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Emotional and Mental Health and Spiritual Maturity are Inseparable. It is not possible to be spiritually mature while remaining emotionally immature. Furthermore, ignoring our emotions is turning our back on reality. Listening to our emotions ushers us into reality. And the reality is where we meet God. . . . Emotions are the language of the soul. They are the cry that gives the heart a voice (Peter Scazzero). Resourcing Wellness in Community Emotional & Mental Health "Emotional and Mental Health are not separate from spiritual maturity... they are woven together. We cannot grow spiritually while abandoning our emotional life. When we ignore our emotions, we turn away from what is real. But when we listen, when we allow ourselves to feel, we return to reality. And it is there, in the honest and tender places, that we meet God. Emotions are the language of the soul, the sacred signal that gives our hearts permission to speak (adopted from Peter Scazzero). Counseling & Therapy Black & African American Therapists Psychology Today for Communities of Color Oaks & Stones (Therapy for Asian Americans) Fuller Psychological & Family Services Black Men Heal Faithful Central Champion Counseling Center Emerge Counseling Ministries Emmada Pscychology La Vie Counseling Center WellNest | Emotional Health & Wellness Black Christian Therapy Grow Therapy Inclusive Therapists Hope Trauma Therapy Herhealing Community Your Healthcare Provider | Please check with your Primary Care Physician (PCP) and healthcare provider for therapist and counselor options. They may not only provide the services you're looking for but also offer benefits that could help reduce cost. Selecting the appropriate Counselor or Therapist is a deeply personal process, requiring careful consideration of various factors. Please discern diligently to identify the qualities and expertise that align with your specific needs and preferences. Counseling Therapy Trauma Informed Care Centers Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services National Institute for the Clinical Application The National Child Traumatic Stress Network National Alliance on Mental Illness Psychology Tools Quest Movement Healing Center National Institute of Mental Health Goodsky | Adverse Childhood Experiences ACE Aware | Screen Treat Heal Trauma Healing Institute TraumaWise | Family & Communities Restored Gobi | Middle & H.S. Drug & Alcohol Prevention The Kids Mental Health Foundation American Academy of Child & Adolescents Mindful & Somatic Practices Resmaa Menakem | Somatic Abolitionism UCLA Mindful Guides Smiling Mind Johns Hopkins Medicine Somatic Self Care Rev. Lisha Epperson | Your Sacred Yes Understood NCHPAD Dr. Tina Armstrong Living Connected Dr. Erin Baute | Behavorial Psychology Light Mindfulness Practice Videos & Guides Mindful Practices Videos & Guides View More Healing Racial Trauma Groundwork Videos & Reads. View More Text & Context Readings on Reparative Healing. View More HEALING begins with noticing what interrupts our sense of connection: to our own lives, to community, to possibility, and to God. It is a radical, courageous act to choose ourselves enough to listen. To advocate for our becoming. To receive God’s guidance of repairing belonging, justice, and worth within our bodies, souls, and spirits. Healing, in and of itself, is not the end goal if the messaging suggests that if we can just heal and get over it. That all will be well and good. It is instead a constant reminder and invitation that we need God’s unfailing love to help nurture ourselves just like we do everyone else. At its core, healing asks us to slow down. To listen more deeply, to ourselves and one another, staying on the road to internal and external freedom, not by force, but by faithful presence within the One who created us with love in the first place. SOUL CARE ADVISING is the practice of creating a safe spacious ground where our spiritual and emotional roots can be tended with compassion. It invites us to pause and pay attention, cultivating a deeper awareness of one's self, God, others, and creation. This journey honors the tensions we carry... love and fear, shame and grace, justice and adversity... not as contradictions to be solved or as problems to eliminate, but as sacred companions along the way. Through the rhythms of Soul Care, we begin to notice that healing does not arrive once struggle ends, but unfolds right in the midst of it. Over time, rather than pushing or striving toward resilience alone, Soul Care nurtures a steady sense of belonging, peace, and transformation… drawing us toward liberation and a deeper, more authentic union with God and community.

Soul Care and Spiritual Formation are grounded principles in transformative practices that foster spiritual growth, emotional well-being, heightened self-awareness, and a deepening connection with the Divine. Rooted in the transformative process that shapes communities into the likeness of Christ, these practices lead to cultivating virtues such as love, empathy, courage, humility, compassion, justice, grace, and wisdom. Embodied Soul Care Where to begin! The intention is for these resources to inspire you to discover enriching elements of soul care as spiritual formation... both personal and communal journey. As you look through these books, I invite you to notice which one reaches toward you, trusting that the Spirit often meets us through what resonates in the body, stirs curiosity, or settles us into a sense of peace and hope. Crisis Contemplation: Healing the Wounded Village Disciplines of the Spirit Walking the Way of Harriet Tubman: Public Mystic and Freedom Fighter Sacred Self-Care: Daily Practices for Nurturing Our Whole Selves What Makes You Come Alive: A Spiritual Walk with Howard Thurman Joy Unspeakable: Contemplative Practices of the Black Church Forged in the Fiery Furnace: African American Spirituality The Way of the Heart: Connecting with God Through Prayer, Wisdom, and Silence Embodied Spirits: Stories of Spiritual Directors of Color Anatomy of the Soul The Enneagram for Black Liberation The Complete Enneagram Sisters in the Wilderness: The Challenge of Womanist God The Spirituals and the Blues Kaleidoscope: Broadening the Palette in the Art of Spiritual Direction The Spiritual Work of Racial Justice Spiritual Disciplines Handbook: Practices that Transforms Us African Saints, African Stories: 40 Holy Men and Women Therese Taylor-Stinson Walking the Way of Harriet Tubman, Public Mystic and Freedom Fighter. Listen Lerita Coleman Brown What Makes You Come Alive, A Spiritual Walk with Howard Thurman. Listen E. Tray Clark A contemplative spirituality and preaching in the Black church. Listen

Online Soul Care Advising embraces healthy ideas, exercises, and practices to strengthen the body. Providing valuable insights, nurturing knowledge for growth, cultivating renewed understanding and wisdom. Values loving God and loving others with compassion catalyzing unity. Instills unwavering confidence to embrace new beginnings and possibilities. Extends support for restorative justice movements. And encourages spiritual and emotional healing practices for healthier life and work rhythms. Resourcing Wellness in Community Urban Wellness Living Meet Cynthia Spiritual Director | Trauma Informed Care | Member Care Hi, I’m Cynthia. I’m a soul care advocate, trauma healing facilitator, embodied-practice educator, and a companion for those seeking spiritual and emotional wholeness. More than anything, I’m someone who believes healing grows in safe, sacred spaces… and that we flourish when we are truly seen, heard, and held with care. For over three decades, I’ve had the gift of serving in full-time urban ministry... walking alongside individuals and communities, nurturing micro-churches, tending to prayer, and offering member care. My heart has long been drawn to the places where faith, suffering, history, and hope meet, especially within the lived wisdom of Black and African American spirituality. Much of my calling centers on tending generational and historical wounds, advocating for God’s righteousness and justice, and supporting others as they journey toward freedom, dignity, and restoration. One of the deepest lessons I’ve learned is the power of the in-between space... the often-unexamined space between our instincts and our responses. In that space, I believe God meets us with clarity, courage, tenderness, and the freedom to choose love instead of fear. My work in soul care begins here: helping people notice this sacred in-between, tend it with ongoing