The past few months have been draining. I am tired. I am weary. I am depleted. I am empty.I have a choice. I can feel sorry for myself or I can take action and live. I choose life.I have been in this dry place before. I remember after finishing graduate school, working full time and being a mother of three active kids experiencing this same parchedness. I intentionally sought spiritual nourishment then and think I will repeat some of those steps now. I thought I would share this plan with you.Physically· Back to Weight-Watchers. I feel so much better eating healthier. When I am under stress I really hit those carbs and now feel very sluggish. Time to count points and make better food choices.· Time to get outside to the garden and to go for daily walks. I am not an exerciser, but have heard the message over and over again – moving daily is essential and can’t be avoided.Socially· I will not let myself withdraw from spending time with friends. I will … [Read more...]
Sojourn
Last week I wrote about earth just being temporary as we travel to our true home in heaven.The word “sojourn” stood out to me shortly after I posted on the blog. I like the sound of that word – sojourn.Sojourn means “to stay as a temporary resident; to dwell for a time, a temporary stay.” The word originated from old French and dates back to the 13th century. Its roots go back even further into Latin for “spend a day there.”But don’t think being a sojourner means you are off easy and don’t need to work. A sojourner has a purpose and a passion.On June 1, 1843, Isabella Baumfree changed her name to Sojourner Truth. She told friends, "The Spirit calls me [East], and I must go. ...the Lord gave me Truth, because I was to declare the truth to the people."Later she wrote, “Sojourner means traveler and truth means being real or genuine. I felt that God had told me that my mission in life was to tell people the truth about women’s rights and slavery.”Sojourner Truth was a feisty, not afraid to … [Read more...]
A Promised Friend – Lectio Divina
If you love me, show it by doing what I've told you. I will talk to the Father, and he'll provide you another Friend so that you will always have someone with you. This Friend is the Spirit of Truth. The godless world can't take him in because it doesn't have eyes to see him, doesn't know what to look for. But you know him already because he has been staying with you, and will even be in you! John 14: 15-17 (The Message)You will always have someone with you.Lord what a gift – Your presence – You instill in us. I cling to that promise that You will always be with us, Lord. You won’t leave us orphaned. You stay with us throughout our journey.I thank You for Your companionship - by going before me, beside me, behind me, and within me.I read the other day, "Sit with God as you might with the ocean. You bring nothing to the ocean, yet it changes you." Sean Caulfield.Your presence is like the water, like an ocean to me. Surrounding me, nourishing me, carrying me throughout this life.I … [Read more...]
Accepting Myself – Quote of the Week – Thomas Merton
"Finally I am coming to the conclusion that my highest ambition is to be what I already am. That I will never fulfill my obligation to surpass myself unless I first accept myself, and if I accept myself fully in the right way, I will already have surpassed myself."Thomas Merton … [Read more...]
Borning Cry – Beautiful Hymn by John Ylvisaker.
My daughter Valerie sang “Borning Cry” at Esther’s funeral this week. Our good friends, Jim and Nancy accompanied her with flute and piano. What can I say? I cried. A beautiful song with powerful message!Drink in the love of God today through this hymn:I was there to hear your borning cry, I'll be there when you are old. I rejoiced the day you were baptized, to see your life unfold. I was there when you were but a child, with a faith to suit you well; In a blaze of light you wandered off to find where demons dwell.When you heard the wonder of the Word I was there to cheer you on; You were raised to praise the living Lord, to whom you now belong. If you find someone to share your time and you join your hearts as one, I'll be there to make your verses rhyme from dusk 'till rising sun. In the middle ages of your life, not too old, no longer young, I'll be there to guide you through the night, complete what I've begun. When the evening gently closes in, and you shut your weary eyes, … [Read more...]
Heading Home to Heaven
Where is your home?My experiences lately keep bringing my thoughts back to the concept of home.My husband and I talked about “home” several years ago when a good friend, close to our age, died. Where did we want to be buried? We no longer had roots to our hometowns. We lived in this small village for thirty years now. Though we landed on this geographical place on earth for quite a long time in our adult journey, is this our real home?When I watched this morning the devastation of homes by tornadoes in the Midwest. I then remembered the huge destruction of homes in Japan from their tragedies. Suddenly people were homeless. Their physical, temporary structures they called “home” disappeared. Home – where is our real home?I sat and held the hands of my friend as she died last week. I watched her body fade away and her spirit rise to heaven. She is truly home today. She is no longer in a place that is temporary. No longer homeless.The Gospel this past Sunday was one of my favorites and … [Read more...]
Trusting God – Lectio Divina
Lord a long time ago you gave me a breath prayer:In you, O Lord, I will put my trust.So often when nothing else works, When my trying and striving fail, When circumstances overwhelm me,When people let me down Or worse I disappointment myself:I whisper, “In you, O Lord, I will put my trust.”Help me know the only action I need to take is to let go and put all my troubles into Your hands.Soothe me with your loving lullaby:In you, O Lord, I will put my trust.In you, O Lord, I will put my trust.In you, O Lord, I will put my trust. … [Read more...]
What Do You Cling To? – Quote of the Week – Thomas Merton
“Our great danger is to throw away things that are excellent, which we do not understand, and replace them with mediocre forms which seem to us to be more meaningful and which in fact are only trite.” Thomas Merton. … [Read more...]