By Rev. Anna Blaedel ‘Tis the season, sweethearts, of so much more than we can possibly hold: a steady accumulation of sorrows that leave us splayed, and stunned. And we–exhausted, overwhelmed, and afraid–can become too adept at rending when we also, desperately, need to repair, recreate, and mend. Perhaps it is merely an antiquated story, this compiled account of angels and shepherds and flocks huddling under the cover of night; of strange visitors arriving from elsewhere and otherwise, bearing gifts of frankincense, gold, and the precious resin collected from wounded commiphora myrrha...

When a harvest arrives in full bloom, providing sustenance and bearing fruit, we are summoned to pause. We pause to savor. We pause to honor the labors of caring and tending, planting and pruning. We pause to be stunned by beauty, and to behold the magic and mystery of growing things, wild and tender and uncontained. As enfleshed nears our five year anniversary, we are pausing to celebrate all that has thus far germinated and rooted and blossomed. We feel awe at all that has grown, and so deeply grateful for the many and multitude who have enabled it to be so. So much is possible in...

We often get asked why we chose the name “enfleshed” when we launched in 2017. Each Friday for the next five weeks, we’ll share a little bit about what’s behind the word for us.One of the many unfortunate and destructive influences of patriarchal white dominant philosophies on the theological, political, and cultural landscapes we live in today is the ongoing influence of mind/body dualisms. God is associated with the mind, held over and against the flesh. In many Christian spaces, this has shaped the concept of God in the direction of something so other-than, beyond, or outside of material...

If you haven't read the introduction to this practice on our webpage, we encourage you to first read more about it here. View the whole collection here. Today's word for writing is "mourn." On pathways to collective flourishing, how do we practice mourning? In your family of origin, what did you learn about mourning? What systems/powers have contributed to the lack of collective mourning this year? What are the collective consequences of moving on without mourning loss, pain, or violence? Do you feel able to support people in their processes of mourning? When are you most tempted to rush...