For more than 15 years, Ed Bacon has served as rector for All Saints, an urban Episcopal parish in Pasadena, California, with over 4,000 members. His radically inclusive message has attracted Christians of all stripes, Jews, Muslims, and atheists to the pews, and inspired visits and friendships from Desmond Tutu, Cornel West, Madonna, and Ariana Huffington. Bacon has been a frequent guest on Oprah's Soul Series on Oprah Radio and a panelist in the "Spirituality 101" segment of The Oprah Winfrey Show.
In his ministry, the author has come across many people who have "an enormous hunger and need in the world for spiritual guidance in living a life grounded in love and free of fear." The key to experiencing this transformation is to open one's heart and mind to the Beloved within. Bacon has come up with what he calls "the 8 Habits of Love" that can set our lives on a fresh and flourishing course.
With the Habit of Generosity, we can live in the spirit of abundance since all that we give away to others comes back to us. Each act of selfless kindness gives us a boost in letting go of our fear of scarcity.
With the Habit of Stillness, we listen to the Beloved and slow down the fast pace of our lives. Entering this sacred space on a daily basis is good training in surrendering to the Holy One who is the source of all silence and peace.
With the Habit of Candor, we are challenged to speak the truth from our hearts and train ourselves further in the art of listening. Bacon states that this is the riskiest habit since we can misread a person or a situation, so care must be taken to "lay the groundwork carefully."
With the Habit of Play, we celebrate the humanity and the creativity within us that is yearning for expression. This Habit takes within its embrace laughter, a liberating force that comes with lightness of being.
With the Habit of Forgiveness, we can move beyond the blame game and "the prison of fear, self-punishment, and revenge." There is a healing power in forgiveness that brings hope to painful relationships.
Bacon also writes about the Habits of Compassion, Truth, and Community. The 8 Habits of Love by Ed Bacon beckons us to a new adventure in everyday spirituality.
