Thy holy wings O Savior, Spread gently over me And let me rest securely Through good and ill in thee. Oh, be my strength and portion, My rock and hiding place, And let my every moment Be lived without thy grace. We sang this hymn a few weeks ago in my parish. I led the worship so prayed these words at four different services over the weekend. Both the tune and the deep meaning of the lyrics lingered in my soul like a pleasant fragrance and a warm hug. The words are based on Matthew 23: 37: “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often have I desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing.” The other Bible verse reflected in this hymn is Psalm 91:4: "He shall cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you shall take refuge." The image of Christ as a hen gathering us under his wings is both soothing and also unusual for me. You too? … [Read more...]
The Advocate – A Name for the Holy Spirit
Advocate is the name for the Holy Spirit mentioned in the gospel of John, the reading a few weeks ago in my church. “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you forever.’ John 14: 16 At first this word seems cold, harsh ,and maybe even distant until I dug into its true meaning. John’s gospel calls the Spirit the parakletos or Advocate, a term for someone who is called to one’s side as a source of help. In modern contexts someone may serve as an advocate in the court system, in the health care network, or in an educational institution, while other advocates may press the legislature to act on behalf of a certain cause. The word parakletos is difficult to translate properly because it has a range of meanings in the Greek, all of which are meant by John. English translations variously translate it Comforter, Advocate, Counselor, and Helper. But I have a favorite translation. Here is a story I heard from a pastor: “A friend … [Read more...]
Forgiveness – A Complex, Challenging, and Heavy Practice
F stands for forgiveness. Forgiveness is a pillar of a healthy spirituality. In 2023 I plan to explore different building blocks, components, the essential nutrients that support a vibrant strong life with God. I hope to learn, study, and share thoughts about these various aspects and hope they bring fresh insights to all of our earthly journeys as God continues to shape our souls. I am also participating in a yearlong “Reading the Sacred in Everyday Life” program by SpiritualityandPractice.com. Each week we study an alphabet practice through readings, movie clips, discussion, presentations, quotes, poems and many other rich thought-provoking and heart-stretching words. This site actually offers 37 practices, so some letters are repeated twice. F stood for faith. F also represented forgiveness. Faith appears easy at first, but the readings burrowed new perspectives deep into my being. But forgiveness pushed me into uncomfortable realities of wounds long buried and concepts … [Read more...]
Little Words Lessons
Little words hold power. I should know this by this point in my life, but I still am discovering often it is the simple, seemingly unimportant words that deepen our understanding and light our way. Minor words we don’t fully see that connect thoughts and sooth our souls. They exist and add to our lives but we don’t value or savor them. I see this wonder every year with my practice of adopting and exploring a word of the year. Two years ago my word was “Go’ and last year I walked with “all.” Two unassuming words offering me wisdom and insights. This year instead of one word, God led me to a phrase. “Honor the thirst deep within.” The obvious power words to study and explore in this sentence is “honor”, “thirst” and “deep” and I have learned from analyzing and pondering those words. Yet on retreat this year that tiny almost tacked-on word at the end of my phrase “within” sprang into my spirit and shared its story. To be honest I hadn’t paid attention to its presence but … [Read more...]
Words Affecting My Heart
Words are a powerful element in my life. God’s word. Words I scribble in my journal or in this blog or books. Words inspiring me, giving me hope, instilling energy to keep going. Lately other people’s words have been refreshing my spirit. I call these “borrowed words” as they often express what I am experiencing but can’t quite describe. I read their writing and say, “Yes, that’s it!” Here are a few examples: “When your life is filled with the desire to see the holiness in everyday life, something magical happens: Ordinary life becomes extraordinary, and the very process of life begins to nourish your soul.” Rabbi Harold S. Kushner Gary Fawver wrote: “Your assumptions are your windows on the world. Scrub them off every once in a while, or the light won’t come in.” Last line from poem titled With Passion by Rumi: “Why look like a dead fish in this ocean of God?” “Forgiveness is the gift that says two things: First, I am just as weak as everyone else … [Read more...]
Meet Sylvia Dunstan
Ever hear of Sylvia Dunstan? I hadn’t until I noticed her name at the bottom of a Lenten hymn, we sang at church a few weeks ago. The words from Bless now, O God, the Journey were meaningful, especially the last line. Here is one verse: Bless now, O God, the journeyThat all your people makeThe path through noise and silenceThe way of give and takeThe trail is found in desertAnd winds the mountain roundThen leads beside still watersThe road where faith is found. We find faith while we journey, not only when we finally make it to our destination. Our path winds through noise, silence, give, take, deserts and mountains. It’s all part of life, ever shaping us. As the hymn concluded, I wondered who wrote these powerful words – Sylvia Dunstan. Then I noticed it: (1955-1993) She was younger than me and what? She died so young? I knew I wanted to learn more about this writer of words that won my soul. Canadian Sylvia Dunstan told others her love of music came from her … [Read more...]
What’s Saving My Life Right Now?
What’s saving my life right now? Now. At this present moment. What is life-giving, uplifting, refreshing and stirring my spirit? What’s saving my life right now is a question Emily Freeman (A true mentor of mine) asks frequently. She discovered this question in a book by Barbara Brown Taylor (another mentor of mine!) in her book, Leaving Church. Taylor shares the story of being a guest speaker at an event. When she asked for her topic, this was her host’s request: “Tell us what is saving your life right now.” These words invite us to pause, reflect, and savor what is giving us life at this moment. When I relistened to Emily’s podcast and what she was noticing in her life, that question dug deep into my soul. What is saving my life right now? What’s Saving My Life? Journaling – I know writing in a journal isn’t for everyone but wrestling with words to express my prayers, my desires, my longings, my hurts brings me healing and draws me closer to God. This is an … [Read more...]
Be Curious – Pondering the Pillars of a Healthy Spirituality
What are the pillars of a healthy spirituality? In 2023 I am exploring different building blocks, components, the essential nutrients that support a vibrant strong life with God. I hope to learn, study, and share thoughts about these various aspects and hope they bring fresh insights to all of our earthly journeys as God continues to shape our souls. This is our third exploration of one of the characteristics of a healthy spirituality. You can read about the others, being awake and being humble here and here. This week I am sharing interesting and curious quotes and insights about curiosity. Quotes “When you’re curious you find lots of interesting things to do.” Walt Disney “If you can let go of passion and follow your curiosity, your curiosity just might lead you to your passion.” Elizabeth Gilbert "Be curious, not judgmental.” Walt Whitman “I think, at a child's birth, if a mother could ask a fairy godmother to endow it with the most useful gift, that … [Read more...]