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The Wisdom of the Long View

I am writing three days before election day. And I have no clue what will happen in our country that day or thereafter.
 
It’s hard to live with so much uncertainty. What will happen with coronavirus and COVID-19 in the coming months? When will the world have access to a safe and effective vaccine? Who will occupy the White House as of late January? And what will become of you, me, or our neighbors in the coming weeks and months?
 
I don’t know. And I seriously doubt anyone else knows, either.
 
The wisdom of the world’s great religions encourages us to not always focus on today or tomorrow, and instead adopt a long-range view. There are three main reasons for this:
 

CLICK HERE to read the rest of this reflection.

-Rob Field

photo by boram kim via Unsplash

ALMOST HALFWAY THERE
 
We've begun our fall funding appeal at Center for Spiritual Wisdom, and the results are positive! In the weeks since we launched our campaign, we've reached almost 43% of our goal. To help us end 2020 in the black, we are hoping to raise $20,000 by Dec. 31st. To date, we have received 20 gifts totaling $8,650. Can you help? Gifts of any amount are welcome and appreciated. We are hoping to add members to our Giving Circles: $1,000 or more per year (Founder's Circle); $50 or more per month (Circle of Fifty); or $100 to $500 per year (Circle of Friends). It's easy to donate by sending a check payable to "CSW" or donating online using a credit card at THIS PAGE. Center for Spiritual Wisdom is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization. All donations are tax deductible to the fullest extent of the law.
 
Thank you for supporting Center for Spiritual Wisdom!
photo by Nicholas Bartos via Unsplash
 

Our 'Reel Spirit' November Selection:
"The Apostle" starring Robert Duvall


Join us online Nov. 19 from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. 
 

On Thursday, Nov. 19 from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. Eastern, we will discuss the fourth film in our "Reel Spirit Movie Project" series—The Apostle (1997), a drama starring Robert Duvall. Duvall, who also co-produced, wrote, and directed the film, received a well-deserved Oscar nomination for Best Actor.

The facilitator for our November movie discussion is Terry Decker, for whom the film resonates with his own memories as a preacher’s kid in the American Baptist tradition. Terry is a Brevard resident who loves movies and volunteers his time and talent at the Center, and who is a repeat facilitator for "The Reel Spirit Movie Project". He brings many years of experience leading groups in education, non-profit, religious, and technical forums.

There is no charge for this event, but participants are asked to consider a donation to Center for Spiritual Wisdom. To register or receive additional information, please email Cindy Decker at communications@centersw.org. Registrations will be received on a first-come, first-served basis. (Registration is required to receive a link to join the online discussion.) Read more about this event HERE.

 

For the Beauty of the Earth


Note: Sr. Associate Tom Lewis is a founding board member of the Center. He's developing a series for CSW called "The Sacred Earth." We hope to offer it some time in 2021.
  
Promises. We live on promises. And the promises of fall are all around us. It is thrilling to think of the changes ahead. The weather cools down as the trees complete their work season and show us a rainbow of colors. The water in the lakes and streams gets colder and more refreshing. Nature seems to be renewed in this time of transition as the animals prepare for the winter and hard times ahead.

There is a tree that makes glad the city of Brevard—or me anyway. Everybody drives past but not everybody notices this tree. It’s a large maple on the corner by St. Timothy United Methodist Church. I don’t know what it is about that tree but it puts on its fall colors weeks before everything else. This year only half of it has turned. But it makes me glad when I see this—it is my promise of what lies ahead. The promise written in beauty.

What is it that is so exciting about the change of seasons? It must be the beauty. But everyone doesn’t see that. You must SEE. Which is the basis of so much that enriches life. We see beauty and feel a swell of love inside like God sent us a birthday card, or said, “look at this…it’s for you”.
 

CLICK HERE to read the rest of this reflection

- Tom Lewis
CSW Sr. Associate

photo credit: Pixabay via Pexels

Like What's We're Doing? Join Our Board!

 
We're expanding our board at Center for Spiritual Wisdom. As the Center grows, we want to grow the number of directors to support, guide, and oversee our work. We have an exciting vision and mission to guide us, and we would love to have additional help from spiritually-minded folks in Western N.C. We're hoping to diversify our board by recruiting new members who are 40 years old or younger as well as those who do not identify as Christian. New board members are asked to serve a 3-year term. Monthly board meetings are currently held online due to the coronavirus pandemic. If you're interested and/or have questions, please contact CSW Director Rob Field.
 
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