attention and reflection, and trust that God’s Spirit is already at work… gently, faithfully, restoring what has been worn thin. From this grounded center, I imagine communities where every person is honored as a reflection of God’s compassion, justice, and faithfulness... communities that learn to respond rather than react, and that move together toward wholeness of body, soul, and spirit. My own journey has been shaped by adversity, failure, grief, and the sustaining grace of God that has held me through it all. These experiences led me to become a certified Trauma Healing Facilitator through the Trauma Healing Institute and Quest Movement, and a trained Spiritual Director through Sustainable Faith (with ongoing supervision that continues to deepen my formation). My recent work with the Cultural Somatic Institute has further illuminated how our bodies carry racialized and systemic trauma... and how God meets us there too, with patience and presence. To stay grounded, I treasure the simple joys: laughing over a good comedy, disappearing into fantasy or action-adventure films, curling up with a book in a cozy, quiet space, or escaping into the peace of theater, camping, or retreat. I am held up by beloved friendships, shared laughter, and long, honest conversations that remind me of the sacredness of walking life’s road together… “while being on this side of dirt,” as my sistah-friend Brittany says. Spiritual Direction "The moan is the birthing sound, the first movement toward a creative response to oppression, the entry into the heart of contemplation through the crucible of crisis." ~ Barbara Holmes, Joy Unspeakable ~ Why Urban Wellness Living Why Urban Wellness Living Health Embrace healthy healing ideas, exercises, & practices to rejuvenate & strengthen the whole body. "How can I care for my whole self when I feel overwhelmed?" Community Love God & Love Others with humility, mercy, & justice, catalyzing unity. “How do I love well when connection feels costly or hard?” Advocacy Extend support for life-giving practices of peacemaking, justice, & truth-telling. “How can I speak or act for justice when I’m still finding my own courage?” Education Cultivating knowledge, wisdom from life’s experiences, & the value of revelation. "I should know this by now... but what if knowing is still becoming?” Hope Cultivating assured expectation to embrace pathways that inspire renewed possibilities & purpose. “How do I keep believing when the way forward feels uncertain?” Restoration Encourage spiritual & emotional practices rooted in renewing rhythms of life & work. “What does renewal look like when I’m weary from holding it all together?” Why is it vital to honor the lived wisdom within Black and African American spirituality and soul care? Learn More Urban Wellness Living Resources Soul Care & Spiritual Formation View More Emotional & Mental Health View More Healthy Living View More Recommended Reads View More Righteousness & Justice View More Financial Wellness View More Wellness Resources “Listen to the long stillness: New life is stirring. New dreams are on the wing. New hopes are being readied: Humankind is fashioning a new heart. Humankind is forging a new mind. God is at work. This is the season of Promise.” ~ Howard Thurman Web Etiquette As you explore this space, you’re invited to arrive with care, for yourself and for one another. Each person comes from a different journey, carrying questions, insights, stories, and at times overwhelm or grief. All of that is welcome here. With this in mind, we aim to cultivate an environment… both online and offline… where conversations are rooted in respect, generosity, and presence. A space where listening matters, where words are offered thoughtfully, and where growth is not rushed. Thank you for the curiosity you bring, for the care you extend in how you respond, and for helping shape a space where people are free to learn, reflect, and grow at their own pace. SAY HELLO Email: urbanwellnessliving@gmail.com Say Hello Connecting with God as a Source for Life and Purpose.

Here are several links and books that I've received over the years from Black and African American theologians. My exploration into this collection of books was sparked by a quote from Howard Thurman's work, Jesus and the Disinherited. "What does the religion of Jesus offer to those with their backs against the wall?" For Thurman, this inquiry commenced by examining Jesus' circumstances as a poor Jew residing in occupied territory without civil protection—an outsider in his own land." Black & African American Religious Studies Where to begin! My exploration into this collection of books was sparked by a quote from Howard Thurman’s Jesus and the Disinherited: “What does the religion of Jesus offer to those with their backs against the wall?” For Thurman, this question begins with context... Jesus as a first-century Palestinian Jew living under Roman occupation, an outsider in his own land, part of a marginalized and oppressed people without civil protections. As you move through these books, I invite you to listen inwardly and notice which one, gently or boldly, calls your attention. Trust that what resonates, unsettles, or opens something within you is not accidental. It may be an invitation. A doorway. A next place for your own healing, unlearning, and exploration to continue. A Black Theology of Liberation Sisters in the Wilderness: The Challenge of Womanist God Just a Sister Away: Understanding the Timeless Connection Between Women of Today & Women in the Bible Black Church Studies: An Introduction Bonhoeffer's Black Jesus: Harlem Renaissance Theology and an Ethic of Resistance The Cross of the Lynching Tree How Africa Shaped the Christian Mind: Rediscovering the African Seedbed of Western Christianity Jesus and the Disinherited Gospel Haymanot: A Constructive Theology and Critical Reflection on African and Diasporic Christianity African American Religious History Black Theology and Black Power Liberating Black Theology: The Bible and the Black Experience in America Esau McCaulley Reading while Black; The Whole Counsel of God. Listen Jude 3 Project Is Christianity Good For Black Women? by Jude 3 Project. Listen Hush Harbors Black Church History: Hush Harbors Secret Worship. Listen Sermons & Teachings Faith & Works Initiative ( Guidelines for a Constructive Church by Martin Luther King Jr.) View More EARLY AFRICAN CHRISTIANITY BIBLIOGRAPHY Video & Primary Texts by Jude3 Project View More THE BIBLE PROJECT Videos Podcast & Guides View More

Many principles and teachings in the Bible emphasize the importance of caring for one's neighbor, seeking justice, and being a responsible steward of the world. For instance, Jesus' command to "love your neighbor as yourself" (Matthew 22:39) is an inherit call to actively engage in the well-being of one's community and society as a whole. Civic Engagement WHY CIVIC ENGAGEMENT? Many principles and teachings in the Bible remind us that caring for our neighbors, seeking justice, and being responsible stewards of the world are not just noble ideas... they are invitations to live out love in tangible ways. Jesus' command to "love your neighbor as yourself (Matt 22:39)" calls us to actively participate in the well-being of our communities and society. Similarly, Micah 6:8 encourages us to "act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God," inviting us to let justice, compassion, and humility guide our actions. Civic engagement, then, becomes more than duty; it becomes a way to reflect God’s heart, to contribute to healing, and to help build a world that mirrors the wholeness Christ desires for us all. We know there are countless opportunities for civic engagement in our world, and many of you are already walking this path faithfully. Below are just a few of the ways our family has connected, among many others, that we wanted to share. May these examples encourage you, gently remind you of the power of your participation, and invite all of us to align our actions with God’s desire for healing, wholeness, and unity in Christ. Black Maternal Health Center of Excellence Empowering Black women, birthing persons, and their families to feel safe, respected, and informed through their entire pregnancy journey. The idea for the Black Maternal Health Center Of Excellence (BMHCE) was born in 2017 by the Charles Drew University (CDU) Department of Urban Public Health (DUPH), in partnership with the African American Infant and Maternal Mortality Prevention Initiative (AAIMM). These organizations partner with BMHCE to prevent infant and maternal mortality in LA County