Christopher Smith, Interview #99

Name: Christopher Smith

Where you live: The Englewood neighborhood on the near-eastside of Indianapolis

What you do as a vocation or avocation?
Vocationally, I am a writer, editor and bookseller. Although I do some freelance writing and editing, most of my energy goes into editing a free, print/online publication called THE ENGLEWOOD REVIEW OF BOOKS ( http://englewoodreview.org/ ). We review new books along the themes of community, mission and justice for a socially-engaged Christian audience.
     In my spare time, my kids and I fancy ourselves as urban naturalists, exploring the wonders of our urban neighborhood and getting to know the abundance of plant and animal life that surrounds us. I occasionally blog about our explorations at: http://urbannaturalism.com/

Your two favorite books:
Only two?!?!? This question is an impossible one for a book review editor!
However, two of the most influential books in my life have probably been John Howard Yoder's BODY POLITICS and THE COMPLETE POEMS OF THOMAS MERTON.

Your two favorite songs:
"You Give it All Your Heart" - Bill Mallonee
"Latter Days" - Over the Rhine

Why you are interested in spirituality?
I am a part of a church community that confesses that through the death, resurrection and ascension of Jesus, God is (patiently) reconciling all creation, and as followers in this way of reconciliation, we seek to embody the peace of Christ holistically in our relations with each other, with our neighbors and with the land on which we live.

Your favorite quote:
"If anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new!" 2 Cor 5:17 NRSV

Your favorite web sites:

http://bookforum.com/

http://ekklesiaproject.org/

Your hero?
The Early Anabaptists who were oppressed by both Church and State for their radical commitment to the love and reconciliation of Jesus.

A spiritual lesson you hope to learn?
I have a host of lessons to learn about sabbath and learning to rest, celebrate and trust God in healthy ways.

A place in the world where you feel spiritually "connected?"
I am convinced that God is always present throughout all corners of Creation, if we would only slow down enough and cultivate the lost arts of paying attention. I am more interested in seeking out and connecting with God in whatever place I am than in going to certain places to do so. Spiritual connection is also very closely related for me with people and story.

Dan Guerrera, Interview #98

Name: Dan Guerrera


Where you live: Manhattan

What you do as a vocation or avocation? Cookie Baker

Your two favorite books: Ha! Any self help book that gives me a homework assignment that helps me understand my life a little more.

Your two favorite songs: I’m all over the place with music, but I can always turn to classical music to relax, and I enjoy George Winston

Why you are interested in spirituality? Spirituality helps me to connect with something bigger than me.

Your favorite quote: “You can continue doing the same things and get the same results or you can take a fresh new approach and see different results.” – Albert Einstein

Your favorite web sites: I Google everything!

Your hero? In general, I admire people who truly enjoy life, live passionately and honestly. My parents continue to teach me this and as I get older my admiration for them continues to grow.

A spiritual lesson you hope to learn? To forgive, and move on…

A place in the world where you feel spiritually "connected?" This can happen in many ways for me. Sometimes when I’m experiencing nature or listening to music or if  I’m with someone that I’m really connected to. It can even happen on an early morning bike ride in Amagansett with my best friend.

(Editor's Note: Check out the cookies at http://www.downtowncookieco.com/ Try the "Jane Street Jam" cookies, they're fabulous, and we know/love cookies!)

Dawn McIntyre, Interview #97

Name: Dawn McIntyre

Where you live: Calgary, Alberta, Canada

What you do as a vocation or avocation? Best-selling Author and Spiritual Mentor

Your two favorite books: The Alchemist and A Return to Love

Your two favorite songs: Love Can Move Mountains and My Heart Will Go On by Celine Dion

Why you are interested in spirituality? It has been the only path to growth as a soul and as a person that has worked for me.

Your favorite quote:
"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”  --Marianne Williamson

Your favorite web sites:  http://www.12listen.com/

Your hero? Myself

A spiritual lesson you hope to learn? To be in a state of peace and grace at all times.

A place in the world where you feel spiritually "connected?": Italy, Florence and The Amalfi Coast in particular.

Dawn's websites are: http://www.boldlybeautiful.com/ and http://www.thenew10.com/

Michael Largo, Interview #96

Name: Michael Largo

Where you live: Dominican Republic/U.S.

What you do as a vocation or avocation? Writer

Your two favorite books: Origin of Species; Brief History of Time

Your two favorite songs: Blinded by the Light; Miserere mei, Deus

Why you are interested in spirituality? In how it affects laws and government.

Your favorite quote: “Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence.”

Your favorite web sites:
http://www.michaellargo.com/

http://www.religioustolerance.org/

Your hero? People who are open minded and kind

A spiritual lesson you hope to learn? To understand what happened before the Big Bang

A place in the world where you feel spiritually "connected?" In silence

Michael is the author of God's Lunatics and other books which you can see at his site:
http://www.michaellargo.com/ 

Trebbe Johnson, Interview #95

Name: Trebbe Johnson

Where you live: Thompson, (rural northeastern) PA)

What you do as a vocation or avocation?

