Wisdom Ways Wisdom Ways

Guest Post: Two Women’s Thoughts on “Christianees”

People in church sometimes use words and phrases that I struggle to understand and/or translate for others. I am not sure if it is a word, but I use “Christianees” to describe church lingo, such as: “Blessed and highly favored,” “connected to the Vine,” “God knows my heart,” “anointed,” “washed in the blood,” “Godsightings,” etc. I wondered if others struggled with these phrases, so I decided to type the word “Christianees” into Google and see what, if anything, came up…

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Marian Diaz Marian Diaz

Letter on Gratitude

Death and loss can teach gratitude and can help you keep it close. The reminder of my daily cancer meds tells me loudly, “You’re alive!” And I would not be alive without these little pills. Walking with loved ones with serious illness brings into stark reality the preciousness of each shared moment. I am grateful to have the opportunity to serve the Wisdom Ways community. I am grateful for our team and the way we work together.

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Danielle Clausnitzer Danielle Clausnitzer

Why Comfort is Overrated

…In 2012, I spent six months living abroad and taking classes in Yaoundé, Cameroon. I spent these months living with a host family, cooking their food, learning their language, and meeting my chosen family. I travelled around the country and saw things I never thought I would. I even held a chimpanzee, which I didn’t realize was a dream of mine until I was given the opportunity to do so. Spending days immersed in the diversity of religions and beliefs that the world had to offer had a profound effect on me. I grew as a person because of this exposure and my desire to understand a culture and a people that was previously foreign to me…

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Marian Diaz Marian Diaz

Experiencing Group Spiritual Companioning

…They each bring their own expressions of spirituality and their life experiences to our time together. Recurring themes include various aspects of our spiritual journeys, including life transitions, health challenges, grief, discerning next steps and relationships. We also spend a lot of time appreciating each other and the mutual support we experience in the group! It brings a particular form of joy during this uncertain time to being to build bonds among people at a deep level.

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Carly Swenson Carly Swenson

Summer Solstice Celebration 2022

THANK YOU to everyone who joined Wisdom Ways for our first-annual Summer Solstice Celebration! Your attendance, support, and help promoting this event made it a success far beyond what we’d hoped. It was such a joy to see families, friends, neighbors, and our CSJ community out enjoying the sun, music, labyrinths and community. We’re delighted this event received such a warm response, and looking forward to next year!

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Marian Diaz Marian Diaz

On the Two Year Anniversary of Mr. George Floyd's Murder, part one of three

…Yesterday around noon, I sat down to write a blog memorializing the death of George Floyd two years ago. It was evolving as a series of Howard Thurman quotes from Jesus and the Disinherited. As I was praying through the mess of being a white woman trying to put words to the unspeakable, I took a minute to jump on Facebook to share one of our Wisdom Ways posts and I found news of an active shooter situation in which two children at an elementary school were murdered in Texas and my heart broke wide open all over again. It was one of many of what I call "desk flipping moments" that I've had in my life, when I have felt angry enough to turn over tables like Jesus…

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Danielle Clausnitzer Danielle Clausnitzer

Access Matters

By participating in the field of Disability Studies, I’ve found a sense of community. Speaking to persons with all varieties of disabilities, identities, and life experiences has reaffirmed my belief that living as a person with a disability is not a ‘me problem’. There is a problem. A global, societal, and systemic problem of ignoring and invalidating the humanity of those who are inaccurately considered ‘broken’ or ‘other’…

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Marian Diaz Marian Diaz

Holy Week 2022

Each day, I face the temptation of overwhelm. Each day, my gut sinks a bit upon waking as I rise to face the uncertainty of what it might bring. Yet, beneath the noise of my thoughts and the storm of my emotions, I find a deep layer of trust. I find a wave from within and beyond me that drives me away from fear toward active love. I choose to let that wave carry me forward.

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Leslie Aktan Leslie Aktan

Ramadan, My Old Friend

Every year over a billion Muslims around the world observe the holy month of Ramadan. It is one of the 5 pillars of Islam and is a time for spiritual growth and rejuvenation. The month includes fasting from dawn to dusk for all healthy adults, which means no eating or drinking during daylight hours (not even water!), no smoking, and no sexual intimacy with our spouse.

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Wisdom Ways Wisdom Ways

Guest Post: “Why have men’s spirituality programing at Wisdom Ways?”

The origins of much male violence, patriarchy and angst can be traced to the limitations men place on being vulnerable with one another. And yet, far too many men are lacking in emotionally satisfying and lasting male friendships. Wisdom Ways has been a well-established source of support and encouragement for men by intentionally fostering what is positive and healthy for men.

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