Holy MOLY!

My Son the Deer Whisperer

Posted on by spirituallife Posted in Nathan

We were staying with friends at an Airbnb in the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania recently. It was a great weekend catching up with friends. We spent the weekend enjoying good food, deep conversations, board games, and time outside enjoying nature. 

While we were there, I learned something new about my son: he’s a deer whisperer.

Every day, numerous deer would walk up to the house. At times, it was one or two while other times we counted upwards of 15. The first time a deer approached us, we were all sitting on the back porch. We all stopped talking and simply watched. My son, though, immediately hopped down and made his way into the yard. He then completely froze. As the deer inched closer, he would, in almost slow motion, inch closer to the deer. 

Eventually, he was close enough to reach out and touch it. Instead, my son and this young deer basically stared each other in the eyes for a couple of minutes. For a moment, though, I had a thought that maybe my son would just hop on the deer’s back and they’d ride off into the woods for a day of adventures.

The deer eventually decided to leave and, as it did so, my son quickly went back to playing as if nothing had happened. Throughout the weekend, the deer kept visiting. Each time, my son would drop everything he was doing and did his best to get as close as possible to them. 

I’m not entirely sure of the spiritual lessons from this story. However, I do think that there is something about dropping what we are doing to face the ineffable, that which brings us awe, or the present moment. 

Perhaps it is a sunset, a cloud formation, or the view of Sharp Top Mountain. Maybe it’s our children laughing, our pet playing, or a friend telling a great story. Maybe it’s an emotion, such as deep love or grief welling up inside of us, a tear making its way to the surface, or a longing for connection with another soul. 

My hope for you this week is that you find a moment to stop what you’re doing, focus on the beauty which is before you, and enjoy the moment. Maybe that will help all of us become whisperers for the sacredness in every moment.

We Are Enough

Posted on by spirituallife Posted in Jeremy

We have final exams, papers, and projects.

We have annual reports, assessments, and grading.

We have so much to do, and it may all seem so urgent.

Hopefully, we remember to breathe. Hopefully, we remember to have compassion for ourselves and for others. The chaos that some experience during this time of year can be overwhelming, but we must remember to do our very best and to love ourselves through it all. 

One of my spiritual teachers, the late Ram Dass, once said, “Our whole spiritual transformation brings us to the point where we realize that in our own being, we are enough.” How often we forget this truth. We miss a deadline for our office, or we do not perform as well as we thought we should have on an assignment, and we feel absolutely destroyed. We must remember, however, that we are human. We must remember, however, that our self-worth is not tied to our failures. We are so much more.

This past weekend, I was returning home after running errands, and I was overtaken by the beauty of trees on the way to my subdivision. I began to see the Divine’s presence in each trunk and then in each leaf. Soon, I saw divinity everywhere. I had a wonderful moment of clarity—the Divine pulses through all things, and that means that the Divine is in us even when we fail. Nothing changes the Creator’s love for us, and failure does not change the fact that we are greatly loved by God. 

As you read these words, dear reader, I pray that you succeed in all of your end-of-the-year endeavors. And, I want you to know that you are worthy of all things good each and every day, no matter what. I am so grateful for your presence. I am so grateful that you are connected to our beloved university. Remember that you are enough just as you are in this very moment.

With Deep Grief and Sympathy

Posted on by spirituallife Posted in Nathan

We have suffered a great loss and our university is reeling with grief.

As was announced yesterday, Frank Csorba, an undergraduate alumnus in criminology and graduate student in the master of public health program, passed away. 

Frank entered this world on December 12th, 2000, and departed our lives and this world on April 23rd, 2024. He will be missed dearly by his parents, Jessica and Alexander, his siblings Alex and Julie, extended family, close friends, teammates, students, faculty, staff, and our entire campus community.

Although he is no longer with us in person, he will live on in our memories, stories, and friendships. His dedication to his sport, to his teammates, and to this campus was unparalleled. He made a legacy that will live on for generations.

To honor his life and memory, we will be hosting a vigil this evening at 9 p.m. on Shellenberger Field, after the conclusion of the men’s lacrosse game. In times like this, it is important for a community to come together, grieve, and honor those who are no longer with us. The service will include a few readings, prayer, and short remarks. We hope you are able to join us.

