Pray and Paddle with the wisdom of Joy Harjo

Program Details

Join us in our fifth season for our Pray and Paddle with the wisdom of Joy Harjo on Saturday, August 22nd from 9 am to 12 noon.

On Lake Cochichewick, we will share in Lectio Divina, an ancient practice of listening to a piece of sacred wisdom three times. Each reading includes a question to ponder, followed by an extended time of paddling in silence.

On this paddle we are accompanied by the wisdom of Joy Harjo, an American poet, musician, playwright, and author. She served as the United States Poet Laureate from 2019 to 2022, the first Native American to hold that honor. Joy is a citizen of the Muscogee Nation. She writes: “To pray you open your whole self To sky, to earth, to sun, to moon…”

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All levels of kayaking and canoeing experience are welcome.

Cost: $33-$48 pending on kayak rental (select options upon registering)

About the Leaders

Kent Harrop

Kent Harrop is an avid outdoorsman and an ordained American Baptist minister. He was introduced to contemplative paddling on a Zen meditation kayak trip to the Tongass Wilderness in Alaska in 2002. Since then, Kent has enjoyed guiding both novice and experienced kayakers and canoeists in the practice of "listening on the water."

A favorite verse of his is:

"Listen, and your soul will live." — Isaiah 55:3

Kent is a graduate of Andover Newton Theological School, the Shalem Institute for Contemplative Leadership, and the Franciscan Spiritual Direction Program. For 40 years, he pastored congregations. Currently, he leads Pray and Paddle events for Rolling Ridge, coordinates North Shore: SING (Spirituality in Nature Group), and serves as a Spiritual Director.

Kent can be reached at kentdharrop@gmail.com