Do you have sacred spots in your home? I was thinking about this last week and noticed I have quite a few special cozy places where I like to sit quietly, sometimes alone, sometimes with a friend and just be. A space that becomes sacred, holy, peaceful. A corner to connect – with myself, with another, with God. Deep in my heart I believe God is everywhere but I find it hard to experience the Divine in many places – some spots seem more sacred than others. Do you have those spots in your home? Here are a few of mine. My backyard swing. My backyard is seasonal though I do try to enjoy the outside year-round, I am not a winter person. Sitting on my swing, especially in the cool morning air of the warmer months, with a cup of coffee and my morning devotional starts the day off so wonderful. I sway on the swing with Jesus and we talk and giggle and lift others up. I raise my feet up like a child, close my eyes, and feel the motion back and forth as if Jesus were … [Read more...]
A Neglected Spiritual Practice
Quick! If I would ask you to name 10 spiritual practices, what would you list? I bet you could do it: Yes these are the basic ones and others I am sure. Yet the other day I was rereading the scripture for the week the story of Elijah in I Kings 19 and was reminded of a spiritual practice I use quite often but rarely mention either in writing or orally and rarely see talked about either - a rather invisible, neglected spiritual practice. Napping. In I Kings 19 Elijah is exhausted from running from Queen Jezebel and quite discouraged. God gives him time and space to rest, sleep, then nourishment to renew his strength physically, mentally and spiritually. Elijah napped. Our mamas were so right when we were toddlers and in the midst of a tantrum – a good nap was just what we needed. Sometimes we all need a nap. I have also learned over the years not to make decisions and to watch what I say when I am tired – that is the worse time. Get a good night sleep … [Read more...]
Well in a Hymn
With “well” being my word of the year, it is natural for me to go on a hymn search to find this word and its lessons in music. One obvious hymn is the familiar hymn, at least well known and loved by my faith community, Peace like a River or as it is called, It is well. Here is it lyrics and song. If you are reading this in email you may have to go to the website to see it: The story behind this hymn is amazing, tragic and full of grace, love and faith. A Chicago lawyer, Horatio G. Spafford, a man who had suffered almost unimaginable personal tragedy, wrote this hymn. He was also a devout Christian and faithful student of the Scriptures. The Spafford’s only son died from scarlet fever when he was only four. He lost most of his real estate holdings in the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. He knew his family needed something for some rest and relaxation after all that trauma, so he decided to take his wife and four daughters to England The Spaffords traveled to New York … [Read more...]
Four Somethings – August
Four Somethings is a regular blog post where I feature four fun bits of wisdom. I love this practice as it collects moments for reflection and growth. These “somethings” become markers in our spiritual journey. With so much pivoting and uncertainty in our lives right now, being grounded in a simple practice like this guides my way. Sometimes simple is best, right? I listened to my heart and to God and narrowed down my four categories and to see what they will teach me this year Something Wise “You look me in the eyes, Father, And give me Your full attention. Teach me how to do the same with You, And to live life more present to my Maker.” Beholding: Deepening Our Experience in God by Strahan Coleman Something Wonderful I attended my annual silent retreat this year at the Lady of the Pines Retreat Center in Fremont Ohio – a wonderful time of renewal and time with God. Walking the labyrinth is always a wonderful practice for me. Listening to what God is … [Read more...]
Unexpected Impact of Kindness
Has kindness ever unexpectedly surprised you? Kindness is such a quiet, simple act. Often a whisper, barely noticed, yet a gentle breeze of hope into another’s soul. Kindness is a choice. It isn’t expensive; often costing nothing at all. All it takes is one person to notice another and to smile and offer something – a drink, an open door, an apology, gentle word. a smile… Mark Twain said, "Kindness is the language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see." A few weeks ago, I was on my annual silent retreat. While attending this retreat I was doing my best to stay within my Weight Watcher plan by avoiding those carbs and desserts without asking the kitchen staff to go out of their way for anything special. At one lunch one of the staff members approach me. She said, “I noticed the other day, you didn’t take any rice and tonight we are having pasta, would you like me to prepare you a chicken breast instead of pasta? It would be quite easy to have ready for … [Read more...]
Creating A Rule of Life – A New Book is Born
Creating a Rule of Life is one of the most popular downloads and posts on this blog. I can see when people download a pdf of a resource from one of the past pages on a post on a topic and journaling and rule of life continue to be two main interests of people seeking more information. I wrote a first draft of a book about writing a rule of life during the pandemic – a very rough first draft and took that awful outline out of hiding from its dark closet last January, dusted it off, reworked its words, gently sent it to an editor to rework and shine and polish and get it ready for the world and guess what? Creating a Rule of Life, A Manual for Dancing to Divine Rhythms is ready to be released next Tuesday July 29 on Amazon. Here is its summary: Are you curious about the spiritual practice called a “rule of life” and how can we build order and disciplines into our daily lives? Creating a personal rule of life helps us abide closer to God and live in sync with God’s rhythms … [Read more...]
Living Well
What does it mean to live well? With “well” being my word of the year, I have been thinking about this question: what does it mean to live well? So of course, I was intrigued to find a book by a great author, Eugene Peterson, On Living Well, Brief Reflections on Wisdom for Walking in the Way of Jesus. Doesn’t just that subtitle say it all? Each chapter contains gems of wisdom on different aspects of life on themes such as beginnings, simplicity, prayers, mercies and glories. Here are a few quotes that teach us how to live well: “We ought to cultivate the skills that equips us to live in cheerful anticipation of what God will do tomorrow. Will we live anxiously complaining and querulous, because we don’t have all we want or because we don’t know what is coming next? Or will we live in confident joy, sure that God’s next move will be a good one? The expectant command is for us to rejoice.” “God invites us to leap, to live, and to love: to leap from the visible uncertainties … [Read more...]
Go My Children With My Blessing Hymn Story
We sang the lovely hymn a few weeks ago “Go My Children with My Blessing. I didn’t know much about its author or its tune so thought it would be a fun story to share. I love the quote that those who sing pray twice and isn’t that the truth! Even if you aren’t a singer, saying the words from music can be a divine moment! Here is the song if you are not familiar with this hymn. If you are reading this by email you may need to go to the blog to see the video: Aren’t those words so reassuring and heart- warming? Comforting and nourishing, for sure The author is Jaroslav Vajda who lived from 1919-2008 and was born in my home state of Ohio. He was a Lutheran pastor and served parishes in Indiana, Missouri, and Pennsylvania. He wrote more than 200 hymns, though he didn’t write his first hymn till age 49. Hope for all of us late bloomers! I found an interview with him about this hymn where he said, “When I was working at Concordia Publishing House as a book editor … [Read more...]