Founder and Director of Radical Joy for Hard Times, a non-profit organization devoted to finding and making beauty in wounded places. Author of The World is a Waiting Lover and other works that explore the connections between myth, nature, and spirit.

Your two favorite books: The Myth of Sisyphus and The Divine Comedy.

Your two favorite songs: 'She Loves You' and the 'Ode to Joy' from Beethoven's 9th Symphony

Why you are interested in spirituality? How dull life would be if there were no immense Mystery enticing us to be a part of it, while never allowing us to understand it!

Your favorite quote: 'There is some kiss we want with our whole lives....' (Rumi)

Your favorite web sites: radicaljoyforhardtimes.org and Google.

Your hero? Nelson Mandela

A spiritual lesson you hope to learn? How to be a more fluent translator between the Earth and her people.

A place in the world where you feel spiritually 'connected? When I'm open to the invitations of the world, I feel beauty and connectedness in all kinds of surprising places.

Trebbe's Web Sites: radicaljoyforhardtimes.org

visionarrow.org

newworldlibrary.com

D. Michael Lindsay, Interview #94

Name: D. Michael Lindsay

Where you live: Houston, Texas

What you do as a vocation or avocation?
I am a sociology faculty member at Rice University with particular interest in leadership, religion, and culture

Your two favorite books:
The Bible
The Cup of Wrath by Mary Glazener

Your two favorite songs:
“We Can” by LeAnn Rimes
“Song of Hope by Robbie Seay Band

Why you are interested in spirituality?
My Christian faith is the central driving force of my life. In it, all parts of my life cohere.

Your favorite quote:
“To be great is to be misunderstood.” (Emerson)

Your favorite web sites:
whitehousefellowsproject.org

Culture-making.com

blogs.ssrc.org/tif

flyertalk.com/forum

Your hero?
My wife, who is about to give birth to our newest family additions, twin daughters

A spiritual lesson you hope to learn?
How to be a generous and self-giving leader

A place in the world where you feel spiritually 'connected?'
The community of faith my family and I attend, West University Baptist Church"

For more about D. Michael Lindsay's work, go to: www.rice.edu/mlindsay

Dawn Baumann Brunke, Interview #93

Name: Dawn Baumann Brunke

Where you live: Wasilla, Alaska

What you do as a vocation or avocation?
Writer & editor. Animal communicator & dreamer.
I'm the author of three books: Animal Voices; Animal Voices, Animal Guides; and Shapeshifting with Our Animal Companions. All three are about talking with animals. Really? Can we talk with animals? Yes, that's the hook, but deeper still the books are about connecting in a heartfelt way with nature and our planet, with others -- especially those who think differently than we do -- and, perhaps most challenging, with ourselves.
I'm also the editor of a health & wellness magazine here in Alaska. I love to help new writers find their voice.
And I dream. A lot. I'm fascinated by the stories that come to us in our dreams. A theme throughout my writing -- and my life -- is how we might make better use of all that untapped wisdom.

Your two favorite books:
Only two? The favorites I'm reading right now are The Holy Man/Woman trilogy by Susan Trott, The Secret Teachings of Plants by Stephen Harrod Buhner and The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman.

Your two favorite songs:
Today my two favorites are k. d. lang's version of Leonard Cohen's 'Hallelujah' and 'Peace Train', both the original by Cat Stevens and his newer version as Yusuf Islam.

Why you are interested in spirituality?
I've always been curious why people believe what they believe, and how different cultures use myth/stories to speak about the divine. I think some of the juiciest questions of life arise out of this thing we call spirituality. For me, spirituality holds our greatest fears (death, the unknown) and our greatest longings (love, discovery of self, connection with god/all that is). It shows us where we are, within ourselves and within the world.

Your favorite quote:

"Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing and rightdoing, there is a field. I will meet you there." --Rumi

Your favorite web sites:

ted great talks and "ideas worth spreading"

lumosity fun place to recharge the old brain batteries

betterworldbooks good for readers; good for the earth

amazon helpful place to check out book excerpts

netflix because I can easily watch a film a night

craigslist cool place to sell & buy locally

Your hero:

I think we're all heroes; I think we all have amazing abilities and unique qualities that we have to share with the world. It's inspiring that certain people are willing to take on these projections--the greatest, the fastest, the highest--and reflect that outward, encouraging us to find our own hero within. Right now my heroes are the polar bears. These highly adaptive, intelligent survivors who spend long, dark winters alone on the arctic ice are the ones who shine bright within my dreams.

A spiritual lesson you hope to learn?

Trust, trust, and more trust.

A place in the world where you feel spiritually "connected?"

Near or on water. There is something about water that speaks to me deep inside.

To read more about my books and/or contact me: http://www.animalvoices.net/