The Power of Names

Posted on by spirituallife Posted in Steve

Last week Laura Anderson spoke to a crowded Sydnor Auditorium about religious trauma. For those of you unable to attend, Laura is a licensed psychotherapist and author of the recently published When Religion Hurts You. She describes religious trauma as the body’s response to overwhelming experiences that happen within religion, especially what she describes as “high-control religion.” High-control religions are ultimately communities constructed by means of human action. Power is distributed throughout these communities systematically. According to social scientists, power is defined as the capacity to influence, lead, dominate, or otherwise create consequences for others. While power can uplift, it can also harm. Power in high-control religions can disempower others simply because of their identity—their gender, their sexuality, even the beliefs they hold about themselves and the world they live in. When these individuals are overpowered by the communal systems characteristic of high-control religion, they experience religious trauma—the physiological experience of overwhelm. 

Laura used storytelling to demonstrate examples of the individual embodied experience. One story she told stood out to me. She described how her journey out of high-control religion began with the insight that her mind and body were not aligned. Even though she could feel the imbalance in her body, could not fully articulate it—she could not speak its name. Nevertheless, her body continued insistently to bring this unbalanced feeling to her attention. Laura tried different therapists who offered various diagnoses. None of them, however, could name her malady. It was necessary for her to name what she suffered in order to start her healing process. Part of her motive for getting her PhD was to research and write about her experience of healing. Her doctoral work with her mentor provided the opportunity for Laura to recover the voice of her wise self, the voice of self-knowledge: who she really is. An important step in her healing process was coming to know who she was not. Doing so opened space for her revelation of self.

Knowing the name of something or someone can give the knower power over that thing or person. This is a widespread cultural motif. The ancient Egyptian god Ptah, for example, could create anything he could name. In the biblical book of Genesis, Elohim said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. Naming in both examples is necessary for creation to take place. As Laura’s experience demonstrates, naming can also be necessary for negating embodied hurts. Naming trauma allows us to start healing. And it is in the healing process where we encounter ourselves, where we hear the voice of our wise self, where we no longer look at ourselves through a glass darkly, but face-to-face with who we really are. Knowing ourselves is like the experience of hearing our name spoken aloud by someone whom we love.

If you have suffered religious trauma, there are many resources available on campus—contact the Spiritual Life Center or the Counseling Center to schedule an appointment with a chaplain or counselor.

The Special Spark Within

Posted on by spirituallife Posted in Jeremy

I have a recurring dream.

My grandfather, Grandfather Wise, holds out his coffee-colored hand and takes me for a walk on the land I purchased some years ago. In this dream, we do not talk. I confess that I can no longer remember the sound of his voice. We communicate through our heart; words are not necessary. 

We stop and stare at bluebells, my favorite flower. There are always butterflies. Sometimes, there are dragonflies. There is always great peace. 

In this dream, my grandfather reminds me of the earth-centered spirituality I often explored as a child and then again as a young adult. In my middle age, his spirit urges me not to box myself in (to fit in) by claiming religious labels that do not suit me. He urges me to continue seeing God everywhere and at all times. He urges me to remember that spirituality does not need labels.  

I am greatly blessed to be a chaplain. I do not fit the traditional mold, but the older I get, the more Spirit reminds me that my spiritual uniqueness is a gift. I am able to serve and to connect with so many since my language about the Divine is often inclusive and open. As I age, and as I more fully come into myself, I realize that I would not change who I am for anything. I would never alter my spiritual core. All of this is to say that things that make us “different” or unique are often the very things that enable us to be our best selves. 

Instead of hiding our individual sparks, the quirky qualities we possess, we should live into them. Doing so leads to a more fulfilling (and I would argue a more sacred) life. Doing so can inspire others to be their best selves.

In a world that often values conformity, I urge you, dear reader, to see your unique qualities as something to be celebrated, not diminished. I urge you to see your own beauty and to accept all of the wonderful contributions that you can bring to this world. I urge you to believe in yourself and to love yourself as you are. 

In the dream, not all of the bluebells are the same shade or shape. Some dance in the wind, and some remain still. Some may not even be bluebells at all. Yet, each purple and blue flower blesses me as my dreaming body walks past.

Divine Presence

Posted on by spirituallife Posted in Jeremy

Last Thursday, I was on campus late. I had just finished attending a wonderful lecture by a visiting scholar, Dr. Sawyer Kemp, and I was walking from the Memorial Ballroom back to my car. The wind was blowing in the way that wind often does—majestically and softly. I stopped at the big tree near Carnegie.

I notice this tree a lot.

I often find myself wanting to wrap my arms around it.

What is it about this beautiful tree?

There are times in my life when I feel the Divine in nature. I am known for asking, “Do you feel God in that rock?” I have been known to weep at Collins Creek near Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. My grandmother’s name was Collins.

