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zMaintaining a Contemplative Calm in a Chaotic World

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Maintaining a Contemplative Calm in a Chaotic World

***This is on JULY 21 not June 21 as stated in The Flame***

 

In our intensely active, mobile, and socially-connected society, we seem to have lost the ability to pause or maintain our sense of calm. For all who feel overworked and overwhelmed, there are ways to pause periodically and still be productive. Our lives today plead for a contemplative calm in our seemingly chaotic world. There is an ancient contemplative tradition in the Christian church. Drawing from ancient monastic contemplative practices, and some modern-day ones as well, we will explore practical ways to slow down and seek and maintain greater clam to give ourselves, especially our spirit, a chance to be at peace in world filled with frustration, rage, grief, strife, anger, horror, and a litany of other weighed down emotions that pull at our hearts constantly.

Whether you’re interested due to an inherent spiritual desire to find peace or calm, whether the atrocities of war, or of pandemic wrought strife and death;  or perhaps grief, or other calamities of life have drawn your interest to this online retreat, you are most welcome to join us. Author and spiritual guide Judith Valente helps us understand how people throughout history have cultivated and maintained a contemplative calm.

When: Thursday July 21
Duration: 2-hours (10am – 12noon Central)
Format: Online via Zoom
Interactive: Yes. It is preferred that registrants leave their cameras on especially for questions. Breakout Rooms may or may not be used depending upon group size.
Recorded: No

 

ABOUT THE FACILITATOR:

Judith Valente covered faith and values for many years on the national PBS-TV news program Religion & Ethics NewsWeekly. She is also a former staff writer for The Wall Street Journal, having worked in that paper’s Chicago and London bureaus, and is a former reporter for the National Public Radio affiliates in both Chicago and central Illinois, where she currently lives.

Judith is the author of several spirituality titles including, “How To Live: What the Rule St. Benedict Teaches Us About Happiness, Meaning and Community” and “The Art of Pausing: Meditations for the Overworked and Overwhelmed” as well as two collections of poetry, and a memoir about her time with the Benedictine sisters in Atchison Kansas, titled, “Atchison Blue: A Search for Silence, a Spiritual Home and a Living Faith.”

She is a popular speaker and retreat leader on the theme of living a more contemplative life in the secular world, and is a board member of the International Thomas Merton Society. She served previously on the board of the Chicago Cenacle.

July 21, 2022
Facilitated by: Judith Valente
10:00 AM Central

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