For several years, 1998-2009, I
moderated a listserv called "Earthrise" where people shared brief
"spiritual reflections" via email that were reminiscent of those in Daily
Office. When I became CEO of ICA-USA, I ceased doing this. Periodically,
people have continued to share witnesses when they have been so moved.
Several people have suggested that I revive Earthrise but I'e been
reluctant to repeat the same as before. However, I am absolutely convinced
that there is something of value in sharing witnesses within a community
that see spiritual practices to be important. So, here is my current
thinking about Earthrise:
(1) Once a week, I will share an old
Earthrise witness drawn from the hundreds that I still have from the
1998-2009 period. My thought is that spiritual insights are timeless and
that few people will recall what someone shared one or two decades ago.
(2) Perhaps a weekly witness from the
past might encourage and stimulate people today to write and share NEW
witnesses. However, I do not plan to assign any suggested timetable for
doing so. People will simply choose for themselves when/if they want to
share something.
(3) While I intend to use the Earthrise
listserv in doing this, I suspect many email address have changed.
Therefore, I am copying this announcement to the "
oe@lists.wedgeblade.net" and
"dialogue@lists.wedgeblade.net"
lists. I also will also post a first weekly witness tomorrow morning to
these groups. Tomorrow's witness, which was written by Brian Stanfield in
1998 (and was the very first Earthrise witness shared), will provide an
opportunity for people to see if they are still active on the Earthrise
listserv or not. If not, and people active on the "wedgeblade" lists
wish to receive these witnesses, then they should email me an message with
a request for their current email address to be added to the Earthrise
list.
I hope my thinking here is clear.
If not, please send your questions to me. Then tomorrow, look Brian's
witness!