Inspiration from Artists
Writers, artists, and musicians share their thoughts on kindness, forgiveness, "home," and other ways to connect with our inner lives.
Practice: Binding Together
From the founding moments of our country, people from different faith traditions, and no faith at all, have put their deepest values into action to serve the common good. Their stories and their legacy, which is often religiously and spiritually grounded, can help bind together the various identities represented in our nation.
—Interfaith Youth Core (IFYC)
With this practice, we acknowledge and honor the efforts of young leaders and peacemakers who are endeavoring to heal cultural, religious, and political divides.
The Future of Spiritual Care
In December 2019, the Fetzer Institute hosted a small meeting for the Chaplaincy Innovation Lab to talk about the current and future state of spiritual care in a variety of settings. Together, we wanted to explore how we might move into a future defined by greater access to the best possible spiritual care, recognizing that all have a right to care for their human spirit no matter who or where they are.
January Practice: Pause
Many Americans highly value professional achievement, which is reflected in such democratic virtues as the pursuit of excellence, determination, assertiveness, and love of learning and knowledge. At the same time, momentarily setting aside an achievement orientation helps us tune into deeper currents of wisdom that strengthen democratic virtues like adaptability, honesty, humility, integrity, and social conscience.
Hot Gravy
As the year comes to a close, we’ve been reflecting on moments that have touched us and buoyed our spirits. “Hot Gravy,” a story of hope and healing, redemption and forgiveness, captures one such moment.
Revolution of the Heart: The Dorothy Day Story, Film Screening and Discussion
An Evening with Acclaimed Documentarian Martin Doblmeier
How to describe Dorothy Day? Grandmother, anarchist, prophet, journalist, pacifist, saint? The FBI once considered her a threat to national security. Now the Catholic Church is considering her for sainthood.
December Practice: Listen with Respect
The idea that all of us are created equal, as expressed in the Declaration of Independence, means that everyone deserves respect. We can practice being respectful at home first by listening to our own wisdom and the ideas of others and then by staying informed and expressing our opinions.
Omar McRoberts on the Landscape of Religion, Spirituality, and Identity in America
Omar M. McRoberts, PhD, is an advisor to Fetzer’s Study of Spirituality in America, which comprises in-depth interviews and focus groups (both completed) and a survey that will be fielded in early 2020. Omar recently co-presented “The Changing Landscape of Religion, Spirituality, and Identity in America” workshop at Upswell 2019.
CANCELLED: Resilience Retreat: Lessons from the Stoics
When we think of "resilient" people, we generally think of individuals who adapt well in the face of adversity, trauma, stress and/or tragedy. Resilience is less a trait that someone possesses; it is more a capacity that each of us can build within ourselves through our thoughts, behaviors, habits, and actions.
Hibernate with Yoga and Community
This wintertime retreat will offer quiet and togetherness through yoga practices, hiking, a creative project, and community dinners. Reflection is encouraged in solitude, as well as with one another. Sometimes winter inspires one to seek refuge in solitude and quiet, which can be rejuvenating, and other times togetherness is a balm for the cold. This retreat provides space for hibernating in togetherness. The intent is to create a warm atmosphere of choice between solitude or an activity together and reflect on the energies each experience inspires.