We traveled last week and discovered with joy New Mexico. What a wonderful trip. Returning home to the crazy routines of daily life, we soon realized that uninvited squatters had taken over our backyard. Yes two robins built a nest in the short time we were gone, claiming the top ledge of the outside speakers for our music. I am sure they thought this was a quiet place with no visitors since there wasn’t any movement in the house for a week. Their twiggy nursery is located near my office window. Mrs. Robin keeps an eye on me but if I linger by the window too long watching her, she flies off to the nearby fence. I fretted that my activity would scare her from keeping those blue eggs warm, so slowly pass that window without sudden movements. I am pretty certain she thinks we are the squatters. We’ve decided to keep the music off so the noise doesn’t startle the little ones. I smile, as I know it won’t be long until I will see them feeding the babies and all too soon … [Read more...]
Sitting is my Only Option
I’m asking God for one thing, only one thing: To live with him in his house my whole life long. I’ll contemplate his beauty; I’ll study at his feet. Psalm 27:4 (The Message) His feet. Mary sat at Jesus’ feet. After her brother Lazarus died, she “came to where Jesus was waiting and fell at his feet.” (John 11: 32) Mary sat at Jesus’ feet while Martha fussed getting things ready. Jesus said Mary chose the better part. (Luke 10) Mary anointed Jesus’ feet in preparation for the passover, His Passover. (John 12) These verses called to me on my silent retreat this year. The invitation was clear to me: I was to sit at Jesus’ feet. I couldn’t deny it, so I literally sat on the floor off and on during that weekend. Now I am not as young as I used to be. I sat on pillows, leaned on cushions, and rested against the side of the bed. I dragged a chair over to place in front on me, imagining … [Read more...]
Standing At God’s Doorway – Lectio Divina
Hear my prayer, O Lord God Almighty; listen to me, O God of Jacob. Selah Look upon our shield, O God; look with favor on your anointed one. Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere; I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked. For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor; No good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless. O Lord Almighty, blessed is the man who trusts in you. Psalm 84: 8-12 (NIV)I would rather be a doorkeeper. I wonder what it would be like to be God’s doorkeeper.To see all who comes and goes.What they look like and what they carry to God?I wonder if God’s doorkeeper ever puts her ear against the door and quietly eavesdrops.Does she peek in?Does she ever enter herself?Does God even see her standing there?Lord, at times I am your doorkeeper.I stand half way, on the threshold of fully committing to you.One foot in. One foot turned away, set to run back to my … [Read more...]
Teach Me to Listen Prayer – Quote of the Week
Teach me to listen, O God,To those nearest me,My family, my friends my co-workers,Help me to be aware that No matter what words I hear,The message is“Accept the person I am. Listen to me.”Teach me to listen, my caring God,To those far from me –The whisper of the hopeless,The plea of the forgotten,The cry of the anguished.Teach me to listen, O God my Mother,To myself.Help me to be less afraidTo trust the voice inside –In the deepest part of meTeach me to listen, Holy Spirit,For your voice-In busyness and in boredom,In certainty and in doubt, In noise and in silence.Teach me, Lord, to listen. Amen - adapted from St Ignatius by John Veltri SJ … [Read more...]
Companions for the Journey
I love this painting of the Emmaus Road. Two friends walking together down the path of life with Jesus beside them. I have blogged about Emmaus Road impact on my spiritual walk before such on this link. Who is companioning you on your journey? Some will answer that question by saying Jesus is their companion. Others will reply besides Jesus, they share their faith stories with family and friends. In addition, others grow by speaking with a spiritual director. In my program to become a spiritual director we had the assignment to pick someone from history, a spiritual giant, to study with for two years. There is so much we can learn from studying others who came before us. I am not a fan of the word “spiritual giants” since these people are humans with weaknesses, difficulties and even poor decision making. Saints were not super humans, but in reality they were flawed and sinful just like us. But somehow they kept running that race; their lives reflect what we … [Read more...]
Word for the Year vs. Word for Life
“Stretch” is my word for the year. After prayerfully discovering that somewhat frightening word, I am finding its thread though my days. But I have also found a word for my life. I call it my core word, one that describes a basic essence of my being. Nurture. “Nurture” bubbles up from my soul. Core words describe a movement, an identity, and something deep within our DNA that drives all of our passions and needs. We spend a lifetime searching for these core words and it is an adventure to explore and discover them. In 2009 I finally was able to put a label a deep part of my center, where God’s fingerprints first formed my spirit: nurture. As a young child I knew I wanted to be a writer. As a daughter of a physician, I was often asked, “Do you want to be nurse when you grow up?” “No!” I would emphatically say with a stomp of my foot. When I was 16, I heard God clearly calling me to be a nurse and I have never regretted following that vocation. I buried my first call to … [Read more...]
The Lord, My Shepherd – Lectio Divina
My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me John 10: 27The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.He makes me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside quiet waters,he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake.Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; Your rod and your staff, they comfort me.You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.Psalm 23These words speak for themselves, Lord. This is my prayer this morning.To recognize You and only You as my Shepherd.To be so close to Your breath, that I hear even Your quietest whisper.To have my only steps following the footprints You have laid before me.To lie down at night in Your arms and drink from Your refreshing water.To know with all my heart that … [Read more...]
Native American Prayer – Quote of the Week
Earth teach me stillness as the grasses are stilled with light. Earth teach me suffering as old stones suffer with memory. Earth teach me humility as blossoms are humble with beginning. Earth teach me caring as the mother who secures her young. Earth teach me courage as the tree which stands all alone. Earth teach me limitation as the ant which crawls on the ground. Earth teach me freedom as the eagle which soars in the sky. Earth teach me resignation as the leaves which die in the fall. Earth teach me regeneration as the seed which rises in the spring. Earth teach me to forget myself as melted snow forgets its life. Earth teach me to remember kindness as dry fields weep with rain. — Ute prayer … [Read more...]