Mark Greiner, Interview #101

Name: Mark Greiner

Where you live: Takoma Park, Maryland (next to Washington, DC)

What you do as a vocation or avocation?
Vocation: contemplative Christian, husband, father, and Presbyterian pastor.

Avocation: playful potter, hiking

Your two favorite books:
Only two?
“Conjectures of a Guilty Bystander” by Thomas Merton
“An Interrupted Life” by Etty Hillesum

Your two favorite songs:
“Berliner Messe” by Arvö Part
“Endless Chain” by Metamora

Why you are interested in spirituality?
Jesus' intimacy with his Abba ( in John 17, the Message version) when he prays:
“I'm saying these things in the world's hearing
So my people can experience my joy completed in them…
I'm praying not only for my disciples today
But also for those who will believe in me
Because of them and their witness about me.
The goal is for all of them to become one heart and mind—
Just as you, Father, are in me and I in you,
So they might be one heart and mind with us.”

Your favorite quote:
     "Give over thine own willing; give over thine own running; give over thine own desiring to know, or to be any thing, and sink down to the seed which God sows in the heart; and let that grow in thee, and be in thee, and breathe in thee, and act in thee, and thou shalt find by sweet experience, that the Lord knows that, and loves and owns that, and will lead it to the inheritance of life, which is his portion. And as thou takest up the cross to thyself, and sufferest that to overspread and become a yoke over thee, thou shalt become renewed, and enjoy life, and everlasting inheritance in that." --Isaac Pennington (1745-1817, a Quaker)

Your favorite web sites:
Eloquence on sustainability, ecology, culture and agriculture.
Essential reading for our day:
http://www.orionmagazine.org/
http://www.landinstitute.org/


News and opinion, leaning left, voicing sanity in the maelstrom:
http://www.democracynow.org/
http://www.commondreams.org/

Biblical Commentary and liturgy: 
http://www.textweek.com/

Contemplative Church extraordinaire:
http://www.consciousharmony.org/

“He who laughs, lasts.” - Mary Pettibone Poole :
http://www.funnytimes.com/

Your hero?
Any human being who freely and fully embraces his or her own life (and community) with its limitations and possibilities.

A spiritual lesson you hope to learn?
Suffering = Pain + Resistance

A place in the world where you feel spiritually "connected?"
Within the creek, near my home, boulders invite me to sit, breathe, smell, listen, and look through the changing seasons. The creek has many moods. The creek connects with everything.

Church website: http://www.takomaparkpc.org/

"Be astonished! Be astounded! For I am doing things
among you that you would not believe if you were told." Habakkuk 1:5

Paul Rademacher, Interview #100

Name: Paul Rademacher

Where you live: Charlottesville, VA and Fernandina Beach, FL

What you do as a vocation or avocation? Writer and Executive Director of The Monroe Institute

Your two favorite books: The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay by Michael Chabon and Communion by Whitley Strieber

Your two favorite songs: “Embryonic Journey” Jefferson Airplane and “Amelia” by Joni Mitchel + about a hundred others.

Why you are interested in spirituality?
     In my young adult life I had two mystical experiences that opened up new worlds for me – once when I was hitchhiking across the USA and once when I fell off of a roof and fractured my hip. After entering into these realms of wonder there is no turning back and no way to let it go. I came to The Monroe Institute and was able to touch the metaphysical world in ways that were far beyond my imagination or ability to convey through words.

Your favorite quote: I couldn’t limit it to one. These are all from Woody Allen. If only I could be so witty:

“More than any time in history mankind faces a crossroads. One path leads to despair and utter hopelessness, the other to total extinction. Let us pray that we have the wisdom to choose correctly.”

“I took a speed-reading course and read War and Peace in twenty minutes. It involves Russia.”

“I was thrown out of college for cheating on the metaphysics exam; I looked into the soul of the boy next to me.”

Your favorite web sites: http://www.monroeinstitute.org/ (Come on! I’ve got to say this. We put a lot of money into it!)

Your hero(ine): Tina Fey, then Jesus

A spiritual lesson you hope to learn?
To be content and joyous in all circumstances. Failing that, to have wisdom enough to discern who I can blame.

A place in the world where you feel spiritually "connected?" Walking on the beach, Amelia Island, FL

You can read more about Paul's work at:
http://www.monroeinstitute.org/
and

http://www.spiritualhitchhiker.com/

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