On retreat this summer the leader told us about one of St John of the Cross’s prayers:Make me invisible, Lord.That prayer has lingered with me and invited me to think about insignificance as a spiritual discipline. I am a three on the Enneagram and if you know anything about that personality, I thrive on achievement. Accomplishment is my motivator whether it is crossing things off my to-do list, obtaining goals and diving into items on my bucket list. I am driven to make a difference, to be remembered, and to leave a lasting legacy.I “do” “do” well. Just “being” is a lifelong struggle for me.Imagine then my astonishment at a book titled: Embracing Obscurity - Becoming Nothing in Light of God’s Everything. When I had a chance to read this advance copy of this new book published by B & H Publishing, I took the opportunity. God was certainly getting my attention with this topic.And get this: the author is “anonymous.” Isn’t that different? The book tells us this is a well-known author … [Read more...]
Lessons from the Tough Times
1968.1968 was a tough year. Earthquakes and wars left the world unsettled. Soviet Union invaded Czechoslovakia. Our own county erupted in riots; Martin Luther King Jr. and Bobby Kennedy were assassinated. Viet Nam dominated the evening news with body counts.1968 was a tough year for my family too. My dad had died the year before and my mom and I moved. Both my brothers were serving in Viet Nam. My mom glued herself to the news each night to try to understand what was happening. I was oblivious to my mom’s emotional plight. Wrapped up in my senior year of high school, I made plans to head off next year for the new exciting world of college. I look back on that year now and just can’t imagine how empty her world was - her sons in war, empty nest looming and struggling with being a widow. I never heard my mom complain. She survived.Sometimes tough times are just plain “get through” times. 1944.For our local newspaper I interview the men and women who go on “Honor Flights,” the group … [Read more...]
Prayer is the Key – Lectio Divina
Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray.Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise.Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up.If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.James 5: 13-16PrayHere You go again, Lord. Reminding me in Your simple, pure, and unconditionally uncomplicated way.Prayer is the key.If I am upset. Troubled. Struggling. Failing, Stressed and up the creek without a paddle - PrayWhen all is wonderful. Joy abounds. I move freely without the weight of the world - PrayCranky with cold, cancer or other conditions - Pray.Darkened by sin, fearful by the menacing world events, shamed with my own failings - Pray.Just come to You open and … [Read more...]
The Wonder of a Child – Quote of the Week
“Children live in a world of dreams and imagination, a world of aliveness...There is a voice of wonder and amazement inside all of us,but we grow to realize we can no longer hear and we live in silence.It isn’t that God stopped speaking; it is that our lives became louder."Mike Yaconelli … [Read more...]
What/Who Do You Honor?
I heard a fun and interesting speaker this past weekend. Terry Hershey is the author of numerous books including The Power of Pause and Soul Gardening. His superb story telling opens the heart and makes you think and the quotes he shares lingers within you.Terry said one of his favorite quotes was by Plato: “What is honored will be cultivated.”He noted that Plato didn’t say what is taught, what is learned, what is believed, but what is honored. When we honor something, it grows, develops, encourages, and supports.I looked up and the actual quote from Plato is this: "What is honored in a country will be cultivated there." Mmmmm, now there is another aspect to think about!But the whole issue of what am I honoring in my life has stayed with me this week. What does it mean to honor something/someone? In my life am I honoring God? Honoring the Sabbath? Honoring others? Honoring myself as a child of God?To honor means to treat with respect, to keep your word, to speak highly of someone … [Read more...]
Ever Hear of Michaelmas?
Are you afraid of thedark? When I was little once I crawled into bed, I never wanted to get out because I thought the alligators lurking under mattress would chomp on my legs. I wonder if a big brother told me that or if that story rose from my imagination.Fall is a time in the northern hemisphere when darkness takes over as the days get shorter and shadows rule more of our days than sunlight. Who knows what creatures lie in shadowy wait to devour us? So it is little surprise that over the centuries, autumn traditions emerged seeking protection for this spooky time of year.I noticed in our church bulletin last week a reference to this coming Saturday, September 29, being Michaelmas.I don’t think I ever heard of this commemoration before and had fun learning more about it. This feast day of the archangel Michael is seeped deep in history, tradition and folklore. I was fascinated to read some of the stories behind this little known Christian holiday. Here is a bit of what I … [Read more...]
Come Near to God – Lectio Divina
Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. James 4: 7-8a (NIV)Is it that simple, Lord?Turn my back on the devil and he is gone?Turn my face only to gaze upon You and You are present?Why do I make my relationship with You so difficult when You purely and plainly instruct me - come near?Come near. Come near. Your intimate and holy invitation.Come near. Be with Me, Your tender call.Come near and we can enjoy each other company.Come near.Lord I stand firm with You, refusing to go along with any of the devil’s evil ways.Come near to God and he will come near to you.I come near and I ask for Your wisdom to know the difference.I enter Your presence needing Your strength to endure his temptations and seductive lures that trap my heart.I seek Your light to guide my faltering steps.Come near to God and he will come near to you.I cling to this promise Lord and run to the shelter of Your wings.I hid in Your shadow … [Read more...]
Learning to Love the Weeds – Quote of the Week = Anthony de Mello
A man who took great pride in his lawnfound himself with a large crop of dandelions.He tried every method he knew to get rid of them.Still they plagued him.Finally he wrote to the Department of Agriculture.He enumerated all the things he had triedand closed his letter with the question,“What shall I do now?”In the course the reply came:“We suggest you learn to love them.”Anthony de Mello … [Read more...]