having won the Autumn Blessings poetry party from Abbey of the Arts, today i received Christine's autographed prize gift of her new book *Water, Wind, Earth, and Fire: The Christian Practice of Praying with the Elements*. many thanks, Christine!
i'm already more than pleased in the reading. how about sharing an appetizer with me?
*The element of wind invites us to "open our souls to Being," which means opening ourselves to a God who flows in directions we cannot predict. This element invites us to a radical posture of surrender in releasing our hold on our own plans and making room for God to blow us in the most life-giving direction. As a metaphor for God, wind reminds us that God's ways are not our ways. The invitation of wind requires of us a detachment from our own longing to control the direction of our lives and a simultaneous surrender to Spirit to allow ourselves to be carried to places of growth and newness.*
hungry? i know i am. looking forward to much more...
Bobbie Bonk of Spiritual Directors International ~ *Encountering the four elements in one place is exactly what Water, Wind, Earth, and Fire does, inviting the reader to become a pray-er who enjoys Paintner’s collection of scripture, poetry, wisdom, and prayer.*
Christine Valters Paintner is a writer, artist, spiritual director, retreat facilitator, and teacher. She earned her PhD in Christian Spirituality from the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley and her professional status as Registered Expressive Arts Consultant and Educator (REACE) from the International Expressive Arts Therapy Association (IEATA.org). She lives out her commitment as a Benedictine Oblate in the heart of Seattle with her husband and dog. More about Christine and her website
Abbey of the Arts which also includes her blog.
as covered in an earlier post, Christine's Monk Manifesto has a growing list of members. Monk Manifesto ~ Stop by to read seven principles for being a
Monk in the World and to sign up for a free 7-day e-course.
