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23 Reflections and 26 Pieces of Verse on 180 Pages

Back Cover Comments:

As we awaken, in this new millennium, to a dynamic, hitherto scarcely dreamed of future in every phase of life, John Cock's latest book sounds a clarion call for our participation in the great enterprise of enhancing communion between the human and the other-than-human components of the sacred earth community. ~Thomas Berry, historian and geologian. Author of The Dream of the Earth; The Universe Story; and The Great Work.

John and Lynda Cock call us to pay attention to only the most important: the whole creation and our place in it. And they show us a way, in the dailiness of our lives, to wonder, to rejoice, to mourn, and to celebrate. What more can we ask? ~Rev. Dr. Marie Fortune, Founder of FaithTrust Institute. Author of Is Nothing Sacred? and Keeping the Faith.

I carried this manuscript in my rucksack on a trip to Serbia and Azerbaijan. The reflections framed my day and kept me in touch with my foundations.

~Terry Bergdall, Ph.D., third world planner and consultant. Author of Methods for Active Participation.

Some Comments Since Publication

I deeply appreciate your giving me a copy of your recent book. You seem to grasp as well as anyone the basic design of my thinking. ~Thomas Berry

I appreciate its consistency in approach. The book maintains a clear "everyone is in this together" that does not later turn to "God is on the side of the religious or the Christian." This is rare and refreshing. Your best so far. I have about five people I want to give the book to. ~Justin Morrill, consultant, Tacoma

I was captivated by the style you use in each of the chapters. . . . "Spirit" methods often appear to me phony or contrived. Your approach, however, with the "grounding" that you provide from life experience, beacons one to engage in the deeper journey. ~Lela Jahn, investment advisor, San Francisco

I received your book Saturday and sat right down to read the first five chapters. . . . Once again I find that through the wonder of the printed page I am sustained in our Great Work. . . . Although the immediate impact was the rewrite of Sunday's first 300 words of the morning message, of more lasting impact, I'm sure, was the reminder that spirit awareness is about seeing the mundanity of life as transparent to incarnate sacredness. . . . Please send six more copies for a study group or for lending. ~Dr. Harold Slater, minister, Michigan

Just want you to know that I have spent some time today reading, with great pleasure and edification, your The Heart of Creation. I think my favorite chapter is "Fil Lik Rolty." Congratulations to you both on an exquisite set of reminders of what it's all about. ~Margaret Berry, retired professor and author, Greensboro

Master image of book

A book about the spirit journey of communion with the power at the heart of creation that motivates us humans to be agents of intercommunion.

Three Sections: Heart of Creation; Communion; and Intercommunion

We are on a spirit journey which is not about "me as a person" but is about "me in relation with all others," human and non-human. The truth we are missing is that spirit happens in the relation between the other and me, or spirit happens in the relations of creation. The change we envision will not come from the ought of sustainability, will not come from more democratic governments, more economic prosperity, or a better educated populace. It will come from a more conscious spirit journey of communion and intercommunion of a growing movement of people around the planet.

Table of Contents

Introduction 13

The Starting Point: Have You Experienced the Mystery? 19

Section One: Heart of Creation

Reflection 1 Spirituality 101 27

Verse 1 Spirit Journey 29

Reflection 2 Spirit Consciousness 31

Verse 2 Lift My Spirit 34

Reflection 3 Teachers, Please Ground the Truth 35

Verse 3 That Which Wakes All 38

Reflection 4 Experience Your Experience 39

Verse 4 Oh that which is 45

Reflection 5 Spirituality of Life 47

Verse 5 Christmas 51

Reflection 6 spirit 53

Verse 6 Easter 58

Reflection 7 that power 61

Verse 7 heart of creation 66

Section Two: Communion

Reflection 8 Communion Within Creation 69

Verse 8 Oh I Don't Know 73

Reflection 9 Fil Lik Rolty (llc) 75

Verse 9 Aussie Wisdom 77

Reflection 10 Thanks for the Fog 79

Verse 10 YAAAA from a Universe Shrink 81

Reflection 11 It Takes a Universe (llc) 83

Verse 11 Rich Is 85

Reflection 12 Life Is Full of Surprises 87

Exercise 12 Experiences of Communion 89

Verse 13 Amazing Grace 90

Reflection 13 Soul Satisfaction 91

Meditation 14 Communion 95

Section Three: Intercommunion

Verse 15 Love All of Nature 99

Reflection 14 Intercommunion 101

Verse 16 Just Yes or No 106

Reflection 15 Soulful Transformation 107

Exercise 17 Thou 111

Reflection 16 Agents of Intercommunion 113

Reflection 17 Divisive Words 117

Verse 18 What gets me down 120

Verse 19 Is there any hope at all? 122

Reflection 18 The Best of Times in the Worst of Times 123

Verse 20 Our Home Sweet Home 130

Exercise 21 Who Is My Neighbor? 132

Reflection 19 Who Is My Neighbor 2000 Years Later? 133

Verse 22 My Neighbor Is 138

Reflection 20 I Don't Agree with You on This One (llc) 139

Exercise 23 My Vocation 143

Reflection 21 Human Development Recontexted 145

Verse 24 Humanism Is Bust 149

Reflection 22 The Creation-centered Revolution 151

Verse 25 Beatitudes 156

Reflection 23 The Next Evolutionary Leap 159

In Summary: Verse 26 Whichever 163

Appendices

A. Chart: An Earlier Outline 167

B. Chart: Major Shifts of the Last 70,000 Years 171

C. Chart: Western Civilization Shifts 173

Selected Bibliography 175

The Authors and Cover Designer 179

Book Price $12.95

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