Read Below:
1. Book Description (from cover)2. What Readers Are Saying3. Book "Preface"BOOK DESCRIPTION
This collection of quotes and reflections for 365 days, attempts contemporary expression that honors and yet transcends traditional religious and secular articulation, and that honors creation . . . and spirit at the heart of every piece event of it.
The broad spectrum of quotes, from Lao Tzu to Nikos Kazantzakis to Paul Tillich to Thomas Berry to Mary Oliver to Ken Wilber to the author, intends to animate consciousness and ground the spirit journey everyone is on. There are chunks of meat in the spicy soup.
WHAT READERS ARE SAYING
. . . about the reflections in this book –
daily sent to an e-mail list via
or read online at
with this heading:
Journey Reflection
commune with spirit . . .
intercommune with good creation
. . . give thanks for being
Thoroughly enjoy the books. We use the daily Journal before breakfast! Off to Tanzania with Global Volunteers. ~Lewis Pierce, Minnesota
Thanks, John. I really have to say that your daily reflections are a regular point of dialog for Andrea and me. There must be a Native American expression for "One who walks with us." That would be our name for you. ~Larry Loeppke, Iowa
The illustrations you choose for your daily reflections are uncanny . . . fabulous, unnerving (your reflections AND illustrations should be published in color, of course!) Please know I feel very privileged to be receiving these journey musings.
. . . "Makes my day." ~Martha Lee Suggs, Colorado
Thanks, John, for the gift of these daily offerings – for the spirit behind each one, for all who have been part of these reflections, for your steadfastness in nurturing us. ~Ellie Stock, Missouri
What you are doing with your daily reflections is a 21st century successor to preaching in the streets and fields – a manifestation of “popular preaching.” Most of the time it is profoundly and wonderfully moving. ~Charles Hahn, Indiana
Your blog is a wise friend who rekindles inner spirit: always offering food for thought, hope, and inspiration. I pin up some of the reflections at my desk at work. And now that I have Daily Spirit Journal, I have a different feeling as I hold it and turn the pages. Instead of reading it in order, I turn to a random page each day, seeing what message speaks to me. ~Megha Merani, Dubai
First thing in the morning for my online reading I head to the Journey Reflection for the day. It is good grounding for my life, for whatever the day will bring, and context for taking in the turmoil of the world. ~Beret Griffith, Minnesota
Some eight months ago I had no idea what a treat I was in for. It has been such a valuable daily pleasure reconnecting and connecting with old and new favorite teachers: Wilber, De Mello, Berry, Krishnamurti, Fox, and Tillich. Your daily sharings enrich my journey. ~Suzanne Morrison, Tennessee
I find a calming source in the daily blog. I have one quote from an archived blog in my daily diary, another is taped to a kitchen cabinet. I do appreciate the discipline to produce every single day a quality, thoughtful piece of writing and an image that is always illustrative and provocative. Either one could stand on its own – together they are awesome! ~Beth Engleman, Pennsylvania
I always marvel at your daily production of language that makes sense, conveys meaning, and helps bind us all together. ~David Reese,
Oklahoma
I begin my mornings with meditation, then journal writing, and then John Cock’s daily reflections. It is amazing and delightful to see what is there each day for pondering the spirit journey in the midst of the world.
~Roseanne Sands, North Carolina
John, I enjoy the daily journey reflections each day. Thank you. And the pictures you select to accompany them are wonderful! ~Jean Watts, Louisiana
My husband got me into your daily reflections. I love them. I would like to purchase your 2-book offer. ~Andrea Beacham, Iowa
John, wonderful things have a way of finding their way into my life just when I need them. I thank Mark Dove for sending the (4/24/06) Journey Reflection "Whose Am I?" to me, and I give thanks to you for sharing the daily reflections. I look forward to them each morning. I have learned, laughed, and pondered their teachings. I would love to purchase 3 books. ~Juanita Graul, South Carolina
PREFACE
This is the second volume of Daily Spirit Journal. Since August 19, 2004, my ear is cocked, my eye is on watch, my imagination spins. I am always doing my job.
With the completion of this second volume, I have added over 850 daily reflections (all archived) to my Internet blog www.reJourney.blogspot.com and have also sent most of them to a growing e-mail list. Thousands of persons from over 115 nations in the twenty-four global time zones have clicked onto the blog.
The intent or aim of the reflections is
·to daily reflect on the deeper dimension of life
·to be a secular-spiritual articulation for all
·to provide the biggest possible context for our human/non-human creation
·to occasion an eye-opening, even an aha, experience
·and, of course, to stimulate motivation for the day
Why and how I do it? I wrote the following in an online “comment” to someone who asked:
Blogging is a journey reflection for me personally as well as for you andothers, I trust. I find quote material in books, magazines, newspapers, commonmemory pieces, and my own books; from what pops up online; movies and conversations; and colleagues’ e-mails and sent-in quotes. For example, this week’s quotes include ones from a colleague, Bonhoeffer,Tommy Lee Jones, and Nikos Kazantzakis. I interpret the quote, then try to bring it to resolution with an image of intent – like meditation writers have done in three steps: scripture, commentary, and prayer. I’m writing little vignettes daily on the third testament, believing that holy scriptures are a drop in the bucketcompared to all spiritual wisdom swirling in our universe. The last months of inserting visual images within the blogs has been fascinating for me and has drawn much good feedback. A colleague working in the city of Tbilisi wrote to thank me for the reflection today. That motivates me to keep doing the Daily Spirit Journal.Thanks for asking. I have been experimenting with daily meditation, off and on, most of my life. This way is most satisfying. It keeps me at attention, like a life reporter always looking for a meaningful story. And more, I am part of a local-global dialogue network. Sharing reflections daily makes my solitary exercise a community one – even if virtual, I see many faces. Through the daily blog, daily e-mails, and this book and the first volume, I directly do my personal reflection with many others. A great job to have.
August 2006 John P. CockGreensboro, NCUSA
