This past month has been a whirlwind of hope and heartbreak. Somehow, we continue moving through the rhythms of our daily lives—tending to the details of our smaller worlds, each with its own struggles—yet always sensing a subtle tremor beneath the surface. There is an undercurrent of anxiety these days, a quiet holding of the breath, as if we are waiting for the next clarion call urging us to rise and respond once more.
In times like these, we find ourselves asking: What can we do to cultivate resilience and fortify our exhausted souls? How do we stay grounded for whatever comes next?
I have always loved the feeling of being prepared—how it steadies me and thrills me in the same breath. It’s an old teacher’s instinct to walk into every lesson with three plans ready and a fourth forming in the wings. There was a deep joy in that readiness: a confidence that allowed me to abandon the plan entirely when the moment demanded it. In those uncharted spaces, when the script fell away and we followed the living questions together, the truest, most luminous learning arose between us.
Resilience works much the same way. We cannot script the future, but we can cultivate practices that steady us enough to meet it with courage, curiosity, and grace.
Just like the musician who gets to Carnegie Hall by practicing, we reach spiritual resilience through practice—steady, intentional, soul-nourishing practice. Spiritual practice is a way of reclaiming time for the spirit. It is a balm for the weary, a salve for the heart, and a quiet teacher of strength.
Resilience is not about avoiding difficulty. It is about developing the thoughts, behaviors, and habits that allow us to adapt and grow through adversity. Healthy connections, mindful presence, purposeful action, and care for our bodies all help build resilience. Research even shows that spirituality strengthens resilience through relationships, transformation, coping, the power of belief, and commitment to deep values.
Last week, I agreed—somewhat impulsively—to do a polar plunge. As people described the experience of entering Lake Michigan together—the physical shock, the spiritual clarity, the shared exhilaration—it struck me as a perfect image of resilience: entering the cold, together, and emerging renewed.
This month, we invite you to nurture your resilience through community: Community Valentine‑Making, Adventures in Resilience (for families), and Community Game Night. May these gatherings offer you connection, joy, and the steadying presence of shared spirit as we continue walking this winding path together.