Angela Rausch 1/6/26 Angela Rausch 1/6/26

Miracle

Merry New Year! This is my second year choosing a word of the year. I have decided on “miracle.” The reaction from others has been skeptical to say the least. Many are like, miracles are monumental so small ones don’t count. But I believe this will be a practice in seeing the small miracles. The book I’m reading is called, The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down by Anne Fadiman. One theme is that communication is vital and challenging especially in the healthcare setting. The invitation for me is not to listen with the purpose of preparing my response. Maybe to go slow and let it be.

Angela Rausch 12/19/25 Angela Rausch 12/19/25

2025 “Impermanence”

2025 is about to end and my word of the year is impermanence. Lot’s of things changed and ended. There is a certain comfort in knowing things will end and part of me wants to hang onto that word for another year but this too shall pass. Some words I’m thinking about are adoration, ubuntu, simplicity and walking, stay tuned. There have been some good shows I’ve watched lately and one that is staying with me is Task. There is a good line that the main character Tom, a former priest says when asked about the sacrament of reconciliation. He says something like this, he never gave penances because most people are already too hard on themselves. As a good spiritual companion may say, this is something “to sit with.” Happy Christmas.

Angela Rausch 11/8/25 Angela Rausch 11/8/25

Contemplation…

Last month I attended the Center for Action and Contemplation’s ReVision Conference. It was huge! The theme was, “What Do We Do With Christianity?” Of course as true contemplatives we need to seek that answer for ourselves. As much as I delight in Richard Rohr and want to follow his lead, I need to figure this out for me. I’m looking at my quotes on my desk and one that pops out is, “Be small, look closer, this is important,” Kelly Corrigan. This also takes me to a Mary Oliver quote about walking slowly and bowing often. So now the contemplation, looking thoughtfully for a long time, takes shape and I’m seeing this is going to take awhile. Namaste.

Moon over Albuquerque, NM. Photo by A.Rausch

Angela Rausch 9/15/25 Angela Rausch 9/15/25

Good Energy

Attending rallies usually isn’t my comfort zone but one thing for sure, it’s a source of good energy. The sign I carried is a text by Lutheran pastor Martin Niemöller, it has stayed with me for years, dare I say it weighs on me. And as a good spiritual companion would say, “maybe you need to sit with that.” I have been sitting with this and what I’m noticing is my personal comfort may not always be good for me or others. As they say there’s no growth in comfort. So the question is what’s mine to do, how about you? I’ve just started reading, John Green’s book, Everything is Tuberculosis, so far so good. David Whyte’s poetry is calling me too, he has some lines about being seen, what a beautiful image. Be well.

Angela Rausch 7/31/25 Angela Rausch 7/31/25

Keep Walking

It’s been a minute and I have traveled the globe with lots of walking. As I sit to write this I’m reminded of the words of Rumi, “Keep walking, though there is no place to get to. Don’t try to see through the distances. That’s not for human beings. Move within, but don’t move the way fear makes you move.” The question for me is how to let go of the fear. I think most days it is putting one foot in front of the other and staying in the present. Here are some things that are keeping me to put one foot in front of the other and staying here in today. Books, The Let Them Theory, by Mel Robbins, Ten Poems to Change Your Life, by Roger Housden, Podcasts from Kate Bowler, KFF What the Health, and Kelly Corrigan, Substacks by Heather Cox Richardson, Nadia Bolz-Weber, Parker J Palmer, Dave Barry, Diana Butler Bass, and Poetry Unbound. Be well.

Angela Rausch 6/6/25 Angela Rausch 6/6/25

Are you sure?

Recently the question for me was how do I get through tough times? What I noticed is that like many things it just takes time. But in those unnerving days, hours or minutes, I have several mantra that I come back to again and again. One is from Thich Nhat Hanh, “Are you sure?” Another is, I can’t, God can, let her. Both of these allow me to notice I’m not in control and to let my higher power be my higher power. Rumi says something similar and I’m resting in that…

Be helpless, dumbfounded,

Unable to say yes or no,

Then a stretcher will come from grace

to gather us up.

Angela Rausch 5/13/25 Angela Rausch 5/13/25

Reset

I just spent five nights in silence in South Lake Tahoe on a Centering Prayer retreat. I highly encourage taking the time to reset your practice and intentions. The word that resonated for me on the retreat was, “capitulation.” The Oxford definition says, cease to resist an opponent or an unwelcome demand; surrender. But what I heard was phony participation. Where do participate but not willingly? On the other hand how am I doing in my letting go practice? Good questions to sit with and look at. Be well.

Angela Rausch 4/1/25 Angela Rausch 4/1/25

April Fools Day

No good jokes here but here’s a fun quote, the poet Antonio Machado said it plainly, "Caminante, no hay camino, se hace camino al andar" ("Wanderer, there is no path, the path is made by walking"). And dare I say it’s time to walk into some good trouble.

Angela Rausch 3/6/25 Angela Rausch 3/6/25

Rainbows

In February I saw many rainbows and this double rainbow! With all the rain I’ve had time to read, watch and listen. Some of my highlights were, Life After Doom, by Brian McLaren, Shrinking on Apple TV and the podcast, Everything Happens With Kate Bowler, the N.T. Wright episode is very good. I also was reintroduced to Ilia Delio, she says God will always be creative, always be bringing about something new, I’m going to stay with that this Lent. May it be so.

