Since this theme was chosen at the end of May, I’ve had many occasions to think about my daily routine, and where I might find the holiness in it. At first glance, “Everyday Sacred” might seem like a contradiction. After all, don’t we usually think of the sacred as something set apart from our worldly concerns in this earthly life? What if we blurred the lines between those notions and indulged our desire for mystery and meaning at any moment we choose? To choose implies intention; in moments of more intentional living and being, we can find stillness, feel reverence for the beauty and kindness we take for granted, and give thanks. For me, part of my everyday sacred this summer has been as simple as taking just a second to brush my hands against some incredibly soft leaves on my way to work. To stop and smell the roses, as the proverbial saying goes, is often more than just a lighthearted break – through intention, that moment can nourish our spiritual selves, and make us feel grounded and connected. And blessed.
In this issue of Radix, we see in each piece collected here something of that common thread of intentionality. Father John’s reflection on the Examen prayer of St. Ignatius of Loyola is an intentional practice in itself. In “We Are All”, Jeffrey Mackie reminds us to be present, and not just pass through. Jassim Ahmed illustrates the practice of seeking and striving – intentionally – to find the sacred in oneself. Benjamin Rudski demonstrates how his day is punctuated (literally!) with intentional moments of gratitude and humility. Brianna Cheng’s poetic description of caring for an old violin shows us how a simple daily task can be transformed into an expression of love. Visual artists Liz, Wakaba, JM and Helena reveal the holy and sacred through elements of the natural world, if we only open our eyes to see the wonders before us each day.
We are deeply grateful to the contributors to this issue of Radix for so generously sharing their own personal everyday sacred with us. As you browse through our magazine, we hope that these pages will awaken your senses to the many aspects of sacredness all around you. Take a break and allow yourself the time to feel these blessings - you might just discover that your day suddenly got a lot brighter!
Carlene Gardner, Director of MORSL