Ram Dass once said, “The Universe is an example of love. Like a tree. Like the ocean. Like my body. Like my wheelchair. I see the love.” What a beautiful and radical way to see the world, a place where love (and maybe even the Divine) pulses through everything! 

I had a great spiritual awakening in my thirty-ninth year. I more sharply began to see God in all people; it was something I believed—the way one may believe that the stars shine to remind us of wishing and hoping—but I really started to feel in the very core of my being that God lives in all. Years later, I still carry this with me. When I look at my students, I see God. When I look at my coworkers, I see God. When I look at the big tree near Carnegie, I see God. 

What would our world be like if we saw the Divine in each face we encountered? Would we forgive more? We would judge less? Would we love unconditionally? I leave you with these questions, dear reader. I leave you with hope for seeing beauty and goodness in each other. I leave you with a prayer for love and all things holy to be present for you each day.

Unconditional Love: Our Deep Inner Being

Posted on by spirituallife Posted in Jeremy

I have learned so much about compassion and unconditional love from watching my mother, Penny. I have seen her care for countless family members as they have finished their earthly time. I have witnessed her forgive those who have deeply wronged her. I have observed her see the best in me even when I could not. How can I be more like Penny?

Perhaps, the answer can be found in unconditional love. The late spiritual teacher Ram Dass once said, “Unconditional love really exists in each of us. It is part of our deep inner being.” For as  long as I can remember, I have felt a calling to serve. Though I am not perfect, I try to have compassion for all, including those who may cause me suffering. Some days, I fall short. Some days, I excel. My mother’s example always encourages me to do better. Ram Dass’s teachings, which have settled deeply in my Buddhist bones, urge me to love without limitations. 

Wonder if we could all tap into the unconditional love that lives in our “deep inner being?” Wonder if we could treat each person, even when we vehemently disagree with them, with kindness and compassion? What if we could radically forgive? I often think about what our world could be if we placed loving-kindness above egos and agendas. 

I challenge you, dear reader, to stretch yourself when it comes to kindness and compassion. See if you can exercise both, even when it is difficult, and notice how you feel afterward. In a world heavy with violence, judgment, condemnation, and division, may you and I be beacons of loving-kindness and cultivators of unconditional love. May we be a Penny to someone in need of care or forgiveness.

The Vastness of Cathedrals, the Smallness of Me

Posted on by spirituallife Posted in Nathan

Last week, I climbed to the top of the Washington National Cathedral. I was unaware how tall the second tallest church building in the U.S. truly was until I was standing at the top of it. No one had warned me. And if someone did, I might have decided to stay on the ground floor.

A good friend of mine who works at the Washington National Cathedral had promised to take me on a behind-the-scenes tour that is not open to the public. We wandered the crypt, stood behind the pulpit where Martin Luther King, Jr. gave his final sermon, and saw the countless carvings and stained glass windows. 

We then took a small elevator up to a hallway that ended with a small wooden door with a sign that read, “No Access.” Yet, my friend had a key that opened it, and we entered into a pitch black hallway made of stone that was so tight you had to hold your breath. Two steps down, we turned a corner to reveal that we were standing just below the rose window overlooking the nave of the cathedral at a height of about 600 feet. 

I was unprepared for how high we were and I’m pretty sure I let out a high pitched squeal in shock. Since the acoustics are absolutely brilliant there, I’m pretty sure that high pitched squeal made its way around, in, and through the entire cathedral. 

Being held back by only a small metal railing, we slowly made our way around the entire building, crawled through other small hallways, and took a spiral staircase up to another small door that led us to the roof of the building. Eventually, we climbed up to the top of the bell tower, took in the epic views, and wandered through hidden rooms as we made our way back to the nave. 

Although I spent much of my time hundreds of feet in the air, touring Washington National Cathedral was a truly grounding experience. 

Cathedrals are awe-inspiring. Even if you do not hold to a particular Christian tradition, the grandeur, glory, and greatness of cathedrals are evident and evoke something within. The same is true for temples, mosques, synagogues, or gurdwaras. 

For me, their vastness reminds me of my smallness and leads me to see that which is greater than myself. They point me to the majestic and the mystical. while also connecting me with those who, for centuries, have used these spaces to encounter the Divine. 

Even if you don’t have plans to climb a cathedral this week, I hope you have grounding experiences that connect you to the ineffable and mystical. I hope you have moments where you realize the vastness of the beauty around you. And, I hope you find spaces where you can encounter the Sacred and Divine all around you.

