Go is my word of the year. I wrote about this practice last week but today want to expand on how this word will guide me in 2021. At first I thought this was too simplistic, but I kept hearing it. Feeling its energy. This word invites me forward with hope, liveliness, and power. GO symbolizes a new spiritual practice for me. As I prayed about choosing a word for the year, God (interesting to pay attention to the first two letters in the word GOD) asked me to watch for his grace. To daily watch for his touch, gifts, presence throughout the day. Grace Observed. In essence this mean to ask myself: Where am I seeing grace each day? Grace Observed draws my eyes from my ego, self-pity, and what I don't have or what I have lost and helps me see grace in every place. To appreciate all that God provides - visible and invisible. Forgotten, then remembered. Cherished instead of neglected. I have had fun playing with this word – another confirmation of this power in this word and … [Read more...]
2021 Choosing One Word as a LAMP
Do you choose one word or short phrase to frame the coming year ahead? I have chosen one word for a number of years. In fact, last year I shared a decade of this practice. Most years the selected word amazes me in how it shapes my point of view and directs my steps. The word represents where my heart and soul are right now and more importantly what I am desiring to be over the next 12 months and how God is shaping and transforming me. There are many resources to help you chose. Click on these links to read a few articles. I know other bloggers follow this practice and I am especially excited to participate in a regular reflection of my word along with kindred spirit Lisa Burgess. Clicking here will lead you to sign up for her monthly email and questions for reflection to share and keep your word front and center throughout the year. Thank you, Lisa,! Lisa wrote this blog post last week titled "3 Steps to Choose One Word for 2021" and used the delightful … [Read more...]
A Blessing for the New Year – John O’Donohue
On the day whenthe weight deadenson your shouldersand you stumble,may the clay danceto balance you. And when your eyesfreeze behindthe grey windowand the ghost of lossgets into you,may a flock of colours,indigo, red, greenand azure blue,come to awaken in youa meadow of delight. When the canvas fraysin the currach of thoughtand a stain of oceanblackens beneath you,may there come across the watersa path of yellow moonlightto bring you safely home. May the nourishment of the earth be yours,may the clarity of light be yours,may the fluency of the ocean be yours,may the protection of the ancestors be yours. And so may a slowwind work these wordsof love around you,an invisible cloakto mind your life. Here is a video to this poem spoken by the poet himself. If you are getting this by email you will have to go the blog to see the video and hear his wonderful Irish brogue. May 2021 overflow with blessings for you! … [Read more...]
Keeping Christmas
Are you willing...To forget what you have done for other people, and to remember what other people have done for you?To ignore what the world owes you, and to think what you owe the world?To put your rights in the background, and your duties in the middle distance and your changes to do a little more than your duty in the foreground?To see the that men and women are just as real as you are, and try to look behind their faces to their hearts, hungry for joy?To own up to the fact that probably the only good reason for your existence is not what you are going to get out of life, but what you are going to give to life?To close your book of complaints against the management of the universe, and look around you for a place where you can sow a few seeds of happiness?Are you willing to do these things even for a day? Then you can keep Christmas. Are you willing..To stoop down and consider the needs and desires of little children?To remember the weakness and loneliness of people … [Read more...]
Advent Quotes to Bless this Season in 2020
Advent quotes! Advent is one of my favorite seasons. I love the hope, the joy, the holy anticipation of new birth. I also love collecting, pondering, and stretching my heart, mind and spirit with quotes – tiny bits of wisdom from others that nourishes my soul and gives me strength for this journey. 2020 has been challenging for all of us, so today I am going to share some of my recent Advent quotes I have read so you too can consider them and perhaps their words will lighten your path. I have written these in my journal. Brought them into my prayers. Allowed them to soak into my core for encouragement, affirmation, and wisdom. Enjoy! The expectation of Advent is anchored in the event of God’s incarnation. The more I come in touch with what happened in the past, the more I come in touch with what is to come. The Gospel not only reminds me of what took place but also of what will take place. In the contemplation of Christ’s first coming, I can discover the signs of his … [Read more...]
Walking with Companions from the Great Cloud of Witnesses
Who are your walking companions? Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us. Hebrews 12 :1 God has gifted us a rich history of past and present "witnesses" to our faith that accompanies us if we only seek their wisdom and listen to their stories. I love the image of one or two fellow pilgrims emerging from the cheering crowd along my path and coming along side of me for a spell. A road to Emmaus moment. Sharing our story with and in the presence of Christ – learning and growing deeper. When I was in formation to be a spiritual director, we were asked to walk with a spiritual person for two years –soaking in the story of their lives, immersing in their writings and gleaning lessons for our own journey. Dorothy Day still walks with me today as a friend, a companion and a … [Read more...]
Advent Adventure
Advent is here and I am ready for an adventure. Advent is the four weeks before the celebration of the birth of Jesus. November 29 was the first Sunday in this season this year and on our online church service, we lit the first of the four candles surrounding the white Christ candle. The candles symbolize joy, hope, peace, and love. I dug out my home Advent wreath and began with the first candle here too. This time before Christmas is a time of anticipation and waiting for the gift of this holy season. If we pay attention, God will surprise us with his presence. If we wait in stillness, we will find him in unexpected places like a manger in Bethlehem. I like the concept of adventure too. An adventure means to take the chance and enter into an exciting and possibly lifechanging experience. The word adventure comes from the Latin word ‘adventurus’ meaning ‘a thing about to happen’. I am ready to cast off 2020 and move forward into new direction. "A new … [Read more...]
A Spiritual Side Dish for Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays. I love the family getting together. The delicious smells showering my kitchen. The turkey browning in the oven. The laughter and chatter even while washing the dishes and scrubbing the pans. I smile with the memories of past holidays with loved ones now in heaven and still in our hearts. And of course, the side dishes. We will have my sister in law's sweet potato dish. Katie's homemade pumpkin pie. My mom's crockpot dressing. Good ol' green bean casserole and our family joke about needing the recipe to make it just right (We don't really but we always cut it out of the magazine ads each year and send it to each other) And cranberry jello the grandkids request and we all enjoy. Gratitude for all God's gifts overwhelmed my heart this week as I got out the recipes and made these plans for Thursday. Thank you for family. Thank you for the ones not in our near bubble we can't be with this year. We miss them. Thank you for … [Read more...]