Welcome to the latest episode of "Finding Our Rhythm," hosted by Lisa Work and Rich Nelson. In this episode, we are privileged to have Kristen Wheeler, a modern iconographer, as our guest. Kristen brings a unique and spiritual perspective to the ancient art form of iconography, which we are eager to explore.

Kristen shares her deep connection to iconography and how she has made it a daily spiritual practice. She discusses how the art form has evolved and its significance in her life. We also delve into the lives and teachings of notable saints, including Rose of Lima, Rita of Cascia, Roch, Jesus the Gardener, Pauli Murray, and Francis. Kristen's passion for sharing their stories is infectious, adding to the episode's appeal and depth.

Learn more about Kristen and her icons at https://moderniconographer.com/

Check out The Ministry of the Saints on Facebook

Join Lisa and Rich for episode 1 of season 2 of "Finding Our Rhythm: Spiritual Practices for Seekers of God." They explore the art of not "forcing the rhythm" and Lisa shares how it is like her experience learning to operate a Segway. They confront the challenges of FOMO and clarify that letting go is not about being slothful but rather trusting God. They also stress the importance of acknowledging that we don't have to know or have all the answers, which can be a liberating realization on our spiritual journey and in life.

This season, we intend to incorporate a guided spiritual practice into our episodes. In this episode, you will be invited to join us for 5 minutes of silence and stillness.

Mentioned in this podcast is Barbara Brown Taylor's book Holy Envy and the Tao Te Ching.

In this final episode of season one of Finding Our Rhythm, Lisa and Rich talk about the spiritual practice of “noticing” as they look back at the journey of making the first season. Often what we expect to happen simply leads us to what will actually happen, which can be better than we imagined. But the letting go of the first vision for our life can be difficult, painful even, and it takes time to become open to what might be. The key is in the noticing, both noticing new opportunities and noticing how we respond to those unforeseen “holy detours.” Some of these detours lead us up metaphorical mountains and into storms. Rich and Lisa reflect on their own mountaintop and stormy experiences and what scripture tells us about how to approach the ascent. 

Finally, they look ahead to season two and a whole series dedicated to engaging ancient spiritual practices in new and contemporary ways. 

In this episode of Finding Our Rhythm, we have the honor of sitting down with Roger Hutchison, an author, illustrator, educator, and director of Christian Formation and Parish Life at Palmer Memorial Episcopal Church in Houston, TX. Roger is a man of many talents, with a passion for contemplative photography and its ability to transform our perception of the world around us. Join us as we delve into his journey, inspirations, and how he uses art, color, and poetic language to communicate love and promote healing and hope in today's hurting world.

Roger shares how he started the practice of contemplative photography during COVID, how it has impacted his life, and the way it allows us to see the world in a new and meaningful way.

The Painting Table: Roger recounts his profound experience of painting with children who witnessed the tragic events at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, CT, and how it inspired him to use his writing and art to serve those who grieve.

Roger shares his ambition and mission to communicate love and promote healing in the world through his art, color choices, and poetic language.

Join us in this heartwarming and inspiring conversation with Roger Hutchison as he reminds us of the importance of seeing with fresh eyes and nurturing love and hope in the face of adversity.

Instagram: @rogerhutchisonbooks

Twitter: @RogerHutchison

Facebook: @hutchison.roger

Additional Resources:

https://www.rogerhutchisonbooks.com/

Roger's Books: Find Roger's books, including "The Very Best Day: The Way of Love for Children," "Sparrow's Prayer," and "The Art of Calm," on his website or at your local bookstore.

We also invite you to show us how you embrace the #ArtofSeeing!

📸Share a photo you've taken when practicing contemplative photography and use the hashtag #ArtofSeeing. Let's create a community of visionaries together!

Recently Lisa and Rich attended the Episcopal Church's "All About Love Festival" where they were honored to interview the Rev. Canon Stephanie Spellers who serves as Canon to the Presiding Bishop for Evangelism, Reconciliation, and Creation Care. She shares spiritual practices that sustain her, including breath prayer, prayer journaling, a modified Examen, the podcast Pray As You Go, and a beautiful song by Vietnamese Buddhist Monk Thich Nhat Hanh. Lisa and Rich also discuss the "following The Way Spiritual Types Inventory," which Rich developed. You can take the inventory to help you identify your primary spiritual type, and practices that might work best for you, available at www.followingtheway.me

Breathing In, Breathing Out lyrics

Breathing in, breathing out,

Breathing in, breathing out,

I am blooming as a flower,

I am fresh as the dew.

I am solid as a mountain,

I am firm as the earth.

I am free.

Breathing in, breathing out.

Breathing in, breathing out.

I am water, reflecting.

What is real, what is true.

And I feel there is space

Deep inside of me.

I am free, I am free, I am free.

In this episode, Rich interviews Lisa after she and her husband have returned from the Camino.  She shares stories of encounters with people they met along the way. Lisa shares her physical, mental, and spiritual challenges during the journey, including fatigue, blisters, and moments of doubt. 

Lisa reflects on her personal growth and self-reflection, sharing anecdotes of moments of clarity, personal revelations, and instances of overcoming adversity. She explains that she and her husband walked the “Camino they needed, not the one they planned.”  Lisa also talks about how important it was to “find her rhythm” along the Camino and how that is connected to life!

Check out the Friends of the Anglican Centre in Santiago https://www.anglicancentresantiago.org/worship-in-santiago-blessings-on-the-way/

One of the most ancient of spiritual practices is going on a pilgrimage. In a pilgrimage we step aside from our usual routines and open ourselves up to new possibilities, new relationships, and new encounters with God and with our own deepest self. Often this involves a physical journey to a place of identified significance such as Jerusalem, Rome, Canterbury, etc. But pilgrimage can also be more focused on a journey of the inner self. Any journey has the possibility of being a pilgrimage if done with awareness and intention.

This episode was recorded just before Lisa and her husband Mark left for a pilgrimage on the Camino de Santiago in Spain. Popularized by the movie "The Way" and countless books and documentaries, tens of thousands of people make this pilgrimage each year from various starting points, all aiming to Santiago de Compostela, the resting place of St. James. Join us as we explore Lisa's preparation for making a pilgrimage and then the follow up Episode 6 we will explore how the pilgrimage went and what we all might take away, inspiring us for our own journeys big and small.

Let us know what you think by sending us an email at [email protected]

Breath prayer is a powerful spiritual practice that has been used for centuries across various religious traditions to bring about a state of calm, mindfulness, and connection with the divine. It's a simple yet profound practice that involves combining focused breathing with a short, repetitive phrase or prayer. Breath prayer is often associated with the contemplative and mystical traditions within Christianity, but similar practices can be found in other faiths.  The beauty of breath prayer lies in its simplicity and accessibility. Anyone can practice it, regardless of their religious or spiritual background. It can be done anywhere, at any time, making it a versatile tool for finding peace and connection in our fast-paced modern lives.

We hope this exploration of breath prayer has inspired you to incorporate this beautiful practice into your own life. Remember, it's not about achieving perfection or a specific outcome. It's about creating space for stillness, awareness, and the presence of the divine in our everyday lives.

Lisa references the book Creating a Life With God by Daniel Wolpert,  https://upperroombooks.com/book/creating-a-life-with-god/

Let us know what you think by sending us an email at [email protected]