‘Heathen’ was inspired into life as a Contemplify Musing after reading Chris Dombrowski’s The River You Touch in tandem with the Gospels. ‘Heathen’ is the river I swim in with Jesus. Written out on scraps of lists, receipts, and other trash-bound paper. I apologize there is no transcription here. photo by Contemplify
Author: Swanson
Vitality Out of Emptiness with Fr. David Denny
The inner desertarises primarily from grief:the universal desert of lossthat grinds the soul to dustand bears within itthe threat of despairas well as hopefor transformationand compassion. – Fr. David Denny Fr. David Denny is a lifelong seeker whose commitment to the unfolding mystery of life has brought him to explore the deserts of place and soul. In 1975 Fr Dave entered the Spiritual Life Institute, a contemplative monastic community rooted in the Carmelite tradition. And in 2005, he left that community to co-found the Desert Foundation with Tessa Bielecki. A writer, a poet, retreat master and teacher, Fr. Dave now …
The River You Touch with Chris Dombrowski
“You won’t soon read a more beautiful book, nor one so earthy, wise, delicious, and alive. This is not a book about fish or rivers or Montana or parenting. This is a book, to paraphrase another poet, plain and simple, to break open the frozen sea within.” —Rick Bass I have been waiting years to have this conversation with author, poet, and fly-fishing guide Chris Dombrowski. There is a kinship I feel with Chris’s lens on life. He is a top-shelf writer to boot. The River You Touch: Making a Life on Moving Water comes out October 11th, 2022. I …