Writer, editor, book coach, and podcast host Mara Eller joins me to explore the spiritual dimensions of writing, self-reflection, and creative partnership.

As the developmental editor who walked alongside me through the drafting of Art Is How God Loves Us, Mara offers a unique perspective on the ways creativity can become a gateway to deeper self-knowledge, connection, and encounter with the divine. We discuss the trust between writer and editor, the importance of spaciousness in the creative process, and how writing can help us uncover what Thomas Merton called the "true self."

Through Art's Open Door, Mara brings Denise Levertov's poem To Live in the Mercy of God. Through imagery of towering forests and a waterfall crashing endlessly against stone, the poem offers a striking vision of divine love as an overwhelming force of mercy that continues to pour itself out despite our resistance. The poem invites us into awe, reminding us that the spiritual life is not always comfortable, but it is always held within a love larger than ourselves.

If you're feeling spiritually dry or creatively stuck, Mara offers two simple invitations: spend time noticing something beautiful in nature, and revisit a song that mattered deeply to you when you were younger. Through attention, memory, and reflection, these small practices can help us reconnect with beauty, integrate our stories, and step once again through art's open door.

Resources & Links

• Preorder Art Is How God Loves Us

• To Live in the Mercy of God by Denise Levertov

• New Seeds of Contemplation by Thomas Merton

• The First Nations Version of the New Testament

• Maraeller.com

• The Soul and Science of Great Writing podcast

I'd love to hear about the works of art that have become thin places in your own life. In fact, we are doing a call for guest-post submissions over on Substack. You can learn more and submit yours by visiting: https://artistsforjoy.org/artsopendoor