I’d like to begin by thanking Brian Mueller for organizing and leading the Men Writing for Change retreat last month. We had a great turnout, and I think this retreat was very well received. Brian showed us how to write poetry to access our inner knowledge and facilitate transformation. Those who were willing, were asked to share their poetry in Council. This inspired me to create a closed Facebook group on the Ohio Chapter of Illuman page to facilitate sharing of poetry, thoughts, and feelings in a safe environment. If this sounds inviting to you, please request to join the Journey of Illumination closed group...

Ohio Illuman offers a Men's Rites of Passage for younger men called Crossings Ohio. Chuck Rihm, Convener for Ohio Illuman was asked to offer some of his reflections and insights based on his personal experiences with the young men’s rites... In the following piece, Chuck describes the origin and process of Crossings Ohio. He also shares his experience of participating in the rites and how this has deepened the lessons from his own MROP in 2008. 

Today we post the eighth and final installment of an eight-part series consisting of three total sermons delivered by Henri Nouwen in 1992, around the time his book Life of the Beloved was published. In this sermon Henri helps us to understand community. He talks about people creating a fellowship of the weak and of the poor so that we may discover our own poverty, brokenness and weakness, and not be afraid of it...

The first sermon addressed Being the Beloved. The second sermon speaks to Becoming the Beloved. This final sermon invites us to become Disciples of the Beloved. You are invited to follow along in this self-paced study and spiritual reflection as Nouwen delivers an inspired and powerful testament to the love of God for all peoples...