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Advent Reflections

bcicirel Community, DePaul Interfaith Programs, Seeds of Mission, Spirituality, Uncategorized

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Jordan Kelley is a junior at DePaul University. Jordan is an Interfaith Scholar and is a leader in InterVarsity Christian Fellowship. This is Jordan’s first year as an Interfaith Scholar.

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If you didn’t know it yet, the Advent season has begun. The Advent season begins the new year for the Christian calendar. Advent actually means “coming” or “arrival”. The season of Advent commemorates two main events. First, is the birth of Jesus. The next event is the second “advent” or “coming” of Jesus in his final return. The spirit of Advent is both one of celebration, and of anticipation for the final renewal of creation that is promised by Jesus in his final return. During Advent, Christians reflect both on the birth of Jesus, and what it means to wait for the final renewal of all things. This season usually lasts four weeks leading right up to Christmas, and the Bible readings in the liturgy during these weeks reflect the Advent theme. Two things I reflect on as a Christian during Advent are: what does the birth of Jesus mean for me, and what is it that I wait for?

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Community, Diversity, Non-Violence: A Reflective Retreat

bcicirel Community, DePaul Interfaith Programs, Seeds of Mission, Spirituality, Uncategorized

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Caelin Niehoff is a sophomore at DePaul University pursuing a degree in American Studies. Caelin is an Interfaith Scholar and is involved with Catholic Campus Ministry at DePaul.

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Tranquility and the warmth of the sun’s reflection off the lake permeated George Williams College grounds: Lake Geneva Wisconsin.  DePaul students departed University Ministry vans and buses alike, beginning their reflective, weekend retreat. As VCSO (Vincentian Community Service Organization) leaders, students sought the self and communal reflection of the weekend’s themes: community, diversity and non-violence, while working towards peace.

As a participant at the retreat, I had several expectations for the weekend: rest and energized spirits. While an expectation of rest in the midst of a rejuvenated motivation may appear a paradox or an unrealistic expectation, it manifested itself in much of the weekend’s activities. One of my favorite aspects of the weekend was time to myself. College life can be, how should we say, life consuming, all encompassing and engulfing body, mind and soul.

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The Inner Psychological Revolution

bcicirel Community, DePaul Interfaith Programs, Engaging Nature in Spirituality, Global Interfaith Movement, Seeds of Mission, Spirituality, Uncategorized

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Dominique Johnson is a junior at DePaul University pursuing a Religious Studies major. Dominique is on the Executive Board of DePaul Interfaith.

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“You consider that to be important?”

he [Inspector Gregory] asked [Sherlock Holmes]. “Exceedingly so.”

— Inspector Gregory & Sherlock Holmes in “Silver Blaze.”

“I wonder!” said he, leaning back and staring at the ceiling. “Perhaps there are points which have escaped your Machiavellian intellect. Let us consider the problem in the light of pure reason.” — Sherlock Holmes, The Valley of Fear.

“Problems may be solved in the study which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the aid of their senses.” — Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, The Five Orange Pips.

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The Pendulum in Motion

bcicirel Community, DePaul Interfaith Programs, Engaging Nature in Spirituality, Global Interfaith Movement, Seeds of Mission, Spirituality, Uncategorized

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Dominique Johnson is a junior at DePaul University pursuing a Religious Studies major. Dominique is on the Executive Board of DePaul Interfaith.

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In Rex Dutta’s paper (The Secret Doctrine/Concentric Key, 1984) he explains why is English hopelessly inadequate [to express certain ideas about an unconditioned unity or a state]: “It is used by people who can’t yet go thought-to-thought direct, in silent telepathy, in full Oneness; who stay separated; and who use second-hand “thought” to try and guess what others mean by words/language.” (cf. Symposium on H.P. Blavatsky’s Secret Doctrine, p. 11)

Says Morya: (We are) “accustomed to rather follow the thought of our interlocutor or correspondent than the words he clothes it in” (Mahatma Letters to A.P. Sinnett, Number XXIX)

I: MEMORY & DESIRE—HEIGHTENED-AWARENESS BRINGS ABOUT A DIFFERENT INTELLIGENCE

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The Interfaith Holy Land

bcicirel Community, DePaul Interfaith Programs, Seeds of Mission, Spirituality, Uncategorized

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Dana Coffey is a senior at DePaul University, pursuing a double major in Peace, Justice, and Conflict Studies, and Theater Studies. Dana is currently spending her summer in Mombasa, Kenya.

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Every morning at 5:30 am I am woken up by this. First, the mosque to the north, then joins the one to the east, then the one to the west and finally, the one in the south follows. In Mombasa, I live in a neighborhood called Mtopanga. Like every part of Mombasa, this area is filled with mosques.
I live in the middle of 4 mosques and 5 times a day I hear the most amazing blending of different muezzins making their calls to prayer, all in distinctive voices. My favorite moment so far in Mombasa was early on a Sunday morning when the bells of the church collided with the call to prayer and they all rang in a distorted, but beautiful harmony.