Word Made Flesh is a contemplative community. One of the ways that we contemplate what God is doing in the world and in our lives is through the reflection articles that we write. We invite you to read, learn, and celebrate with us.
The home behind the old wooden fence…
First Week Fast Reflections
Day 1: Enuma Okoro Christmas is always hard for me spiritually. It’s funny cause it’s supposed to be the time in which we recognize the depth and extent of God’s love for us. It’s supposed to be the time in which we sit still in awe of the Incarnation. But the truth…
First Week Fast-Living on Earth
Randy S. Woodley Director of Intercultural and Indigenous Studies Jesus, the 1st century Palestinian Jew, is often too quickly seen through our own cultural lenses as a 21st century American who “blesses” our values and worldview. As we examine the culture when Jesus walked the earth, we need to learn to take off our Western…
First week Fast-Without Exception
Mark Charles Navajo Nation The other day I observed a Twitter exchange between Pope Francis and Miroslav Volf. Pope Francis (@Pontifex) Tweeted: “God does not reveal himself in strength or power, but in the weakness and fragility of a newborn babe.” To which Miroslav Volf (@MiroslavVolf) replied: “@Pontifex How true! And yet the babe grew…
First week Fast-Children of the New Jim Crow
Shawn Casselberry Mission Year Every Saturday morning, youth from the west side of Chicago are provided a safe place to reflect, create, and express themselves through drums. Started as a ministry of support for children and families with incarcerated loved ones, our community drumline has become a secondary family for many in the North Lawndale…
First Week Fast-“Black Men and Incarceration”
Dr. Damone B. Jones, Sr. Senior Pastor/Bible Way Baptist Church, Philadelphia Member/Board of Trustees, Philadelphia Prison System As a minister serving in urban Philadelphia, I have on many occasions visited prisons both in Philadelphia County as well as throughout the Pennsylvania Correctional System. I have visited inmates individually and participated in worship services and Bible…
First Week Fast- Falling Skies
Helen Lee Author, The Missional Mom Facebook users recently saw the meme “Top 10 Books That Have Stayed With You” flash around the network, as friends posted their lists of most memorable reads through the years. When my turn came, I cleared my mind, closed my eyes, and noted the titles that floated to my…
WMF Thailand Internships!
Word Made Flesh Thailand is currently looking for Interns! This 1-year commitment starting in Fall 2014 includes opportunities for people looking to get involved in areas such as education, creative arts, small social business, web design, urban gardening, carpentry, and more! The Word Made Flesh Thailand team registered the Creative Life Project in Bangkok, Thailand…
First Week Fast- Why I don’t know any prostitutes
Word Made Flesh Staff India I am not a big fan of labels. Of easy words that make it possible to classify and categorize people into the good ones, the bad ones, and the one’s that we like and the one’s that are harder to like because we find them different. Labels to me to…
First Week Fast-Except You Become as Children
Donna Barber The Paladin Youth Development Group If you spend any time observing young children at play, it quickly becomes apparent that children perceive with the mind and heart – seeing the invisible, responding to the inaudible, feeling the intangible. They are not limited in their thinking by the shoulds and should nots, not consumed…
First week fast-Vulnerability, Children and the Image of God
David Chronic Word Made Flesh, Romania For the past 17 years, we have been building relationships with children living on the streets, children abandoned with HIV, children with disabilities, and children at risk of being trafficked. Our hope and prayer is that these vulnerable children will have a better future. But often, it is the…