Blog Archive
Contemplating the messiness of Christian life
The Messy Jesus Business Blog is an ecumenical Christian gathering of musings about what it means to live the Gospel today. A variety of contributors offer prayer, poetry, book reviews, creative nonfiction and prose about what it means to live a life of faith in our complex, modern times.
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Sister Tracey Horan: Love Without Borders
“There’s nothing that I wouldn’t give to just tear that wall down.” – Sister Tracey Horan Season 4, Episode 3 of Messy Jesus Business podcast, hosted by Sister Julia Walsh. LISTEN HERE: IN THIS EPISODE: In this episode of Messy Jesus Business, Sister Julia Walsh talks with Sister Tracey Horan about her journey from being
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Spiritual flexibility in times of abundance and VUCA
Over a week ago I celebrated a milestone: my 40th birthday. In the days since, my life has been a whirlwind of joy, labor, celebrations and commotion. I drove hundreds of miles, celebrated my younger biological sister’s 35th birthday, celebrated my Franciscan Sister Meg’s first profession of vows and her birthday, helped empty a house
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Devouring Love
Jonah is an interesting prophet. Most of us know the story of Jonah and the whale, but we often forget the other half of Jonah’s story. Jonah heads to Nineveh, finally surrendering to God’s will. He takes a three-day tour of the city, proclaiming that God will destroy them in three days. There is no
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Laura Kelly Fanucci: Finding Fruits of the Spirit
“This idea of finding grace within the mess, I think that is the call of the Christian life.” -Laura Kelly Fanucci Season 4, Episode 2 of Messy Jesus Business podcast, hosted by Sister Julia Walsh. LISTEN HERE: IN THIS EPISODE: In this episode of Messy Jesus Business, Sister Julia Walsh talks with author and speaker
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A Global Pandemic, Culture Crisis and Spiritual Solutions
My partner and I intentionally live simply. We have carved out, over a number of years, a low-cost way of living that allows for neither of us to work professionally full time. We also moved out of the city a couple of years ago, radically shifting our priorities and our environment from busy and overwhelming
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Heidi Haverkamp: The Fertile Soil of Solitude
“I think what I’ve learned is there’s great fruitfulness in messiness…you need dirt to grow things.”– Heidi Haverkamp Season 4, Episode 1 of Messy Jesus Business, hosted by Sister Julia Walsh. IN THIS EPISODE: In this episode of Messy Jesus Business, Sister Julia Walsh talks with writer and Episcopal priest Heidi Haverkamp about why being
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How Spiritual Direction helps with discernment
Before I could drive a car, before I earned a diploma, I began asking the big question: “What should I do with my life?” The question stormed in my heart and head right along with its companions — confusion, discontentment, restlessness and, at times, agony. I really didn’t know what to do with all my
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Father Dan Horan: The Beautiful Mess of Personhood
In this episode of Messy Jesus Business podcast, Sister Julia Walsh talks with Father Dan Horan about how he came to discover his vocation as a Franciscan, and they consider the importance of encouraging one another as Christians. Father Dan also talks about what he calls Holy Spirit atheism, which he says puts us at…
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When Writing Goes Wrong: Why our obsession with creative productivity is soul-killing
By Kaya Oakes In the early part of June, I participated in an online writing workshop that had been pushed from an in person meeting onto Zoom due to the pandemic. After a year of online teaching, online spiritual direction, online therapy, online entertainment, online church and online hangouts with friends and family, I should
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Carl McColman: The Symbiosis of Activism and Contemplation
Sister Julia Walsh talks with writer, speaker and storyteller Carl McColman about discovering his vocation as a spiritual director and spiritual teacher. They discuss how medieval mystics and saints and other spiritual teachers inspire him, and how the mystics teach us to tear down the walls that divide us. And they discuss the challenges of…
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The struggle with loving
Her wide arms reach and summon. I feel the lure even from a mile away. I met her, the giant Grandmother oak centered on an island in the Jackson Park lagoon. In those days, I wore rubber gloves and a mask, sanitized the handlebars. When air frightened me I met her, the giant. Immediately I
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Pádraig Ó Tuama: The Language of Lightness, Darkness and Love
In this episode of Messy Jesus Business podcast, Sister Julia Walsh and poet, public speaker, teacher and theologian Pádraig Ó Tuama explore the light, the dark, and the infinite complexities of language. They consider terms like Christian and minister, and discuss the nature of poetry as well as the essential role imagination plays in one’s spiritual…
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