and the broader U.S. Eloheh Indigenous Center for Earth Justice Eloheh Indigenous Center for Earth Justice focuses on developing, implementing and teaching sustainable and regenerative earth practices. AddiEun Foundation The mission of the AddiEun Foundation is to fund, in the form of small micro-grants, the creation of primarily black and indigenous women led reprieve spaces and infrastructure building and strengthening for black and indigenous people, families, and communities confronting and enduring the persistent historical intergenerational and institutional effects of White Body Supremacy. These spaces will be the cultural and philosophical foundation for healing and economic development for the next nine generations. NAACP National Association for the Advancement of Colored People The NAACP or National Association for the Advancement of Colored People was established in 1909 and is America's oldest and largest civil rights organization. It was formed in New York City by white and Black activists, partially in response to the ongoing violence against Black Americans around the country. Imagine Abolition Watch to hear former executive director Patrisse Cullors’ vision of abolition, and how Black Lives Matter was birthed from a passion to set us all free. Video Color of Change OUR MISSION: Color Of Change is the nation’s largest online racial justice organization. We help people respond effectively to injustice in the world around us. As a national online force driven by 7 million members, we move decision-makers in corporations and government to create a more human and less hostile world for Black people in America. Watts of Power Foundation The Village Initiative The Foundation’s mission is to strengthen families and communities through a focus on education and community revitalization. Our five-pronged approach empowers Black male pre-service teachers through: education, housing, financial literacy, job training and advocacy. Teacher Village featured ABC 7 Eyewitness News Children's Defense Fund The Children’s Defense Fund Leave No Child Behind® mission is to ensure every child a Healthy Start, a Head Start, a Fair Start, a Safe Start and a Moral Start in life and successful passage to adulthood with the help of caring families and communities. CDF provides a strong, effective and independent voice for all the children of America who cannot vote, lobby or speak for themselves. We pay particular attention to the needs of poor children, children of color and those with disabilities. Los Angeles Regional Re-entry Partnership The mission of LARRP is to support the development and implementation of a comprehensive, culturally competent, and effective community reentry system, by providing a strong community voice in public policy and funding decisions; by serving as a convener of reentry service providers, advocates, and other stakeholders; and by building capacity across the county to meet the needs of the reentry community. Breaking Barriers, Building Belonging Anti-Ableism Resources Across Faith & Advocacy California Black Power Network The California Black Power Network is a united ecosystem of Black grassroots organizations working together to change the lived conditions of Black Californians by dismantling systemic and anti-Black racism. Black & Asian Solidarity FACE See how FACE is bringing together the Black and AAPI community to bring racial healing and unity to fight for a more equitable world. After Hours We are a community compelled by the hope of Christ to participate in transformation and healing among people in L.A. involved in all aspects of the cycle of sexual exploitation. We do this by building community, aligning resources, and fostering healthy relationships. Catholic Legal Immigration Network "I was a stranger and you welcomed me." In light of ongoing debates about immigration, this call from Matthew 25:35 remains as relevant as ever. Immigration is a key issue in the U.S. and globally, involving not only legal and policy complexities but also significant social and ethical concerns. For over 30 years, the Catholic Legal Immigration Network, Inc. (CLINIC) has defended immigrant families' legal rights and upheld their dignity, grounded in the Catholic tradition of welcoming the stranger. CLINIC trains and supports a network of 400+ Catholic and community-based immigration law providers across 49 states, helping nearly 500,000 immigrants annually. It also supports immigrant defenders in court and provides expertise in religious immigration law for religious workers coming to the U.S. Supporting Immigrants: A Call to Action Race Equity & Justice Ministries by North Carolina Conference of The United Methodist Church Video Poor People's Campaign In 1968, Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and many others called for a “revolution of values” in America. They sought to build a broad, fusion movement that could unite poor and impacted communities across the country. Their name was a direct cry from the underside of history: The Poor People’s Campaign. Today, the Poor People’s Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival has picked up this unfinished work. From Alaska to Arkansas, the Bronx to the border, people are coming together to confront the interlocking evils of systemic racism, poverty, ecological devastation, militarism and the war economy, and the distorted moral narrative of religious nationalism. We understand that as a nation we are at a critical juncture... that we need a movement that will shift the moral narrative, impact policies and elections at every level of government, and build lasting power for poor and impacted people. The Equal Justice Initiative The Equal Justice Initiative is committed to ending mass incarceration and excessive punishment in the United States, to challenging racial and economic injustice, and to protecting basic human rights for the most vulnerable people in American society. EJI challenges poverty and racial injustice, advocates for equal treatment in the criminal justice system, and creates hope for marginalized communities. Founded in 1989 by Bryan Stevenson, a widely acclaimed public interest lawyer and bestselling author of Just Mercy, EJI is a private, 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides legal representation to people who have been illegally convicted, unfairly sentenced, or abused in state jails and prisons. We challenge the death penalty and excessive punishment and we provide re-entry assistance to formerly incarcerated people. Tsuru for Solidarity As an ethnic group who has received an apology and reparations from the federal government for wrongs committed against us, Japanese Americans have a moral imperative to support Black people seeking a past due similar path for a structural remedy. We also have moral authority to stand in solidarity with other communities: especially a community targeted by historic racism seeking accountability and a process for redress and reparations. Chasing Justice Chasing Justice will equip and inspire you in new ways. The invitation to live justly can often feel overwhelming with all the darkness in the world, but we believe that God cares about the injustice and pain in the world and has designed us to make a difference. Being led by people of color, we are forming a community of people that will journey together. This journey will provoke a social imagination that centers the voices of those most impacted by injustice. Chasing Justice will guide you to live justly and see God’s goodness for the world. Let’s rebuild a just world. Video Harambee Ministries Rooted in Christ, transforming community, located in the heart of Northwest Pasadena, Harambee Ministries is a Christ-centered, justice-driven organization committed to developing a thriving community through discipleship, education, and leadership development. With a legacy of empowering youth and families, Harambee works to cultivate hope, academic excellence, and spiritual formation, ensuring every individual is seen, supported, and equipped to lead. From after-school programs to mentorship and neighborhood engagement, Harambee lives out the Gospel through holistic love, action, and presence. Private School Village PSV is a unique community of support, created for Black families by Black families. A highly collaborative organization, PSV brings together families and students from across private schools to share resources, centralize offerings, and truly build community. We believe that a healthy education includes a community where students, parents, and schools are in partnership to ensure all students thrive fully. Together we are working to increase racial literacy, racial socialization, representation and support related research. Mental Health Resources for Children and Youth in Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health (DMHLA) Download Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health Toll Free Assistance (DMHLA) Download Mental Health Resources Download Expert Insights on Youth Suicide Awareness & Prevention in K-12 Schools Download How School & District Leaders Can Recognize & Prevent Student Harm to Self & Others Download Creating a Modern Youth Suicide Awareness & Prevention Program for Your District Download www.navigate360.com Los Angeles City Resource List (The Housing Authority has developed a resource list with possible sources and assistance. The Housing Authority does not endorse these services) Download Los Angeles County Consumer Business Affairs View More

