Elders, mentors, sages and saints ....

... We all have names for those folks, whether currently living or long-dead, who helped shape our lives to this point. So also do we celebrate how they might continue to help us on our way by their impact in this world, the examples of their lives we can follow, their wisdom and insight that was often born of struggles we will never know.  

On this page, to the left, you will find some links regarding a few folk who have made a difference for many. Some are still making that difference. Take a look for how and why their lives have meaning. Consider the path of your own life and faith. And know that somewhere there is likely another person who is watching you for inspiration and strength, as well.

How will your life inspire the ones who are coming after us?

Angeles Arrien, PhD: spiritual biography (commonweal)

Anisa Mehdi: an american muslim

Benedict's rule: a commentary of the wisdom of St. Benedict

Black Elk: healer, spiritual leader, teacher, sun dancer

Brigid of Kildare

Carrie Newcomer: musician, poet, mystic

Catherine of Siena: teacher, doctor, activist

Cedric Jennings: inner city to ivy league

Columcille (Columba): monk, author, celtic monastic

C.S. Lewis: life, love and legacy

Cuthbert of Lindisfarne: prior, hermit, bishop

Daniel Berrigan

David Spangler: apprenticed to spirit (commonweal)

David Steindl-Rast: spiritual biography (commonweal)

David Whyte -- poet (commonweal)

Deitrich Bonhoeffer: theologian, pastor, martyr

Eboo Patel: interfaith youth spirituality

Elizabeth Hamilton: untrain your parrot

Elizabeth Lesser: writer, mystic, teacher, co-founder of

Francis Collins: science and god

Francis of Assisi: mystic, teacher, founder of franciscan

Fred Craddock: preacher, story-teller

Frederica Matthewes-Green: Orthodoxy

Frederick Buechner: author, theologian, mystic

Fritz & Vivienne Hull:

     environmentalists, activists, mystics and teachers

         - about

         - Earth and Spirit (editor)

         - Fritz Hull: spiritual biography

         - Iona: a guide to the sacred isle

         - Iona Report: story of an enduring vision

         - Seattle Times Article

         - serving a greater cause

         - Women Of Whidbey: Vivienne Hull

Gary Malkin: forward through grief

Geri Larkin: buddhist teacher, writer

Gregory Fruehwirth: exploring faith

Harold Kushner: rabbi, counselor, author

Henri Nouwen: priest, pastor, friend

Hildegard of Bingen: monastic, prophetic visionary, musician

Ignatius

John O'Donohue: priest, philospher, activist

Julian of Norwich: mystic, writer, anchoress

Juris Rubensis: faith under totalitarianism

Kurt Hoelting: on inside passages

Lao Tzu: chinese philosopher

Lawrence Kushner: jewish spirituality

Leonard Sweet: faith and future

living spiritual teachers project

Luci Shaw: god, nature and poetry

Mahatma Gandhi

Marcus Borg: exploring faith

Marjorie Corbman: teens and faith

Mark Nepo: poet, philospoher, teacher

Martin Luther King, Jr.: moving mountains

Matthew Fox: theologian, mystic, teacher

Oriah Mountain Dreamer

Orlando Bishop: spiritual biography (commonweal)

Parker Palmer: teacher, activist

    -center for courage and renewal bio

Philip Gulley: author, theologian, story-teller

Phil Miller: on ritual and holy days

Phyllis Tickle: first sundays

Pierre Teilhard de Chardin

Rachel Carson -- scientist, environmentalist, mystic:

    - carson's silent spring

    - bill moyars on carson

Rachel Naomi Remen, MD (commonweal)

     - Remen: Onbeing

     - stories & poems at end of life

Ram Dass: exploring faith

Rainer Maria Rilke -- poet:

    - biography

    - poems

(links continued in next column)