This week at Beggars Table we acknowledge the influence of Richard Rohr on our thought and practice. Rohr’s Center for Action & Contemplation provides wisdom and guidance for the modern day contemplative.  His teachings create pathways for people from diverse backgrounds to join together in conversations around topics as varied and thoughtful as social justice, incarnational mysticism, and eco-spirituality. At Beggars Table, we value the honest conversation, insight, and self-formation developed through contemplative practices. 

"We do not think ourselves into new ways of living, we live ourselves into new ways of thinking.” ~ Richard Rohr

Perhaps no modern theologian has reshaped the popular evangelical imagination regarding the gospel story more than retired Anglican bishop, Thomas Wright.  Encouraging us to enter the story as improvisational players who co-create with our Maker and participate in bringing about a world where all things are made new, NT Wright recasts the consummation of all things as something intensely relevant to where and how we live today.  

"Jesus's resurrection is the beginning of God's new project not to snatch people away from earth to heaven but to colonize earth with the life of heaven." - NT Wright

Annie Dillard’s beautiful prose celebrates “presence” as a life liturgy.  Slow down.  Watch. Listen. Notice.  What truths do we miss in our hurries?  What miracles do we ignore in our rush?  

“Beauty and grace are performed whether or not we will sense them.  The least we can do is to be there.” - Annie Dillard (Pilgrim @ Tinker Creek)