Lament challenges power structures, it calls for justice, and it makes demands on our relationships with the "powers that be," one another. Our tears are our prayers when we can't speak, a baptism of sorts, salty healing, a sign of our vulnerability, and a liturgical response to violence. When we are confronted with the horror of our violence-laden society, our mindless killing of innocents, we shift from individual sob and solidarity cry to collective moans (Barbara Holmes)." Lament as Sacred Formation "The reasons that lament is risky are because it challenges power structures, it calls for justice, and it makes demands on our relationships with the "powers that be," one another, and God. Once lament is released, it cannot be recalled. Lament is risky because we never know until the act is done whether or not we have gone too far. Lament allows the pain to escape and stitches us to our neighbors. We are called to weep with those who weep and mourn with those who mourn. Our tears are our prayers when we can't speak, a baptism of sorts, salty healing, a sign of our vulnerability, and a liturgical response to violence. Lament is a collective response to tyranny and injustice. When we are confronted with the horror of our violence-laden society, our mindless killing of innocents, we shift from individual sobs to a solidarity cry to collective moans." ~ Barbara Holmes, Crisis Contemplation Prayers & Pathways of Lament From Lament to Partnership: The Christian Response to Racial Injustice In the wake of George Floyd’s death, many churches struggled not only with what to say, but how to respond faithfully amid grief, anger, and moral urgency. Rev. Kelvin Walker and Dr. Soong-Chan Rah lead a thoughtful conversation rooted in the Black experience, Christian lament, and the call to partnership against racial injustice. While shaped by a specific moment in history, this discussion continues to stand the test of time by addressing enduring patterns of racialized suffering and the church’s responsibility within them. The Need for Lament Professor, Author, and Theologian Soong-Chan Rah argues that the deeply rooted triumphalism and exceptionalism in the American society are causing the absence of lament in the American churches. Churches today must not only recognize the need for lament, but also practice the discipline of lament both within and beyond the walls of the church ( Prophetic Lament: A Call for Justice in Troubled Times ). 'Hold On' A Message of Lament, Hope, and Action for Black Life A message of lament, hope, and action for Black life, “Hold On” calls the church and community to reckon with pain and press into faithful response. Rooted in honest grief and enduring hope, it invites reflection on racial injustice and what it means to stand for justice with love and courage. This message doesn’t settle for surface-level comfort but points toward practical compassion and sustained solidarity. An American Lament This devotional is a journey through America’s history of slavery, segregation, and racism. At times, it may feel like a voyage into the shadow of death. But even in that deep darkness, God is with us and his light is the hope that guides us. Chasing Justice: Lent Dust to Dust: A Lenten Invitation to Liberation ... how can we experience transformation without knowing what needs liberation? The life and death of Christ invites us, for our own integrity, to examine and reconsider how we ourselves have been complicit in corporate and systemic wrong. This forty day journey to deepen our love for Creator and Christ through the Spirit’s transforming power is the invitation of lent. The Center for Formation Justice & Peace We invite you to embark on a transformative Lenten journey that intertwines deep spiritual reflection with the pursuit of justice and peace. We offer a rich tapestry of resources and practices designed to nurture your inner life and inspire outward action. Our offerings aim to deepen your connection to Christlike character while actively engaging in the work of justice. 'A Just Lent' Invitation Using A Just Passion: A Six-Week Lenten Journey , and the lectionary, we take a look at various aspects of justice, its importance to God and why the church has often regrettably failed to live out God’s call to “do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with the Lord.” Also, learn about Transforming Center: Love, Lent, and Leadership: Fashioning Your Own Wilderness where we follow the lectionary schedule. Black Liturgies Cole Arthur Riley's Black Liturgies is a contemplative project that combines faith, spirituality, and the Black experience through prayers, poetry, and reflections. It serves as a form of liturgy that acknowledges the unique struggles, resilience, and beauty within the Black community, offering words of comfort, healing, and justice ( Black Liturgies: Prayers, Poems, and Meditations for Staying Human ). Christian Community Development Association (CCDA) CCDA is inviting you into a Lenten journey. Excerpts from our Immerse online curriculum will prompt your thoughts and lead you in reflection. We also encourage you to use a 40 day printable prayer drawing provided by Praying In Color . Click here for instructions on how to use this resource to visually and creatively give glory to God this Lenten Season. How Can I Lament? Lament Books and Articles | The process of writing our own lament, using these nine steps modeled after the Psalms: Cry out to God (your address to God); Complaint (your anger, pain, heartache, or sadness); Affirmation of Trust (your remembrance of God’s presence in your past); Petition/Request (your deepest desire); Additional Argument (anything more, why God should intervene); Rage against Your Enemies (bringing your enemies before God); Assurance of Being Heard (what you need to feel heard); Promise to Offer Praise to God (the promise you can offer to God); and Assurance (the attribute of God you are thankful for in the moment). What to Pray When Pain Takes Your Words by Nathan Foster Lamentations by BP Laments express our distress to God as an appropriate response to suffering. Listen Resmaa Menakem Notice the Rage; Notice the Silence. Listen John Onwuchekwa A helpful reframing of grief that has the power to change. Listen Readings on Lament & Lent Prayers View More Songs of Lament to Praise An invitation to sing through lament, find rest in surrender, and be renewed in Hope. Bifrost Arts Common Hymnal A Lament Service Urban Doxology Justice Choir Porter's Gates Mahalia Jackson Hip Hop as Contemplative Form Ruthie Foster Chandler Moore Sweet in the Honey Rock Groundwork Reads

Here are some links and books that our family has either read or is currently exploring together in our community. Healing Racial Trauma resources has inspired us to discover enriching elements of soul care and reparative trauma healing on your personal or communal journey. Healing Race-Based Trauma Where to begin! Our desire is that these resources support you in discovering meaningful elements of soul care and reparative trauma healing along your personal and communal journey. As you explore these books, I invite you to notice which one stands out to you. Trust what resonates, what awakens hope, or what brings a sense of grounding... this may be your place to begin. My Grandmother's Hands | Racialized Trauma and the Pathway to Mending Our Hearts and Bodies Healing Racial Trauma |The Road to Resilience The Body Keeps the Score | Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma The Black Woman's Guide to Overcoming Domestic Violence Trauma and Race | A Path to Wellbeing Open Wounds | A Story of Racial Tragedy, Trauma, and Redemption Suffering and the Heart of God | How Trauma Destroys and Christ Restores Anatomy of the Soul Healing Leadership Trauma Understood Smiling Mind UCLA Mindful Guides Goodsky | Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) Light Mindfulness Practice Videos Johns Hopkins Medicine Somatic Self Care Resmaa Menakem Notice the Rage; Notice the Silence. Listen Sheila Wise Rowe What Do We Do When The Pain Doesn't Stop? (Transcending Racial Trauma) Listen Unchained Documentary Healing Wounds of Generational Trauma Listen Readings on Reparative Healing View More

