Safeguarding our Souls
Staying centered in the love of Christ during tumultuous times
“‘All we can manage these days and also all that really matters: that we safeguard that little piece of You, God, in ourselves. And perhaps in others as well. ... We must help you defend Your dwelling place inside us to the last.’ ”
We live in tumultuous times. We can lose ourselves, our peace, and our ability to live from our depths, as anger, sadness, fear, despair and more block the flow of life and hope from the love of Christ within us. The world can be chaotic, disorienting our hearts and demanding too much from us. But know that whatever happens in the world, we are centered in the love of Christ, with a community around us.
In the words of the Dutch mystic, Etty Hillesum, we must defend the dwelling place of God inside us, which she did even as she was carried away to a Nazi concentration camp.
Christos invites you to do the same, coming together for four online, noon-time sessions to care for your soul. Before each session, you will receive a brief reading from Christian contemplative figures that will lead you into reflection and prayer.
Each session will begin with a short presentation based on the reading, before leading into small group reflection in which, as a community, we will share experiences, perspectives and encourage one another. Attend some or all of the sessions, as your schedule allows. Facilitator is David Miller.
Reading Schedule – Brief readings from the following authors will be emailed to you a few days before each session:
· Week 1 (April 28) Etty Hillesum and St. Patrick
· Week 2 (May 5) Brother Lawrence
· Week 3 (May 12) Thomas Merton
· Week 4 (May 19) Gerard Manley Hopkins
Cost: FREE. Suggested “Pay it Forward” donation to underwrite the program cost graciously accepted but not required. We welcome everyone, regardless of financial circumstance.
Dates: Mondays, April 28, May 5, 12 and 19, 2025
Time: Noon - 1 p.m. CENTRAL TIME (CT) via Zoom
Register by Wed, April 23, 2025 at Noon CT.
ABOUT THE FACILITATOR: David L. Miller has served Christ’s Church as a pastor, journalist, author and retreat leader. He currently directs a small group through the Spiritual Exercises of Ignatius Loyola as a partner in Christos’ Ignatian Spirituality program. He studied Christian spirituality at Catholic Theological Union, Loyola University and The Claret Center, all in Chicago. He was a senior and executive editor of The Lutheran Magazine before becoming the first Cornelsen Director of Spiritual Formation at the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago. He is the author of Friendship with Jesus, A Way to Pray the Gospel of Mark, an exploration of Ignatian Contemplation. He blogs at prayingthemystery.blogspot.com. David and his wife, Dixie, live in Downers Grove, IL.
