Conversations Journal existed to bring about honest dialogue on the ways our lives are shaped by God. One of the aims of the publication was to examine themes of Christian spiritual formation through various lenses of the faith (denominations/traditions/streams of Christianity.) This month we’ll be exploring the topic “Flourishing,” with a rerelease of the Fall 2014 issue on that subject. This issue will have a permanent home here at Conversatio, with a companion course that allows readers to take the topic a bit deeper, and journey into your own experience of the theme. The editors invited writers from a variety of Christian traditions to share about Flourishing, and what it means to live well in the Kingdom of God.
It’s August in Georgia (USA) as I write this and have been spending time studying the topic for this issue on “Flourishing.” Looking around my flower garden, not much is thriving in the oppressive heat except the weeds and the caterpillars eating the vegetables. I suppose there could be a lesson on finding beauty in all things. My friend, Tara Owens, wrote about cultivating the right soil for a flourishing soul in this issue and I like how she summarized it, “Even when things seem to be working against the very flourishing I desire . . . I am able to trust that the One who loves me is working something together for good (Romans 8:28).” That view of flourishing—of God’s creation growing into who the Creator intended—is what the articles in this issue are built around.
The issue opens with a lovely reflection from founding editor, Gary W. Moon on how Conversations Journal came to be. Three psychologists who’s training focused on identifying pathology and remediation through psychotherapy, but who’s personal experience of change and “soul health” had come about through spiritual formation and spiritual direction. It was those insightful conversations between Gary, David Benner, and Larry Crabb, about what it means to flourish—living well in the Kingdom of God, that birthed the publication. All three are wonderful teachers and writers on the integration of psychology and a holistic Christian faith, and they shared their gifts generously with the readers of Conversations over the years.
In this issue on Flourishing, you’ll see articles from the late Dallas Willard, whose teaching on the kingdom is foundational to all that the journal published. Fr. Richard Rohr shares on the first and second halves of life, and Alan Fadling slows us down with a piece on how unhurried community brings wholeness. Ruth Haley Barton gives readers a taste of how sacred rhythms help humans flourish, and Alice Fryling provides some insight in how the enneagram can be a helpful tool for our own growth into who God created us to be. There is also a reflection on the cover art by Marilyn McEntyre and an excellent piece from Lacy Finn Borgo on practicing spiritual disciplines as a family. In the classroom, an added bonus you can find here, The Call to Flourish So That Our Neighbor Can Flourish we’ll spend some time learning from Mark Labberton on how the call to flourish is one that makes an impact not just on us but on our communities
Every issue of Conversations can be used as a resource for your flourishing—we hope you’ll share it with others in small groups or send the link to others who may benefit from this content.