Financial Wellness fosters and mobilizes a diverse collection of resources that will champion and empower financial health and well-being. It creates and repairs a world where we are informed and able to discern healthy qualified financial decisions and confidently take effective financial action that best helps meet our basic human needs. Its inviting and building a financial wellness movement and momentum that fulfills our family, our friends and community goals, presently and generationally. Financial Wellness Resourcing Wellness in Community Financial Wellness is the practice of cultivating and mobilizing a diverse web of resources that champions and empowers financial health and well-being for all humanity. It is the ongoing work of creating and repairing a world where we are informed, supported, and able to discern wise and life-giving financial decisions, moving with confidence toward actions that honor our basic human needs. In this way, financial wellness becomes an invitation: to release scarcity-driven fear, to heal our relationship with money, and to build a collective movement of care and shared responsibility. It is a momentum that nurtures our families, strengthens our friendships, and restores our communities... both now and for generations to come (II Cor 8). SAINTWELL, is a contemplative space exploring money, meaning, and living well beyond scarcity. At the intersection of ancient wisdom, modern science, and Spirit, we offer shame-free pathways toward healing, wholeness, and true belonging. Learn More John Hope Bryant Operation Hope Our mission is to advance economic opportunity by providing the tools they need to reach their goals. We help individuals of all ages by offering financial education, one-on-one coaching, courses on credit score improvement, as well as pathways toward homeownership and starting a business. BiggerPockets Rookie Podcast The Real Estate Rookie Podcast Our real estate investing podcast for beginners featuring interviews, real-world deal analysis, and listener Q&A. Tiffany the Budgetnista Aliche Get Good with Money As a successful pre-school teacher with a healthy nest egg when a recession and advice from a shady advisor put her out of a job and into a huge financial hole. As she began to chart the path to her own financial rescue, the outline of her ten-step formula for attaining both financial security and peace of mind began to take shape. Jasmin Shupper Greenline Housing Foundation Greenline Housing Foundation is that solution. Stewarding anger and translating it into righteous action to bring about lasting change, Greenline is providing down payment grants, home maintenance grants, and financial education to qualified people of color to help restore justice. BiggerPocket Money Podcast Want Serious Passive Income? Try Private Money Lending Private money lending has been mentally squared away as “something mega-wealthy people do.” Most investors will write off lending money because they think they lack the experience or funds to do a successful deal. What if private money lending requires less money than thought. Mellody Hobson Priceless Facts About Money Priceless Facts about Money by Mellody Hobson is a children's non-fiction book that demystifies finance through fun facts, covering topics like the history of currency (from chocolate to meteorites), the origins of banking, and the meaning of symbols on money. READY TO JOIN OUR WEALTH JUSTICE MOVEMENT? GET IN TOUCH WITH 10SEVEN. At 10SEVEN, we address financial trauma at the root of the problem. Learn More Camelback Ventures Vision & Work Camelback Ventures MISSION | Camelback Ventures increases access to opportunity for entrepreneurs of color and women by investing in their ventures and leadership while advocating for fairness in their funding. Real Estate Investor Henry Washington Racial Disparity in Real Estate and How To Fix It Click Here. Henry is a real estate investor, author and has used processes and principles to achieve financial freedom. He desires to share them with others so that they can change the financial landscape of their family forever! Attorney Edmund Yan Tree of Life Law Firm Most people are overwhelmed by the complicated legal process of estate planning. We simplified it with our award-winning process to give you the most complete plan so you can feel confident that everyone and everything you love is taken care of. Budget App EveryDollar No matter what you want to do with your money, it starts with a budget. Don’t cross your fingers every time you swipe your card. When you have a budget, you can spend and save with confidence. Say goodbye to that overwhelmed feeling—because you’re about to start taking control of your money. Jordan Grumet Taking Stock Written by a hospice doctor with a unique front-row seat to the regrets of his dying patients. The goal of financial independence is to have the economic fuel to live a full life and avoid regret. Taking Stock is your guide to taking control of your finances and investing in yourself. Bola Sokunbi Clever Girl Finance Founded by Bola Sokunbi, we are a mission-driven company aimed at providing women with much-needed financial guidance and support to build financial confidence and make smart money decisions in their day-to-day lives. Association of African American Financial Advisors , AAAA has been committed to fostering the professional growth of Black/African American financial advisors, planners, and affiliated professionals while also advocating for increased diversity in the wealth management industry. Learn More Dave Zoller, CFP Streamline Financial Services Achieve Your Successful & Secure Retirement WITHOUT A Financial Advisor Ramsey Solutions The 7 Baby Steps You can take control of your money! Dave Ramsey's 7 Baby Steps will show you how to save for emergencies, pay off all your debt for good, and build wealth. It’s not a fairy tale. It works every single time! Vanguard Vanguard | The Value of Ownership Can estate planning feel like an act of love? Can a financial partnership lead to quality time with your family? Can your investments build a stronger community? How can financial advice enable generational wealth for the Black community? Financial Wellness Guides Urban Wallet We equip urban millennials with real-time money management concepts and tips to increase our efficiency, wealth and prosperity through investing OUR CASH. Gender Equity & Economic Security American Association of University Women We’ve led the fight for fair pay and economic opportunity for women, and the battle continues: Women still get just 83 cents for every dollar paid to a man, and men continue to dominate the top roles and highest-paying professions. Make Money Better Healthy Rich Race and culture are two factors that can be very important, not only because of the influence of external social and historical factors but also because of internal cultural factors and beliefs. BIPOC looking for financial advice sometimes need information tailored to our experiences as racialized people. About Dinner Table Dinner Table We believe that the foundation of a successful and fulfilling life lies in the ability to create value. Our mission is to empower parents to instill this crucial mindset in their children, ensuring they grow up to be confident, capable, and financially competent people ready to take on the world. Sparkle Acrey Escrow Officer Sparkle Acrey has 30 years of experience, offering expert guidance and support throughout the escrow process. Ensuring smooth and secure transactions for all parties, her extensive knowledge and dedication make her a trusted resource in the field. MoneyTime Blog MoneyTime We are an online financial literacy program for kids ages 10 to 14. The program teaches children how to manage their own money and what they’ll need to know to make smart financial decisions as they get older. About Credit Karma Credit Karma We are money calculators that can help you estimate your savings, see how compound interest works, and much more. About Rocket Money Rocket Money Managing money is hard, but you don’t have to do it alone. Rocket Money empowers you to save more, spend less, see everything, and take back control of your financial life. About Financial Wellness Financial Wellness (TDB) Text and Context Groundwork Reads

