SUNDAY LECTURE | Being Defeated By Ever Greater Things

ORDINARY LIFE - Thoughts and Ideas to Help You Live a Happier Life

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Summary of Ordinary Life for September 17, 2023

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Dear Ones -

Registration for the Suzanne Stabile event is closed. We are working on a way to register for only livestream attendees. To be clear: everyone who has registered so far, whether for in person or livestream, will get an e-mail the morning of the event that can be used for livestream attendance. Stay tuned.

This week Dr. Holly Hudley and I co-taught a class we called -

Being Defeated by Ever Greater Things

The title comes from a poem by Rilke who was introduced to me by Robert Johnson. Johnson used Rilke as an example of someone who learned to live with his wounds heroically. The things we need to be defeated by are: the fear of losing, the illusion of a separate self, and the notion of “stupid compassion.”

That’s a brief summary of this week’s time in Ordinary Life.

The audio version of the talk has some significant differences from the text I spoke from. You can find the text of the talk, the presentation slides and the audio version of the talk using the links below.

Our podcast, “In Between,” can be accessed through the Ordinary Life web site.

If you would like to know how to make a contribution to Ordinary Life, click here for video instructions.

Be well and much love,

Bill Kerley

To read or download the text version of the talk, click here.

To view or download the presentation slides, click here.

To view or download the announcement slides, click here.

In order to listen to or download the audio recording of today’s talk, use the audio player below.

To watch the video of today’s talk, click on the YouTube link below.

WEEKLY PODCAST | In Between.141

There is no way around it: we (Bill and Holly) are nested in some sorrow. Sure, there are some delights like poetry, connection, dreams that tether us to joy and wonder, but we come to you today in full transparency with our deeper sorrow.

We are also tempted to rush into hope and healing, but these are only accessible when we can accept sorrow and darkness. The world so wants us to be happy and sells it to us in a million different ways, but I think happiness is more profound than something we can buy. It must be grown, cultivated, and nurtured — even in the dark.

Here are some beautiful inspirations to sit with if you find yourself in the dark:

  1. “The Red Seeds” oracle cards by Linda Hill, based on her work with Marion Woodman.

  2. “How to Belong Be Alone” by Padraig O’Tuama, accompanied by a short video.

See you Sunday. Thanks for listening.

Image from “How to Be Alone,” animation by Leo G. Franchi

SUNDAY LECTURE | Introduction to the Enneagram with Brooke Summers-Perry

Dear Ones -

This week in Ordinary Life spiritual director Brooke Summers-Perry gave an overview/introduction to the Enneagram. There is no text of her talk but she did provide the presentation slides she used. You can access them by clicking here. I tried to take as many notes as possible and will be grateful to rewatch the time when it is available in a few days on the Ordinary Life website. I really appreciated Booke’s light-hearted and engaging way of presenting a wealth of information in a limited amount of time.

If you are interested in more individual time or direction with Booke you can do so by clicking here or by contacting her directly at 713-569-5844. I myself consult with a trained spiritual director on a regular basis and find it invaluable. On the third Saturday of every month she hosts a free monthly practice group for growth-minded folks. For more information, click here.

To register for the upcoming day-long event with Enneagram expert, Suzanne Stabile, click here. You can find out full details on the Ordinary Life website.

Our podcast, “In Between,” can be accessed through the Ordinary Life web site.

If you would like to know how to make a contribution to Ordinary Life, click here for video instructions.

Be well and much love,

Bill Kerley

In order to view or download the presentation slides, click here.

In order the view or download the announcement slides, click here.

If you would like to download or just listen to today’s talk, you can use the audio player below.

To watch the video of today’s talk, use the YouTube link below.

SUNDAY LECTURE | God: The Problem

ORDINARY LIFE - Thoughts and Ideas to Help You Live a Happier Life

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Summary of Ordinary Life for September 3, 2023

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Dear Ones -

If you are puzzled or curious about the wisdom and use of the Enneagram, I hope you will attend the introduction that spiritual director Brooke Summers-Perry will be doing in Ordinary Life this coming Sunday, September 10. If you attend this, you will see how the Enneagram is used as a tool for spiritual growth and relationship enhancement.

To register for the upcoming day-long event with Enneagram expert, Suzanne Stabile, click here. You can find out full details on the Ordinary Life website.

This week in Ordinary Life I offered another reflection on the phrase in the Lord’s Prayer - “Our Father.” I called the time -

“God: The Problem”

I got the title from a book by Gordon Kaufman who taught that culture, language, and social organization are the means by which we engage reality, create meaning, and locate ourselves within the vastly wider cosmic context of existence. When we start to go public about rethinking all our religious beliefs in light of our growing understanding of the cosmos, we will likely find that we live in a smaller cognitive community. I spoke also briefly of two of the main types of theology: revealed theology and natural theology. And, how both Fredrick Buechner and Peter Mathiessen have influenced my thinking about the impossibility of knowing God.

That’s a brief summary of this week’s time in Ordinary Life.

The audio version of the talk has some significant differences from the text I spoke from. You can find the text of the talk, the presentation slides and the audio version of the talk using the links below.

Our podcast, “In Between,” can be accessed through the Ordinary Life web site.

If you would like to know how to make a contribution to Ordinary Life, click here for video instructions.

Be well and much love,

Bill Kerley

In order to read or download the text version of the talk, click here.

In order to view or download the presentation slides, click here.

In order to view or download the announcement slides, click here.

To download or listen to today’s talk, use the audio player below

In order to watch the video of today’s talk, use the YouTube link below.