As Prairiewoods enters its twenty-eighth spring and summer, we are conscious of three horizons present simultaneously. The first horizon is our past—the very ground of our being. The second horizon is our present—a time of great awakening and preparing for the next evolution. And the third horizon is our becoming—the future to which Prairiewoods is called. As we continue this beautiful journey, it makes sense that we should pause, honor what grounds us, attend to what is awakening in and around us, and prepare for the journey ahead.
Grounded
“Apprehend God in all things, for God is in all things. Every single creature is full of God and is a book about God. Every creature is a word of God. If I spent enough time with the tiniest creature—even a caterpillar—I would never have to prepare a sermon. So full of God is every creature.”
—Meister Eckhart
In the spring it is easy to think about the ground from which all things grow. We can smell the damp Earth and see the new green emerging from the Earth. We are also quite aware of the echoes of the seasons before and the richness they add to the soil.
Prairiewoods is grounded in profound truth and the wisdom of many generations. Influenced by the intersections of theology, science and ecology, Prairiewoods has emphasized not just spirituality but eco-spirituality.
The eco-theology of Thomas Berry and others within the Franciscan tradition have shaped us.
These principles are centered in our work: care for the Earth community, love for all people, a commitment to peace and reconciliation, justice and right relationships. These principles require Prairiewoods to be an agent of transformation.
Awakening
“Divinity permeates all things, and all things have the imprint of divinity, yet the sum of all things does not fully encompass the mystery of the divine.”
—AllCreation.org
The present time is one of awakening attention across traditions and disciplines. Where is change happening, and how will Prairiewoods respond? Diarmuid O’Murchu, in his new book Ecological Spirituality, reflects on the “complex and evolutionary nature of eco-spirituality” and its role in shaping consciousness that will positively impact the Earth and all who dwell upon it. The Prairiewoods team has been scanning the environment and paying attention to where there is suffering and disharmony. A powerful theme recently has cut across all our work and learning—the need for regeneration and restoration. There is a need for the restoration of the Earth, the repair of relationships and, by extension, the restoration of humans impacted by injustice and trauma.
Becoming
“We are now entering an enlarged horizon of our understanding of God and of how that same God, as energizing and creative Spirit, invites us into a deeper and wider engagement with the whole of creation.”
—Diarmuid O’Murchu, p. 32
How does this emerging future call to us? What will it require of Prairiewoods?
The authors of AllCreation.org describe two aims for Creation Spirituality that seem particularly suited to the work of Prairiewoods. First, “integrate the wisdom of indigenous, Eastern, and Western spirituality with the revelations of modern science to awaken mysticism, revitalize our culture, and promote social and ecological justice.” And second, “Inspire sacred work (shaped by) spiritual inquiry, creativity, and prophetic action” (www.allcreation.org/home/cs-intro?rq=creation%20spirituality). We need to expand our understanding and, at the same time, make space for others to do the same. We offer the practices and experiences that cultivate greater capacity in all of us for “the benefit of Earth and all its creatures.”
We combine that with the guiding principles named by Thomas Berry and Brian Swimme: differentiation (the great diversity of life), interiority (the uniqueness of each being) and communion (the essential nature of life in relationship versus isolation). We seek blessings and abundance in the resulting diversity of experience and tradition.
But more is required. We have set an intention this year to create a refreshed Evolutionary Plan to help us respond to the call of this emerging future.
First, we will hold space for the endless creative potential available in our connection to this ecological spirituality. Prairiewoods will create safe spaces for discovery, for diverse perspectives and for deep learning. The words that resonate right now are refuge, restoration and resilience. Prairiewoods is called to be a dynamic partner in restoring and healing people, the environment and the community. To do that, Prairiewoods must be resilient and, more importantly, Prairiewoods must assist in cultivating and nourishing resilience in others. Spiritual resilience will be essential for the challenging days ahead. The world needs an army of change agents equipped with compassion, staying power and a vision of the common good.
As we cultivate this ecological spirituality in ourselves and in community, we cultivate our capacity for compassion, connection, creativity and positive vision. This is what a thriving future looks like. Please join us on this journey of restoration and regeneration.
—Leslie Wright, originally published in Prairiewoods’ May/June 2024 Newsletter
Leslie Wright is Prairiewoods’ director and is looking forward to attending Spirituality in the 21st Century: Hope in Action April 26–27. This year’s event features Susan Bauer-Wu, PhD; Rev. Veronica M. Johnson; Leah Rampy, PhD; and musician Sara Thomsen. Learn more at prairiewoods.org/spirituality-in-the-21st-century.