Here are resources our family has either utilized or has been recommended by others during different stages of our pursuit of righteousness and justice. As you may observe, my focus centers on Black and African American history. This emphasis has allowed me to recognize the profound extent of our entanglement with systemic oppression, both historically and persistently. Rediscover valuable insights as we collectively move towards God's work of restoring righteousness and justice. Justice & Righteousness Resourcing Wellness in Community "Biblically, justice is a Divine act of reparation where breached relationships are renewed and victims, offenders, and communities are restored. Justice, therefore, is about relationships and our conduct within them. Justice asks, "How is righteousness embodied and exuded in how I live in relationship with God, neighbor, and creation?" Biblical justice is established and worked out within the confines of a relationship. The relational working out of justice is righteousness. This is why we are called to pursue right(eous) relationship with God. And through our realigned relationship with God, in Christ, empowered by the Holy Spirit, we "become the righteousness of God" (2 Cor. 5:21) ." ~ Dominque Dubois Gillard Build a World of Justice & Righteousness Links & Books View More A History of Racial Compromise Links & Books View More Embodied Soul Care Links & Books View More Restorative Rhythm of Life Defined View More Lament Links & Books View More Healing Race-Based Trauma Links & Books View More Black & African American Religious History Links & Books View More Civic Engagment Links & Books View More "The world is the cloister of the contemplative. Always the quest for justice draws one deeply into the heart of God. In this sacred interiorty, contemplation becomes the language of prayer and the impetus for prophetic action." ~ Barbara Holmes, Joy Unspeakable Must See Videos & Movies View More Race & Reconciliation curated by Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of Decatur, GA Download Anti-Racism Resources curated by United Methodist Church of Garner, NC View More Righteousness & Justice Resources curated by Rock Community of Los Angeles, CA Download Racial Justice Resources curated by First Presbyterian Church of Berkeley, CA Download SANKOFA is a word from the Akan tribe in Ghana. It means San (to return), Ko (to go), and Fa (to fetch, seek, and take). The well-known image of the bird... its body facing forward while its head reaches back to lift an egg from its back... captures the heart of Sankofa. It reminds us that returning to what has been carried, forgotten, or left unexamined is not regression, but wisdom. Oftentimes, healing and faithfulness require us to look back with honesty so we can move forward with clarity, courage, and repair. The Sankofa experience follows this way of learning. It guides us through historic sites of the Civil Rights Movement, inviting a living connection between the freedom struggle of the past and the realities we carry today. Sankofa names the truth that understanding race and caste systems is not an optional add-on to faith, but a vital part of our Christian discipleship… especially for those seeking a love that is rooted, embodied, and just. This journey is interactive and deeply formational. It invites participants to notice how Jesus’ righteousness, generosity, and justice take shape in real places, real stories, and real people… inside and outside the church. As we trace the history of caste systems and witness their ongoing impact, Sankofa creates space for awareness, repentance, and repair. It equips believers to join Christ’s work of reconciliation and conciliation, integrating faith and action so that our spiritual formation is not only personal, but also communal… woven into the healing, restoration, and hope God calls all of us to live into together.

Give your body a boost of herbal strength for immune system wellness. An incredible superfruit supplement that eases the inflamed body for all seasons such as the cold and flu symptoms. We are currently a local pick - up small business in the Adams-Normandie District in Los Angeles, CA desiring to expand so that more neighborhoods can recieve this resource. Elderberry Syrup Resourcing Wellness in Community 8oz Elderberry $12.00 Give your body a boost of herbal strength for immune system wellness. An incredible superfruit supplement that eases the inflamed body for all seasons. DIY Elderberry Batch $7.00 (8oz) Learn how to make your own homemade elderberry syrup! Just add water, your local honey and you’re ready to go! 12oz Elderberry $18.00 Enjoy nature’s most powerful berries. An age-old remedy used to boost the body’s immune system and help reduce cold and flu symptoms. Our Elderberry Market We are currently a local pick - up small business in the Adams-Normandie District in Los Angeles, CA desiring to expand so that more neighborhoods can recieve this resource. Local Pick-Up Directions Purchase Form PURCHASE FORM DETAILS 1. Use "Purchase Form" button a bove. 2. Fill-In your Name , Email , & Phone Number along with your Choice of Items (8oz, 12oz or DIY) & How Many . STEP 1 REVIEW YOUR PURCHASE ORDER 1. After you Review your order Click Send. 2. We have 3 Payment Methods: (1) Venmo @Cynthia-Peters-206 (2) Zelle urbanwellnessliving@gmail.com (3) Cash on Arrival STEP 2 RECEIVE OUR RESPONSE YOU WILL Receive an Urban Wellness Living Email or Text Response with the... 1 . Amount owed 2. Local Pick - Up Directions 3. And Payment Methods STEP 3 How It's Made Natural Made Elderberry Syrup Our Elderberry Syrup is handcrafted using wildcrafted and organic herbs to create an all natural remedy that helps stimulate the immune system. Ingredients include whole elderberry sambucus nigra, whole cloves, cut & sifted echinacea purpurea, cut & sifted ginger root, cut & sifted cinnamon chips and unfiltered raw honey. Our Elderberry Syrup is done in small batches for quality control, flexibility changes, affordability, and increased efficiency. To promote healthy safeguard measures, our elderberry syrup is adequately prepared by using gloves and masks. And all our bottles are cleaned in high temperature sanitizing cycles. To reduce cost for our urban community, we package our product with minimal materials that can either be used again or be recycled. In addition, it is why we are currently a local pick-up mom and pop business. Our Elderberry Syrup is made with care and thoughtfulness as it has not only impacted our family’s health but also the health of our neighbors. Note: we will be transitioning from glass bottles to plastic bottles in order to maintain our current cost structure. Benefits Immune Support Provides the body a boost of herbal strength for immune system wellness. A good source of vitamin A and C, calcium, iron, and vitamin B6. Lessen symptoms Lessens the symptoms of cold and influenza as well as reduces the recovery timeline. Allergy Relief A great natural antihistamine that defends against seasonal allergens. Ease Inflammation Helps tame inflammation and has antioxidant effects to help reduce swelling in the body while repairing the immune system. Good-Keeping Ingredients Ingredients include whole elderberry sambucus nigra, whole cloves, echinacea purpurea, ginger root, cinnamon chips and unfiltered raw honey. Dosage Children: 1 Tsp Adult: 1 TBs Intense Use: 1 Tbs every 3 to 4 hours up to 6 times per day (for children 1 Tsp). Storage Store Elderberry in the fridge. Refrigerate for up to 3 months. About the Inspiration Biddy Mason Speaks Up I continue to be deeply moved by Biddy Mason on so many fronts. Her convictions about the value of learning, the way she invested in her community, and her steady presence in both everyday needs and long-term change, these speak to me in ways that feel both grounding and inspiring. Her involvement in charitable and civic life was not small. She helped found the First African Methodist Episcopal Church in Los Angeles, opened a school for African American children, and stood alongside her neighbors with determination and practical support. Her faith was not abstract; it shaped how she showed up for people and how she imagined a better future. I’m also struck by her work as a healer and midwife. The skills she carried... skills that saved lives, brought comfort, and strengthened families... became a lifeline for many. Knowing that elderberry syrup was one of her remedies makes me smile; it’s a reminder that healing work can be both ordinary and profound, and that what we pass down can reach far beyond where we stand. And of course, facing enslavement, discrimination, and prejudice did not crush her conviction. She continued to believe in equality, justice, and the dignity of every person. Her story isn’t simple, and her path wasn’t easy, but her resilience, clarity, and commitment remain a powerful witness. Biddy Mason’s legacy keeps calling me forward. It reminds me that courage can grow even in harsh conditions, and that faith lived with integrity can shape generations. If you haven’t spent time with her story, I truly encourage you to. Biddy Mason Speaks Up by Arisa White and Laura Atkins is a meaningful place to begin. The book offers a clear look at slavery, caste systems, and community-building in the United States, all woven together with lyrical verse, vivid illustrations, timelines, historical context, and primary sources. Throughout, the authors invite us into reflection with questions like, “How do you see power at work in your community?”