Books! I love them. I have a constant list ordered to borrow from my library. And of course, I buy too many books. Amazon and I are on a first name basis. I don't have too many books; my challenge is not enough bookshelves. I do love to read what others are reading and have shared current books I am reading on this blog too. So here are a few I am immersed in reading, savoring, highlighting, enjoying and devouring. Growing Slow by Jennifer Dukes Lee The idea of unhurried living certainly appeals to most of us worn out by busyness, expectations, and distractions. In this book Jennifer talks about when she gave herself permission to slow down and invites us to join her. I can't wait to read the practices she suggests for slowing down. She writes, "Hurry will consume you until you have nothing left. But we don't even know it's happening, because there's a popular idea out there that purposeful living is synonymous with hurry. And that if you want a great life, … [Read more...]
Charm Bracelets – Capture the Past, Cherish the Present
Charm bracelets – did it wear one in high school? A few weeks ago, a good friend (Thanks, Mary Ann) showed her high school charm bracelet on Facebook and asked if anyone else wore one like hers when we were younger. The response was so fun and brought back many memories. So I looked. I pulled out the step stool to reach that high shelf in the closet where the old jewelry box rested covered with dust. Nostalgia descended upon my soul as I sort and sifted through classic pieces from my mom and from my life many moons ago. Old pins. Nameplates from first jobs. Not working watches worn by an elderly long gone saint who still lives in my heart. Finally, I found it and slowly touched each captured moment from my teen years. Capturing the Past What is or would be on your childhood charm bracelet? Not only is this fun but also remind us of our roots and early experiences that formed our souls. Come on, let's share. Even men could at least imagine what … [Read more...]
Languishing and Lingering Lessons
Lingering and languishing are two words murmuring in my mind and heart lately. I haven't heard anyone said these two words out loud, but sense many people feel empty, depleted, and lack the energy even to linger and savor the present time. We fixate on the never-ending pandemic dominating our lives, news, and choices. We then play the "someday when we can be normal again" game, focusing on the future. Languishing "Part of the danger is that when you’re languishing, you might not notice the dulling of delight or the dwindling of drive. You don’t catch yourself slipping slowly into solitude; you’re indifferent to your indifference. When you can’t see your own suffering, you don’t seek help or even do much to help yourself.” Great quote from an article in the NY Times so well written by Adam Grant and titled "There’s a Name for the Blah You’re Feeling: It’s Called Languishing." It opens with this sentence: "The neglected middle child of mental health can dull your motivation … [Read more...]
In Praise of the Pretzel
Pretzels! Did you know April 26 is National Pretzel Day? I never heard of this before and what a fun and yummy discovery. The Twisted History Pretzels do belong in a faith blog like Healthy Spirituality because pretzel have religious roots. Legend tells that the first pretzel was created by a monk around the 7th Century A.D.to reward children for saying their prayers. The treat of baked dough was twisted into the shape or crossed arms. Some say they were originally called “bracellae,” the Latin term for “little arms,” from which Germans later derived the word “bretzel.” One place promotes the pretzel starting in Italy while another source puts the invention in a monastery in southern France. Seen as a symbol of good luck, prosperity and spiritual fulfillment, pretzels were also commonly distributed to the poor, as a way of providing them with both spiritual and literal sustenance. The looped pretzel may also be related to a Greek Ring bread from the communion … [Read more...]
One Word Journaling
Is one word enough for a journal entry? Using a single word as a writing prompt is amazingly simple, yet powerful. I have notice when studying scripture and being with God, often the small plain words hold as much meaning as the gigantic theological ones. THE Lord is MY shepherd. OUR Father who art in heaven. YET God… My Word of the Year My word of the year is very minimal and down to earth: GO. I have shared on other posts about my word and GO continues to put down deep roots in my spiritual journey this year. Emily Freeman talked this past week about How to Journal Using One Word in her #173 podcast. Well worth listening as she is inspiring and insightful every week. Emily likes to write her word at the top of a journal page. She then reviews and reflects over the past week, month or quarter her using her iPhone photos, her journal, and her daily planner. Paying attention, she looks for patterns or material related to her word. She then gleans insights … [Read more...]
Living as Easter People in Eastertide
Eastertide is living as Easter people every day, not just on Easter Sunday, but as a way of life. In our local church, we start each worship service these next few weeks with this greeting: Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Our traditional Easter greeting. April brings Easter and don't forget Easter isn't celebrating just one day but a full season. In the church calendar, the season of Easter runs for 50 days from sunset on the eve of Easter Day until Pentecost. This year this means we will greet each other from Sunday April 4 until Sunday, May 23. This a seven-week season of the church year is also called Eastertide. Eastertide is the time of new life. We see this reflected as spring bursts with buds, flowers, and nests full of eggs. We hear it in our music. The sun shines longer each day. My spirit lifts in this light and in the Light of New Life. Extending this season gives us time to rejoice and experience what it means when we say Christ is risen. … [Read more...]
What is the Meaning of Holy Saturday?
Holy Saturday waits. During Holy Week, we parade and cheer Jesus onward as he entered Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. We broke bread and drank wine on Maundy Thursday. We stood at the edges in disbelief and grief as he died on the cross on Friday. According to the gospel writers, Jesus died at three o’clock in the afternoon. The Jewish sabbath began at six. This meant for the family and friends of Jesus, time was not on their side. The clock was ticking, and the body of Jesus needed to be buried quickly. As evening approached, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who had himself become a disciple of Jesus. Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus’ body, and Pilate ordered that it be given to him. Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and placed it in his own new tomb that he had cut out of the rock. He rolled a big stone in front of the entrance to the tomb and went away. (Matthew 27:57-60) Time stood still between Jesus' death and his … [Read more...]
POOF! 50 Years Later
50 years ago – March 1971. I bet some of you reading this may have been alive then. Do you remember March 1971? I do. A significant event happened, but at that moment I never realized that this was a turning point in my life. Even you, my younger friends, have experienced a meeting, a word, an interaction that at the time seemed small. Maybe fun but not life changing. Another notation on the calendar, the to-do list. A minor memo that slowly and surprisingly took root and grew beyond any expectations. March 1971 – I remember riding back to my college dorm with my then current boyfriend. I recall saying to myself. "He is such a nice guy but just not the one. There is no spark here. I really should try spending time with someone new." A girl-ask-guy party was coming up on campus. I looked around at several meetings scanning the crowd for a possibility. I remember looking at tall blonde Paul, wondering about him when I noticed a shorter … [Read more...]