“The house lights go off and the footlights come on. Even the chattiest stop chattering as they wait in darkness for the curtain to rise. In the orchestra pit, the violin bows are poised. The conductor has raised his baton. In the silence of a midwinter dusk, there is far off in the deeps of it somewhere a sound so faint that for all you can tell it may be only the sound of the silence itself. You hold your breath to listen. You walk up the steps to the front door. The empty windows at either side of it tell you nothing, or almost nothing. For a second you catch a whiff of some fragrance that reminds you of a place you’ve never been and a time you have no words for. You are aware of the beating of your heart…The extraordinary thing that is about to happen is matched only by the extraordinary moment just before it happens. Advent is the name of that moment.” — Frederick Buechner, Whistling in the Dark, pp. 2,3 … [Read more...]
Thanksgiving Blessings
Today is the Thanksgiving in the U.S. – a time to give thanks. I am grateful for you as a reader of this blog. May my words continue to be a blessing.Here is a thought for your Thanksgiving Day:Be Thankful Be thankful that you don’t already have everything you desire, If you did, what would there be to look forward to?Be thankful when you don’t know something For it gives you the opportunity to learn.Be thankful for the difficult times. During those times you grow.Be thankful for your limitations Because they give you opportunities for improvement.Be thankful for each new challenge Because it will build your strength and character.Be thankful for your mistakes They will teach you valuable lessons.Be thankful when you’re tired and weary Because it means you’ve made a difference.It is easy to be thankful for the good things. A life of rich fulfillment comes to those who are also thankful for the setbacks.Gratitude can turn a negative into a … [Read more...]
The Spiritual Practice of Gratitude
This is the time of year many of us ponder what we are thankful for in life and generally live with an increased sense of gratitude. Living a life of gratitude helps us find the positive side of life and reminds us what is really important. Seeing the world through the lens of thankfulness gives our lives more meaning, more appreciation, and more joy. Gratitude balances life by counteracting all the negatives the world throws at our souls. “Gratitude is like a flashlight. If you go out into your yard at night and turn on a flashlight, you suddenly can see what's there. It was always there, but you couldn't see it in the dark." (From Dawna Markova, Attitudes of Gratitude.) “When it comes to life the critical thing is whether you take things for granted or take them with gratitude.” G. K. ChestertonHere are a few videos to sprinkle some gratitude on your journey and help you make it a daily spiritual practice:Gratitude, Nichole NordemanPractice GratitudeA poem about … [Read more...]
Our Choices – Lectio Divina
Choose my instruction instead of silver, knowledge rather than choice gold, for wisdom is more precious than rubies, and nothing you desire can compare with her. (Prov 8:10-11, NIV)ChooseLord the word “choose” keeps appearing to me this week.I blog about it.The word pops up in conversation.Then I see it in this verse.You have given each of us this marvelous gift of free choice. We can choose the flashiness of world’s glitz Or we can choose Your words of instruction.We can choose to spend our time and resources panning for flecks of gold Or we can choose digging through Your Word for knowledge.We can dress up hiding our true selves behind fancy jewelry and exquisite masks Or we choose bare our souls before you, clothing ourselves only in Your love, grace and wisdom.Lord help me always to choose the best way, Your way. … [Read more...]
Ordinary Love that Keeps our Lamps Burning – Quote of the Week – Mother Teresa
Don’t think that love, to be true, has to be extraordinary. What is necessary is to continue to love. How does a lamp burn, if it is not by the continuous feeding of little drops of oil? When there is no oil, there is no light and the bridegroom will say: “I do not know you”.Dear friends, what are our drops of oil in our lamps? They are the small things from every day life: the joy, the generosity, the little good things, the humility and the patience. A simple thought for someone else. Our way to be silent, to listen, to forgive, to speak and to act. Those are the real drops of oil that make our lamps burn vividly our whole life. Don’t look for Jesus far away, He is not there. He is in you, take care of your lamp and you will see Him.”– Mother Teresa … [Read more...]
Choosing Joy – Part 2 – Joy Zappers
Okay, I failed. My great intentions in the previous post to choose joy quickly evaporated amidst the muck of annoying frustrations.No major crisis occurred. I have friends who buried their 21 year old child/grandchild this week and another one whose daughter may be having a miscarriage – true joy zappers. On a whole, blessings filled my week so far.Yet an undercurrent of anger and frustration – not joy- ruled my heart.Little nuisances like waiting for an appointment that ran an hour and half late, a near miss with a deer darting in front of my car, being stuck behind a semi truck chugging along at 40 mph in a 55 zone, not getting answers from a customer service representative, and the never ending too many things on my list to do and not enough time. Looking back, joy left me not because of one incident, but because of many minor aggravations. They surrounded me like a swarm of those tiny flying bugs you bat about with your hand on a hot summer evening. Yuck! Like flecks of mud, they … [Read more...]
Choosing Joy – A Spiritual Practice
A great local Christian radio station is WBCL. (You can listen to them over the internet too. click here)As I drove to Ft Wayne yesterday, I turned to WBCL for their 9:00 talk show, MidMorning. Much to my surprise they played music instead of dealing with a subject matter. I enjoyed two tunes, then Lynne Ford, the host, came on laughing. Apparently the author she lined up to interview that morning forgot and was not available. “Good thing we talked about gratitude last week,” Lynne said. “No matter what happens I am choosing joy.”The next hour’s show was a delight as listeners shared the experience with reading the bible and the radio giving away numerous copies of God’s word.Choosing Joy.Lynne had no idea her perfectly planned Monday morning would change, but she made the most of it and listening that day lifted my spirits. I am sure her attitude blessed others too. Joy became contagious beginning with Lynne and radiating to many people including me.We do have that choice in life, … [Read more...]
God Cares – Lectio Divina
Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?Matthew 6: 26 (NIV)Are you not much more valuable than they?Lord, I saw a tiny brown bird flit by my car window this morning. Then I heard Your voice, “You are more valuable than my birds.”You care for and take of this small insignificant bird, no more than 6 inches long, flying above my car in the middle of Northwest Ohio on a cool November morning. No one else is paying attention to this little thing, yet You know its life. You provide its meals. You know its every move.And you care even more for me?How often do I have to hear those words before I fully believe them?You love me. You care for me. I see the flowers grow and bloom under your care.I watch the birds soar under your care.Why can’t I believe this lesson? I have to hear it over and over again.You love me. You care for me.I do believe. Help my unbelief.Thank you for … [Read more...]