listening in stillness | serving in joy

~ by Ani Vidrine Image by Taylor Flowe on Unsplash I engage with sacred scripture, from any spiritual tradition, as offering a metaphor for my life.  So when I read that that Joseph, husband of Mary, had a dream in which he heard that his betrothed would conceive a son to be named Jesus, who would save his people from their sins, I am reminded of my own redemption from my perceived separation from God. When I hear the testimony of Peter, close friend of Mary’s son, saying th

~ by Ani Vidrine http://www.danamanly.com/gallery-ii “The ignorant work for their own profit, Arjuna; the wise work for the welfare of the world, without thought for themselves. . . Perform all work carefully guided by compassion.” The Bhagavad Gita 3:25, 26 As a clinical social worker, Aracely has devoted her life to assisting the downtrodden, especially in her work with immigrants. In her personal life, her passion is encouraging her children and supporting her husband. Ar

by Ani Vidrine Brandi and Sydnie 2020 “Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.” Deuteronomy 31:6 Brandi is no stranger to the reality of death and its impact. As a licensed clinical social worker of over 20 years, she has shared many tender moments at the bedside of a dying person and offered her strong, consoling presence to their loved ones. Yet, this rea

by Ani Vidrine photo by Gabriel Vasiliu on Unsplash I was at her bedside when she died, now little more than a heap of bones being carried by a flimsy sack of flesh. This fragile vessel belied the indomitable spirit hidden somewhere within. Born into the Cajun culture of south Louisiana, she had labored hard as any field hand, prepared and stored meat and homegrown vegetables, regularly cooked large meals for her biological family and whatever strays that happened to show up,

by Ani Vidrine Icon by Br. Robert Lentz, OFM @ https://www.trinitystores.com/artwork/julian-norwich I invite you to take a journey with me into the heart of an English mystic, to read these musings with an open mind, and to extrapolate meaning from them in a manner that is resonant with your own worldview. These insights were given to a woman who was defined by her culture in the same way that each one of us today is influenced by ours. I see similarities in these concepts wi

by Ani Vidrine Dana Manly Art LLC | www.danamanly.com  | instagram.com/@danamanlyart/ “Take Oh Lord, and receive all my liberty, my memory, my understanding, and my entire will, all that I have and possess. You have given all to me, to You, oh Lord, I return it. All is yours; dispose of it according to Your will. Give me Your love and Your grace, for this is enough for me.” ~St. Ignatius of Loyola My Work With The Jesuits Before I graduated from seminary and received my ordi

by Ani Vidrine In my reading one morning from Strength to Love , a compilation of some of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s sermons, I was encouraged by his elucidation of the parable of the person asking a friend for bread in the middle of the night (Luke 11:5-13).  It inspired my own musings. To what “friend” do I go when I need sustenance at my darkest hour? In considering this, I realized that my darkest hour is not often an external circumstance.  The events of life demand a

by Ani Vidrine It is a basic human need to feel understood and seen, and our everyday exchanges don’t always fill our cups with that restorative nectar. Imagine how our world could be a more nurturing place if we cultivated the art of compassionate conversation in an intentional way. There is an iconic story told in the Christian scriptures about a woman (notably alone) who was brought to Jesus because she was caught in the act of adultery, and the religious leaders wanted t

by Ani Vidrine July 21, 2025 Blessed are those who walk with attentiveness, consideration, and compassion for their places of poverty,...

by Ellen Prewitt I've been talking incessantly about contemplative writing. Y’all know me. I tend to fall into things. Then I’ve got to...

by Ani Vidrine Do you find yourself just wanting to have a sense of peace as your baseline rather than the constant arousal of...

by Shane Steinkamp I was thinking about the idea of sacredness yesterday while unwalking  along the shores of Ship Island—a habit I’ve...

As a pilgrim community we were blessed to meet “nature’s darlings” across wild Scotland and among each other for the school’s first...

Photo by Rachel Meese The day arrives, the time comes knocking at the door, when the new book needs to be birthed and a lively dialogue begins. This is how the story begins: “At the center of our being is a point…which belongs entirely to God…a pure diamond blazing…I have no program for this seeing. It is only given. But the gate of heaven is everywhere.” Thomas Merton What if you learned the gate of heaven, the Source of wisdom, power, peace and love we all need, could be fo

Dear ones, In the seismic global shift of the pandemic, as the very ground under our feet falls away a little more each day, what if...

I am sitting near my mother-in-law and wife in the living area of my mother-in-law’s apartment in Texas. Nothing special is happening,...