Poet or Prophet?

Posted on by spirituallife Posted in Dan

He winded along the sidewalk, his boots instinctively hugging the edge of the circle sandwiched between Schewel and Snidow before his feet gave a hard turn, descending him ever closer to the university chapel, with Chaplain Nathan Albert excitingly keeping step and chatting away, matching stride for stride. British poet Jay Hulme simultaneously carried with him an air of confidence and humility, his stature unassuming, his presence exhilarating. 

We eagerly greeted him with smiles and nods. He entered the sanctuary where “All means ALL” banners hung proudly in full color at the front of the stage, along with the motto “Todos quiere decir TODOS” intentionally fixed along the face of the raised altar in bright pinks and purples. We, Church of the Covenant, felt honored to have such a special guest share his time with us at the 11 o’clock hour on Sunday morning, the very hour that Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. had once called the “most segregated hour in America.” Jay smiled warmly back as he was received by several from our local queer and trans Christian community, as well as by several from our ever-growing diverse church family. 

After a time of music and prayer had passed, we eagerly waited to hear what words of encouragement Jay would bring us. So, after making his way to the front to join the colorful banners that beckoned him, we braced ourselves for the wave of words that were sure to follow; for poets speak to be heard, and we were there to listen. 

He began his message with a simple, sobering reality evidenced through Scripture: “Every one of us has a tiny part of God in us…a reflection of God… and every time a human being kills another human being, they kill a reflection of God… and every time a human harms another human, they harm the very reflection of God.” His message was clear and succinct: When we hurt one another, we hurt God. Maybe these were the words we needed to hear. We needed, in that moment, to understand the stakes of bringing harm to others. And the stakes are extremely high. Even God can feel the effects of our human-on-human hate resonating throughout our hurting world. 

The next night, Jay continued his message when he spoke in the same sanctuary at the same spot, but this time as the Shumate lecturer. He carried on the same words of simple hope by pulling on threads from his own story: “I couldn’t love others until I could love myself… and I knew I had to love myself before I could love God.” Jay Hulme let us know, albeit with a kind and gentle voice, that the source of our hate toward God or our hate toward others correlates directly with our own hate toward ourselves. His journey as a transgender man confirmed our greatest fears as human beings – that we often hate ourselves to death, as well as hate others to death. But, at the same time, we can change this trajectory.

In fact, if we learned anything over these past few days with Jay, it’s that loving ourselves, accepting ourselves fully and completely, is essential to then being able to love others, and in so doing, being able to even love God.

Peacebuilding Through Spirituality and the Arts

Posted on by spirituallife Posted in Mimi

In my time as a Graduate Assistant at the Spiritual Life Center, there has been a lot to learn. Originally, I thought that it would be a daunting task to assist in supporting students who came from many different cultures, backgrounds, and religions, that while beautiful and diverse, were mostly unfamiliar to me. However, during my time here, I have found that each of these boil down to a spiritual foundation, which provides each of us a framework for understanding our connection to others and the universe. Each practice shares core values of compassion, empathy, and love, which promotes a sense of unity that transcends cultural and religious differences. From this foundation of peaceful coexistence, I was able to build upon the mission of peacebuilding given to my position.

My graduate assistantship was born through the The Roger C. Dowdy and Janie Wineman Dowdy Endowment for Initiatives in Peacebuilding through Spirituality and the Arts. I was given the mission of creating programmatic opportunities and initiatives for students and the University of Lynchburg community to explore how the arts and interfaith traditions can collaboratively impact peacebuilding for the common good. I was drawn to this position because I have always seen art as a universal language, with its ability to transcend barriers and communicate emotions, thoughts, and ideas. Whether through visual arts, literature, or music, these expressions evoke in each of us the essence of the shared human experience. Art has the ability to encourage dialogue and mutual respect while being a catalyst for change on topics such as injustice, inequality, and conflict. It has the unique power to inspire us towards activism and advocacy, by being able to recognize a piece of ourselves in the “other.”

Often, it is challenging for us to find time in our busy lives to pause and reflect upon art, not only to cultivate our inner peace, but to confront the fundamental aspects of the human experience. Reflecting on this, I created a Reflective Online Exhibition that is easily accessible to you anytime and anywhere. It is an opportunity to have a personal encounter with the arts in different forms and on varying topics. My hope for you is that you will take some time, each day or each week, to utilize this resource and the accompanying workbook, to embrace these interconnected realms that contribute to our global tapestry of understanding, compassion, and unity.

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