I had the honor of being interviewed by this new and important podcast created by my dear friend Jean Kelly: Read Pray Write, “Episodes that bring together music, an inspiring text, time for meditation, brief interviews with faith-filled creatives who share how sacred reading can provide soul food for us all”
I was overjoyed to discuss and meditate upon one of my favorite essays: Thomas Merton’s “Integrity” from New Seeds of Contemplation. Jean is a fantastic host who guided me into discussions of creativity, the true-self, and the life-changing nature of texts that we deeply engage with.
“Many poets are not poets for the same reason that many religious men are not saints: they never succeed in being themselves. They never get around to being the particular poet or the particular monk they are intended to be by God. They never become the man or the artist who is called for by all the circumstances of their individual lives. They waste their years in vain effort to be some other poet, some other saint.”
––Thomas Merton, New Seeds of Contemplation, Integrity (p. 98)
Cassidy Hall (MA, MDiv, MTS) is an author, filmmaker, podcaster, and holds a Masters of Divinity, Masters of Theological Studies, and Masters in Counseling. Born and raised in Iowa, she now works at First Congregational United Church of Christ in Indianapolis where she is pursuing ordination in the UCC. Throughout her time at Christian Theological Seminary in Indianapolis, she worked as a Teaching Assistant while studying for her MDiv and MTS degrees (December, 2021). During her time at seminary, she also served as the Secretary of the International Thomas Merton Society and continues to serve on the board of Enfleshed.
Cassidy co-authored Notes on Silence (2018) and has had her work featured in devotionals including most recently: Thirsty, and You Gave Me Drink; Homilies and Reflections for Cycle C, from Clear Faith Publishing (2021). Her essays have been published in the Christian Century, The National Catholic Reporter, Convivium Journal, The Thomas Merton Seasonal, The Thomas Merton Annual, and she has also been a contributor for The Huffington Post and Patheos.
Before pursuing her MDiv and MTS in Indianapolis, Cassidy lived in Los Angeles where she worked on the production team of the documentary feature film, In Pursuit of Silence. The film’s success on the festival circuit and beyond led to its worldwide theatrical release. Her directorial debut short-film, Day of a Stranger, paints an intimate portrait of Thomas Merton’s hermitage years and received the Audience Choice Award from Illuminate Film Festival.
She is the co-host of the Encountering Silence podcast, which explores the ambiguity of silence in our modern-day lives. And more recently, she created a podcast hosted by the Christian Century titled Contemplating Now, which examines the intersection of contemplation and social justice.
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5 thoughts on “Read, Pray, Write interviews Cassidy Hall”
Cassidy Hall 
This was wonderful! XO
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How do you what God is saying to you?
How do you “know” what God is saying to you?
Friend, the only “knowing” I’ve found has been in “unknowing.” In opening up my clenched fists, in understanding there is no certitude, in letting go.
A beautiful answer Cassidy.
Our only certitude can be in the depths of the eternal unknowing. This is faith.
There’s a saying: the bird of paradise can land only on an open palm, not a closed fist.