The spiritual practice of sacred reading of the scriptures is called Lectio Divina - a holy reading of the Bible slowly, savoring it, and enjoying it with the Lord. The intention is not to learn or gain information but to deepen our relationship with God. St Benedict encourages us to “to listen with the ear of our hearts.”Join me once a week for Lectio Divina. I will share a verse and a word that spoke to my heart. Read and listen to the verses here. And gently ask God for a word or phrase that speaks to your heart for that day – that is what lectio means. Once we find that gift, we hold it, meditate, and savor its meaning. This step is called meditation.Then offer that word back to God in prayer or the third step of oratio. In prayer we allow our real selves to be touched and changed by the word of God.Finally, we simply rest in the presence of the One who has used His word as a means of inviting us to accept His transforming embrace. No one who has ever been in love needs to be … [Read more...]
An Invitation to Linger Longer with the Lord – A Spiritual Discipline
In my prayers lately, I sense the Lord inviting me to linger. To stay with him longer. To rest in his words. To pause in his presence. Even just saying the word out loud slows my tongue. LINGERLinger – what does that word mean? The dictionary defines to linger as “to be slow in parting or in quitting something; to remain although gradually dying, to move slowly.” Though at first I am attracted to the first and third definition, the reality of the second one – to remain although gradually dying – holds truth I often don’t face.I reread the story from Genesis 18 the other day about three travelers who visit Abraham. I knew the basic tale – three visitors arrived at Abraham’s tent in the heat of the day. He fed them and is told his wife will have a baby. Sarah laughs.But this time as I lingered with this story, I saw a new aspect to these verses: When three visitors unexpectedly show up, how does Abraham react? Abraham hurries and runs to offer hospitality – this is mentioned quite a few … [Read more...]
Fearless by Max Lucado
When you really listen to people, what emotion most often dwells at the surface of their difficulties? I hear fear. This is one reason why Max Lucado’s newest book, Fearless, is so important for people to read and discuss. Even the subtitle gives hope: Imagine Your Life without Fear.As a spiritual director, the fears I hear many times are not even recognized right away. In fact, some people will even deny their emotions are fear based. I know this personally since I am a regular practitioner of denying fear in my own life.Lucado’s book helps us to name the fears that drive us and exposing them to the light of God. Once we recognized and face that emotion, it is easier to let go, returning to trusting God to handle the situation.Lucado lists fears such as fear of not mattering, of disappointing God and overwhelming challenges. His easy readable writing style pulls in the reader to identify their own circumstances, then allowing God to once again take over. He reassures us that God … [Read more...]
Spiritual Listening or Half Listening?
I nodded and pretended to be fully listening as my husband shared a story with me. The truth was I was listening to the noise inside of me – “Oh, I forgot to tell him that….I need to get that done before bedtime….I wonder how much longer is on the timer before supper is done….”Not really listening, was I? And I am trained as a spiritual director, one who listens intently to another’s spiritual walk. HA! I am failing at basic listening skills lately. I would wager many of you don’t fully hear another person either. We get too busy planning what we will say next or thinking about our to-do lists. And adding to the internal commotion, all the external noise that interferes with effective communication – blaring sounds from the television, chirping as emails arrive, and the boom-booming from the CD player.To be a good listening, I need to be silent. An anagram rearranges or unscrambles the letters of one word to create a new word. Use the word silent as an anagram and the result is: SILENT … [Read more...]
Ten Ways to Sharpen the Spiritual Saw
Steven Covey wrote The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. His seventh habit is called “Sharpen the Saw.” Covey uses the common analogy of a woodcutter who is sawing for several days straight and is becoming less and less productive. The process of cutting dulls the blade. So the solution is to periodically sharpen the saw. He tells the story of two lumber jacks in the woods sawing down trees. One of them is working feverishly at the task, rarely stopping to take a break. The other is working at a slower but steady pace and takes breaks frequently. At the end of the day, the lumberjack working at the slower pace has cut down twice as many trees as the one working feverishly. When questioned by the worn out, tired lumberjack as to how he accomplished twice as much in the same amount of time, and working at a slower pace, his answer is quiet simple: “I took time out to sharpen my saw.” He writes, “Sharpening the saw means preserving and enhancing the greatest asset you have – … [Read more...]
How to Live to be 98 – Lessons Learned from my Best Friend, Esther
My best friend, Esther, celebrated her 98th birthday last week. Ask her what her secret to a long life is and she will tell you with a giggle:“Pie and ice cream.”Esther still lives independently in her own home. She goes out with friends and would mow her lawn if she had the strength. She does love working in the yard, picking the weeds and planting green peppers, tomatoes and flowers each year. Right now she is busy deciding whether to get her house repainted (lasting 15 years) or sided (to last much longer.)“They will still bear fruit in old age. They will stay fresh and green.” - Psalm 92:14.When I read this verse, I think of Esther. What a role model she is for aging with grace.What lessons have I gleaned from watching her?Reaching Out – Esther reaches out to others with simple acts of kindness such as baking pies for funeral dinners and sending cards. But she also reaches out when she needs help. She has a broad network of people she leans upon for help and is willing to pick up … [Read more...]
Powerful Pauses for Prayer Resources
This last edition of the series of pausing for prayer will feature some resources to help you explore more about this holy habit.What I LearnedI have learned a great deal in this experiment. I pay attention more to my surroundings and how God is touching my every moment. I consciously take deep breaths throughout the day, allowing a cloak of relaxation to gently cover my soul. And I hear God and my true self more clearly, not all the chatty voices of the world.ResourcesWant to learn more about what is called Praying the Hours, the Divine Office/Hours, or the Liturgy of the Hours?The book I used through this journey was:Seven Sacred Pauses by Macrina Wiederkehr.Other books that you may find useful are:Robert Benson’s Venite – a Book of Daly PrayerThe Divine Hours – Phyllis TickleThe Rhythm of God’s Grace - Arthur Paul BoersThe Internet offers many … [Read more...]
Powerful Pauses for Prayer at Yellowstone/Grand Tetons
Many of you know I recently returned from a camping trip with my husband to Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons.God's artistry, whimiscal creativity and breathtaking beauty offered many reminders during my visit. I paused to breath in the present moment and behold the wonder of this world God made and gave us.I will allow a few of my photos witness to His handwork without my inadequate words to interfer. Take a pause and enjoy: AMEN!!AMEN AND AMEN!! … [Read more...]