... making her life not just historical, but deeply connected to the choices and struggles we see today. “The fact that flowers, herbs, and vegetables eventually burst forth from dampened seeds is always a wonder. May our individual tears moisten the soil of our common humanity, germinating seeds of hope, compassion and mercy that will blossom and heal our collective suffering” ~ Barbara A. Holmes

Soul Care is a sacred journey of rest, healing, and connection with God. It nurtures your whole being and creates space to be seen, heard, and renewed. Even in struggle, God's love meets us. Spiritual Formation flows from this journey, shaping how we live with love, justice, and compassion. It’s not about striving or perfection but learning to live with trust, purpose, and presence. Together, they invite deep transformation. Soul Care & Spiritual Formation Resourcing Wellness in Community Soul Care is the sacred and ongoing journey of nurturing the whole being in the presence of Creator God. It draws us beyond the surface of daily life into deeper connection, where we are met, seen, and loved. Here, God’s nearness is not something to grasp or perform for, but something to receive. As we become aware of Divine presence... especially in suffering, adversity, and struggle... we are invited to respond not through striving, but through resting, listening, and opening ourselves to transformation. Soul Care creates space for both God’s voice and our own to be heard, forming sacred ground where truth, healing, and renewal can take root at a pace that honors our humanity. Spiritual Formation flows from this sacred journey, gradually shaping our way of being in alignment with the Spirit of love, justice, mercy, and compassion. It invites individuals and communities into life-giving rhythms that reflect Divine purpose, grace, and embodied presence. This formation is not a destination to reach, but a responsive path we walk, an unfolding expression of hope and trust in God’s transforming movement, already present beneath the surface of every moment. As we attend to this holy undercurrent of the soul... our motives, desires, and longings... we grow in awareness of how God’s love is being formed within us and shared through us, revealed and gently restored. Soul Care & Spiritual Formation Centers The Center for Formation Justice & Peace Black Lives & Contemplation Shalem Institute for Spiritual Formation Awakening | Heal Renew Inspire Center for Action & Contemplation Fuller Center for Spiritual Formation Emmaus Formation Centre Peacock Soul Care Transforming Center The Journey to Your True Self | Calhoun Renovare Spiritual Directors Spiritual Director of Color Network Abide with Vanessa Sadler Spiritual Direction with Cynthia Peters Soul Reparations Spiritual Direction with Daniele Evans Emmaus Formation Centre Soul Care with Erica Peacock Soul Care Spiritual Directors Sustainable Faith Chaplains Spiritual Directors & Leaders Spiritual Direction International Selecting the appropriate Spiritual Director is a deeply personal process, requiring careful consideration of various factors. Please discern diligently to identify the qualities and expertise that align with your specific needs and preferences. Spiritual Directors Spiritual Practice Guides Prayer of Examen Centering Prayer Lectio Divina Fixed Hour of Prayer Gratitude Rooted in Resilience Prayer of Intention Loaves and Fishes I Need You Sacred Pause Lament as Sacred Formation Welcome Practice Forgiveness Retreat Light Spiritual Practice Guides Spiritual Practices Pete Scazzero 8 Practices of Emotionally Healthy Preaching & Teaching. Listen Embodied Soul Care Groundwork Videos & Reads. View More Text & Context Readings on Soul Care & Spiritual Formation. View More A Sanctified Art In our work, remembering is a spiritual practice. We remember that God created all creation with a goodness refrain. We remember that the poetry of love proclaims that darkness is sacred and black is beautiful (Song of Songs 1:5-6). We remember that Jesus was not white. However, we remember that the white Church has perpetuated violence and oppression against black, brown, and indigenous peoples. We remember that the white Church has profited from slavery. We remember that in the 1820s, white American churches mass-produced and mass-marketed images of white Jesus in order to form a unified national identity of white superiority.* We remember that racism is still alive in our faith communities. As we remember all of these things, we commit to the ongoing work of disrupting racism wherever it persists—trusting that through this journey, God re-members us and makes us whole (*Ibram X. Kendi, Stamped from the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America. (New York, NY: Nations Books, 2016). 153). View More Kelly Latimore Icons Kelly began painting icons in 2010 while a member of the Common Friars, a community focused on connection with others, the land, and God through service, meals, and farming at “The Good Earth Farm.” Inspired by traditional iconography and encouraged by a priest friend, Kelly developed a unique approach, blending inherited practices with reflections on community life and mission. His first original icon, Christ: Consider the Lilies, was shaped by the question of how to live in right relationship with creation, embodying art as a communal and contemplative expression. For Kelly, iconography is a spiritual practice, a meditation on color, light, and meaning, that seeks to cultivate dialogue, challenge biases, and reveal Christ’s presence in daily life. His work invites viewers to pause, ponder, and grow in connection with God, neighbor, and creation. View More Bette Lynn Dickinson Bette Lynn Dickinson is a prophetic artist, author, and speaker dedicated to creating sacred spaces where individuals can encounter the transformative love of Jesus. Through her evocative paintings and writings, she crafts visual parables that invite reflection on the spiritual journey. As the founder of Awakening the Soul, a nonprofit ministry, Bette offers resources and experiences designed to nourish the souls of ministry leaders and seekers alike. With a B.A. in Art from Western Michigan University and a Master of Divinity from Grand Rapids Theological Seminary, she seamlessly blends theological depth with artistic expression. Her debut book, Making Room in Advent: 25 Devotions for a Season of Wonder, showcases her unique integration of art and spirituality. View More An Artist's Note The featured artwork on this page is created by or in collaboration with artists who are deeply committed to honoring the history, heritage, and lived realities of Black, Brown, and Indigenous peoples. Through proceeds and partnerships, their work supports ministries and communities in ways that embody soul care, spiritual formation, justice, and a shared commitment to solidarity, healing, and advocacy. May this work stir us toward the vital practice of soul care and justice, not only as personal reflection but as part of our shared spiritual formation within God. You may already have artwork or know artists whose creativity invites this movement. Engage with them as fellow companions on this liberating path. Learn More Sanctuaries of Renewal Sanctuaries of Renewal Retreat Spaces for Rest and Reflection Tahquitz Pines Retreat View More Oak Glenn Christian Conference Center View More The Oak Center View More Monasteries Retreat Centers View