The Sacred Braid

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Simplicity Helps Us See the Essential

Posted on December 3, 2009 by Daniel J. Miller
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Practicing resurrection¹ begins with a radically new way of seeing. The truth of the resurrection of Jesus, the reversal of fortune for the despairing or defeated, and the revivifying of all reality brings about a transformed worldview. Practicing resurrection Read more [...]
Posted in Simplicity | Tagged Mystic, Prophet, Reign of God, Seeing | Leave a reply

Simplicity and the Soul’s Task

Posted on December 2, 2009 by Daniel J. Miller
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Simplicity is a counter-cultural practice. Never in the history of humankind have the subtle and not-so-subtle forces of culture been more at odds with a spirituality of simplicity. In this regard, the symbol of American culture is the man or woman at Read more [...]
Posted in Simplicity | Tagged Heart, James Hollis, Soul, Spiritual Practice | Leave a reply

Practicing Silence and Simplicity

Posted on December 1, 2009 by Daniel J. Miller
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To practice resurrection¹ means to view the world and live in it from a radically new perspective. For Christians this means that contrary to the front page of the morning newspaper, the headlines on this morning’s webpage, and yes, some of the realities Read more [...]
Posted in Silence, Simplicity | Tagged Heart, Practicing Resurrection, Reign of God | Leave a reply

Tis a Gift to Be Simple

Posted on November 30, 2009 by Daniel J. Miller
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Practicing Resurrection¹means that God’s intention has become the human desire, that the divine dream is now the new vision that guides our way of seeing and being in the world. At its core God’s intent and/or dream is to share God’s aliveness Read more [...]
Posted in Simplicity | Tagged Contemplation, Gift, Practicing Resurrection | Leave a reply

The Silence that Moves Us Toward Compassion and Justice

Posted on November 29, 2009 by Daniel J. Miller
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In addition to being the fertile ground for self-understanding and healthy self-care as well as the sanctuary for contemplative prayer, the silence of a listening heart is also the seedbed for reverent relationships, social compassion, and cosmic concern. Read more [...]
Posted in Silence | Tagged Compassion, Contemplation, Justice, Listening, Ministry | Leave a reply

Silence: Learning the Language of God

Posted on November 28, 2009 by Daniel J. Miller
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Besides being a unique, life-giving “habitat,” silence is a “habit of the heart”, a conscious choice, an intentional practice, a deliberate and daily orientation to life capable of nourishing us and teaching us how to grow into mature, caring Read more [...]
Posted in Silence | Tagged God, Heart | Leave a reply

Silence: The Soil of the Soul

Posted on November 27, 2009 by Daniel J. Miller
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It begins and ends in silence. It begins and ends in the silence of God. It begins in the dark silence of God moving over the dark face of the waters. It ends in the bright silence of the empty tomb and the bright face of the angelic gardener. Then it Read more [...]
Posted in Silence | Tagged Prayer, Rainer Maria Rilke, Soul | Leave a reply

What to Do with Our Wonder

Posted on November 26, 2009 by Daniel J. Miller
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Rabbi Heschel insists that the will to wonder and the intention of awe, however noble and efficacious, are not enough. He states, “The sense of wonder, awe, and mystery is necessary, but not sufficient to find the way from wonder to worship, from willingness Read more [...]
Posted in Wonder & Awe | Tagged Abraham Heschel, Contemplative Life, Gratefulness, Radical Amazement | Leave a reply

The Salvation of Silence

Posted on November 25, 2009 by Daniel J. Miller
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Another reason silence is important is because it makes the deep wordless and nonconceptual prayer of contemplation possible. In prayer, silence is the voluntary poverty that invites persons to let go of their agendas, hidden or otherwise, and to let Read more [...]
Posted in Silence | Tagged Abraham Heschel, Contemplation, Listening, Salvation, Thomas Merton | Leave a reply

Silence and Significant Being

Posted on November 24, 2009 by Daniel J. Miller
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Rabbi Heschel emphasizes that the quest for significant being is the quest for meaningful being not merely “for theoretical knowledge about myself.” Silence gives us the space to listen to our lives deeply enough to become aware of meaningful existence. Read more [...]
Posted in Silence | Tagged Abraham Heschel, Contemplative Life, Significant Living | Leave a reply

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Sample of Writings

  • What a Christian Looks Like
  • The Life of Sigh
  • The Song That Refuses to Sing
  • A Word to the Wise – Kindness
  • To Bless and Be Blessed
  • Listening to the Wind in the Wheat: A Meditation on the Eucharist
  • Being Human—Being Moved
  • In Gratitude for the Wild and Precious Life of Mary Oliver
  • TheGift Who Was Claire Wineland

Sayings of Brother Weeps

  • Brother Weeps Says Good Night
  • Brother Weeps and the Secretary of State
  • Brother Weeps and the Man in the Back
  • Brother Weeps on the Withness of God
  • Brother Weeps, the Hermit and His Dogs
  • Brother Weeps Speaks on Silence
  • Brother Weeps Drives Up a Hill
  • Brother Weeps and the Do-Si-Do

Recent Posts

  • We the People February 17, 2026
  • A Prayer of Martin Luther King, Jr. January 19, 2026
  • This is True December 22, 2025
  • Lectio Poetica No. 13 — We Will Be Known How? February 25, 2025
  • Shouldn’t Christians Try Christianity? February 10, 2025

Topics

Abraham Heschel Advent Aliveness Anawim Awe Beauty Becoming Human Being Present Blessing Brother Weeps Children Christ Christ-life Christmas Compassion Contemplative Seeing Courage Creation Death Divine Love Earth Faith God Gratefulness Hope Incarnation Jesus Joy Justice Kindness Lent Listening Love Music Nature Peace Poetry Prayer Silence Spiritual Practice Suffering Thomas Merton Transformation Wise Sayings Wonder

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The Almond Tree

Programs


Interested in having Dan come to your community to teach, preach, or lead a retreat? Dan offers Parish Missions, as well as Presentations and Retreats, in a variety of formats .

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Spiritual Direction


Interested in Spiritual Direction? Dan is based on Whidbey Island north of Seattle, WA. He meets with people online and occasionally in person. He also is available to teach in spiritual guidance programs or to give talks about spiritual direction.

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The Human & the Holy


Interested in being part of a spiritual formation community? The Human & the Holy is an ecumenical community that comes together once a month to share simple ritual, contemplative silence, reverent dialogue, attentive listening, presentation, and spiritual practice.

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© Daniel J. Miller, 2013-2026. All Rights Reserved.
For more information contact Dan Miller.