important. So one day I undid the lock
and called the trash man. He took
everything.
I felt like the little donkey when
his burden is finally lifted. Things!
Burn them, burn them! Make a beautiful
fire! More room in your heart for love,
for the trees! For the birds who own
nothing– the reason they can fly.
For more inspiration, visit the church Facebook page HERE.