Angela Rausch 2/3/25 Angela Rausch 2/3/25

Impermanence

My word for the year of 2025 is impermanence and last week it became real. One of my spiritual guides passed away. He was a good man, with a gentle spirit. I met him through a mutual friend who knew we shared a love and admiration of Thomas Merton. My friend was always sharing books on spiritual direction with me. One he gave me was titled, Care of Mind Care of Spirit, by Gerald May. As I flipped through the book, clinging to his memory I found this underlined, “We are learning that an enlightened appreciation of the eternal mystery behind our confusion may be of far greater value than any achievement we can make in trying to ‘figure things out.’” It seems like my dear friend is teaching me about impermanence, thank you.

Angela Rausch 1/3/25 Angela Rausch 1/3/25

What’s your word for the year?

I’ve chosen the word, “impermanence.” As someone who enjoys predictability, comfort and routine this is a big step for me. More and more of my spiritual guides speak of change and welcoming it so this is my attempt to welcome impermanence. It feels like I'm sitting on a tall fire tower but there are rails to hold on to.

Angela Rausch 12/12/24 Angela Rausch 12/12/24

More than I can imagine…

Everything changes is the spiritual life. Thomas Keating talks about impermanence. John O’Donohue talks about “clay dance to balance you.” Pádraig Ó Tuama writes about “learning most from situations you did not choose.” All these wise souls. are giving me much peace and joy in this season of waiting. Be well and Happy Christmas.

Angela Rausch 11/4/24 Angela Rausch 11/4/24

Freedom is Voting

Angela Rausch 10/1/24 Angela Rausch 10/1/24

A Practice…

Rumi is one of my favorites. Here is a quote I’m trying to repeat several times a day, “I belong to the Beloved.”

Angela Rausch 9/2/24 Angela Rausch 9/2/24

Soul Consoling Tower

Last month I visited Manzanar in California where the United States interned Japanese-Americans. The below picture was taken at the cemetery and is called the Soul Consoling Tower. I’m pausing on this Labor Day to remember to care for my soul and silence in nature is one way. Some books I’m reading are, Palaces For The People, by Eric Klineberg, The Art of Power, by Nancy Pelosi, Table For Two, by Amor Towles and Breathing Under Water, by Richard Rohr. A poem I’m savoring is Padraig O Tuama’s “The Fact of Life.”

Angela Rausch 8/22/24 Angela Rausch 8/22/24

4th and Walnut

I’m driving across the country and have visited some good places that have given me great pause, Manzanar, the National Civil Right museum, and Bill Clinton’s Presidential Center and Park. But the surprise was going to Louisville, KY and walking past Thomas Merton’s famous experience at 4th and Walnut. He said in his book, Conjectures of a Guilty Bystander how connected to others and saw their beauty. He felt they were all shining like the sun. Be well and share that sunshine.

Angela Rausch 4/1/24 Angela Rausch 4/1/24

Retreats

Villa Maria del Mar, Pacific Ocean. Photo by Angela Rausch

There’s something about slowing down and savoring in nature that refreshes the soul. Here are somethings I’m savoring after being close to the deep, deep sea…

If we are absolutely grounded in the absolute love of God that protects us from nothing even as it sustains us in all things, then we can face all things with courage and tenderness and touch the hurting places in others and in ourselves with love.
James Finley
Welcome to the Online Meditation Chapel and our online multi-faith community of contemplatives. If you are called to find the sacred in the stillness, we are here for you, see www.meditation chapel.org
The Way of Discernment: Spiritual Practices for Decision Making By Elizabeth Liebert
Without a sangha you lose your practice very soon.
Thich Nhat Hanh https://plumvillage.org/community/international-sangha-directory
Centering prayer guidelines, https://www.contemplativeoutreach.org/centering-prayer-method/
Ignatian Examen app, https://www.ignatianspirituality.com/reimagining-examen-app/

The Full Serenity Prayer
 
God grant me the serenity
To accept the things I cannot change;
Courage to change the things I can;
And wisdom to know the difference.
Living one day at a time;
Enjoying one moment at a time;
Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;
Taking, as He did, this sinful world
As it is, not as I would have it;
Trusting that He will make things right
If I surrender to His Will;
So that I may be reasonably happy in this life
And supremely happy with Him
Forever and ever in the next.
Amen.

```
She Let Go
```
by Safire Rose https://safire-rose.com/books-and-media/poetry/she-let-go

Angela Rausch 12/7/23 Angela Rausch 12/7/23

Freedom

In one of my meetings recently I heard that Mary Mrozowski said, “You can right or you can be free,” I’m aiming for freedom. In my trips recently I visited Ellis Island, there was a window and a reflection that were revealing. There is a way through my friends.

Angela Rausch 6/9/23 Angela Rausch 6/9/23

Guides

A few things I’m sitting with these days are who are my guides? But underlying that is how my “spiritual adventure” is going, am I being adventurous? Last month I preached on Awe, Abundance and the Advocate, ask me about it. Some things I’m playing with these days are these signs I saw recently…

Angela Rausch 1/12/23 Angela Rausch 1/12/23

Unknowing

Thomas Merton, one of my bff’s (best friends forever), in Thoughts in Solitude, speaks of having no idea where he’s going. I get that and I’m trying to live into that space of uncertainty. I suppose that’s a really good way to define faith, unknowing but living in hope. The other important note is God sends tons of grace.

Lots of good podcasts filling me joy lately are: Kelly Corrigan Wonders, Hidden Brain and Brené Brown. And a book that was a great read, Guilded Mountain: A Novel.

And finally, Holy Mother Earth is pure beauty, this picture was taken in Lake Tahoe in December.