More Forest Home Retreat Centers View More Retreathood View More Exploring Inexpensive Housing and Pet-Sitting Platforms for Retreats As you consider creating sacred spaces for retreat...whether for solitude, soul care, or communal renewal...there may be unconventional yet accessible ways to make it possible. Platforms like GlampingHub , VRBO , or even 'pet-sitting exchanges' such as Rover or TrustedHousesitters could provide creative, budget-friendly options. These resources might open doors to peaceful stays in nature, quiet urban sanctuaries, or unexpected places of rest. But what if retreat isn’t found in a dedicated space at all? What if quiet must be carved out in the middle of noise, in a one-room home filled with children, in a war-torn city, or in the relentless rhythm of daily survival? Sacred space, then, becomes not just about location, but about intention...finding stillness in the small pauses, claiming a moment of breath between demands, or turning an ordinary corner into a refuge of prayer. Even a walk through a nearby park or path...beneath open skies, alongside trees, desert plains, rubble-strewn roads, or winding alleys...can become a sacred pilgrimage. These everyday places, whether peaceful or marked by struggle, might not be far from home, yet they can hold room for holy encounters, deep breaths, and unspoken prayers. May you be led to places that offer not just shelter, but deep renewal. And when the world around you is anything but quiet, may rest find you in the cracks and corners of your days...in a lingering sunrise, a whispered prayer, the steady rhythm of your breath. May provision meet you where you are, and may peace unfold in ways you never expected. MY CONTEMPLATION. . . by Barbara Holmes, Crisis Contemplation: Healing the Wounded Village "My contemplative practices include writing, music and dancing, prayer, stillness, social justice activism, and teaching. These practices are the choices of one individual. What happens when the practices are communal and practiced together? What happens when contemplation is not a personal practice, but a collective, biogenetic, and spiritual response to crisis? Contemplation is the highest expression of [human] intellectual and spiritual life. . . It is a spiritual wonder. It is spontaneous awe at the sacredness of life, of being. . . It is a vivid realization of the fact that life and being in us proceed from an invisible, transcendent and infinitely abundant source. Contemplation is, above all, awareness of the reality of that Source [God]. Thomas Merton (1915 - 1968) reassured us that when we reach the limits of our knowledge categories and intuitions, there is a wellspring, deep and inexhaustible. In the darkness, we can gather in Spirit and be filled by this Source [God]. Contemplation is not just an effective response to crisis. It can also arise during the most intense aspects of the event. When bodies are being tortured, when minds are pushed to the breaking point, the human spirit falls through the cracks of the crisis into the center of contemplation. Howard Thurman (1899 - 1981) referred to this inner space as an island, a place that cannot be breached without personal consent: "When all hope for release in the world seems unrealistic and groundless, the heart turns to a way of escape beyond the present order." "Contemplation is not a privilege of the few but a vital necessity for our interconnected lives. We are called to stillness, to pause, and to listen deeply." Scriptural Anchors: Romans 12:1-2 | Psalm 46:10 | 1 Corinthians 12:12-14 | Isaiah 40:31 | Matthew 18:20 A SPIRITUAL DIRECTOR IS SOMEONE WHO... Is guided by the Holy Spirit , in the same spirit as those who, from the earliest gatherings, sought to listen together for God’s direction (Acts 13:2–3) . We help one another attend to how the Spirit is moving and speaking in our lives. Is a Trained Listener , offering a compassionate and grounded presence as we reflect together on experiences, questions, griefs, and joys. In shared attentiveness, we discern what is unfolding in daily life and how we are invited to respond (Jn 14:26; 1 Kings 19:11–13) . Does Not Seek to Fix or Diagnose , but holds space where God’s healing and direction can emerge, even amid struggle. Spiritual direction does not remove us from our challenges; it helps us notice God’s presence and invitation within them. Asks Meaningful, Compassionate Questions , opening pathways of reflection and discernment that reflect the invitational questions of Jesus: “What are you looking for?” (Jn 1:38) or “Where do you want to be made well?” (Jn 5:6) . These questions help us listen beneath the surface without pressure or presumption. Embodies Hospitality and Confidentiality , offering a sacred and trustworthy space where we can bring our whole selves... hopes, doubts, wounds, and desires... before God (Rom 12:9–13; Heb 13:2) . Guides You in Spiritual Practices , such as silence, prayer, meditation, and reflection... that nurture our relationship with God and strengthen our attentiveness to the Spirit’s work in everyday life. Invites You into Deeper Union with God , helping us attune our hearts to God’s presence in both stillness and action, and to participate in the Spirit’s transforming work within us and through us (2 Cor 3:17–18) . Encourages Spiritual Growth Rooted in Love , supporting us as we live with greater alignment to Jesus’ teaching that “where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matt 6:21) . As Henri Nouwen wrote, “The farther the outward journey takes you, the deeper the inward journey must be.” Celebrates the Transforming Work of Grace , walking together as we notice how God’s love restores and renews our lives, just as the early Church rejoiced together in the ongoing movement of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:42–47) . Continues a Long Lineage of Spiritual Companionship grounded in training and ongoing practice in the art of spiritual direction. We follow the pattern of faithful guides throughout history who have helped communities discern God’s guidance and live into their calling (Prov 11:14; Is 30:21) . “A SPIRITUAL DIRECTOR is one who helps another recognize and follow the inspirations of grace in their life, in order to arrive at the end to which God is leading them.”—Thomas Merton Scriptural Anchors: Psalm 139 | Jn 10:27 | Jn 14:26 | Jn 15:26 | Acts 1:8 | Rom 8:26 | Rom 12 | 1 Thess 5:11 | 2 Timothy 2:2

Recommended Reads are for improving the lives of one's self and others. "Education has a two-fold function in society. On the one hand it should discipline the mind for sustained and persistent speculation. On the other hand it should integrate human life around central, focusing ideals. It is a tragedy that the latter is often neglected in our educational system ( Martin Luther King Jr)." "Education is the key that unlocks the gold door to freedom (George Washington Carver)." Recommended Reads Resourcing Wellness in Community Recommended Reads are designed to enrich the lives of people and communities alike... mind, body, and spirit. “Education serves a twofold purpose in society. On one hand, it should discipline the mind for sustained and thoughtful reflection. On the other, it should integrate human life around central, guiding ideals. It is a tragedy that the latter is often neglected in our educational system" (Martin Luther King Jr.). “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it "(George Santayana). "Education is the key that unlocks the golden door to freedom" (George Washington Carver). As we engage these works, we hold both text and context with care... honoring the words themselves while remaining attentive to the histories, power dynamics, and lived realities that shape them. Reading, then, becomes not just an act of learning, but an act of healing, remembrance, and liberation. May these resources invite you to slow down, listen deeply, and rediscover the fullness of your own spiritual journey as we walk together in Jesus’ way of justice, mercy, and love. Features of the Month Soul Care Spiritual Formation Soul Care & Spiritual Formation Lament Advent Prayer Devo Lament & Advent Soul Readings Reparative Healing Reparative Healing Colonialism Colorism Caste Nationalism. Colorism. & Caste. Mainline Church Racial Dilemma Mainline Church Racial Dilemma Historical Racial Compromise Historical Racial Compromise Black African American Religious Studies Black & African American Religious Studies EARLY AFRICAN CHRISTIANITY BIBLIOGRAPHY Video & Primary Texts by Jude3 Project View More THE BIBLE PROJECT Videos Podcast & Guides View More