Brian Allain

the sacred compass that God provides

From “Sacred Compass: The Way of Spiritual Discernment” by J. Brent Bill Discovering spiritual direction is simple – but in an amazingly countercultural and counterintuitive way. It is about heeding the Holy Spirit. Learning to follow the divine compass means stopping and paying attention instead of looking for a magical map with the shortest route

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A frightening freedom

From “Discernment: Reading the Signs of Daily Life” by Henri Nouwen with Michael J. Christensen and Rebecca J. Laird Within the churches there are as many opinions and visions as outside the churches. There is no virtue that is not called sin somewhere, and no particular sin that is not called virtue somewhere else. Within

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trust is hidden from view

From “The Speed of Trust: The One Thing That Changes Everything” by Stephen M. R. Covey One time I hired a guide to take my fly fishing in Montana. As I looked out over the river, he said, “Tell me what you see.” Basically I told him I saw a beautiful river with the sun

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through an uncluttered mind

From “What Makes You Come Alive: A Spiritual Walk with Howard Thurman” by Lerita Coleman Brown Howard Thurman believed that a place deep within us yearns for moments of quiet serenity. Silence, stillness, and solitude: in our noise-filled lives, these bring peace, heal, strengthen, and facilitate spiritual growth. This belief is shared among mystics of

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