Book Lover Day is coming! August 9. This is a day to relax and enjoy a book – of course I think that could be every and any day. I sure do like reading and often am pouring my heart into several books at one time. Some I buy but many come from our library. Gotta love the library. Here are a few quotes from my current pile of books. Write for your Life – Anne Quindlen.“I have to write to discover what I am doing.” Flannery O’Connor“We write to taste life twice, in the moment and in retrospect.” Anais Nin“Technology is a useful servant but a dangerous master.” Christian Lange, in his 1921 Nobel Prize acceptance speech. Amazing this was said 100 years ago and is even more true today. New Seeds of Contemplation - Thomas Merton (an often reread – do you have books you continue to pick up and reread?) “Contemplation is the highest expression of man’s intellectual and spiritual life. It is that life itself, fully awake, fully active, full aware that it is alive. It is spiritual … [Read more...]
Prayer of Abandonment
The prayer of abandonment by Charles de Foucauld has haunted me all year. The words keep appearing in readings. Its message scares me yet draws me into contemplation. This prayer is calling to my soul. Can I really pray this prayer? Am I honest in saying thank you in response to God doing what he wants with my life? Is this truthfully my only wish to be abandoned to God? Will I ever fully surrender my all to the All? Part of me says yes, but my ego shivers with the consequences. I yearn to be closer to God but to be honest, my pride, personal agenda, and independence pulls me in opposite directions. I thirst to keep the eyes of my heart only on him. This prayer of abandonment requires trust and faith that I am inadequately equipped for – I am not strong enough to pray this prayer on my own. Then I realize I am overthinking, overreacting. Fear blocks me from risking my love for God. “Just take a deep breath, Jeanie. Slow down and pray. God will take care of the … [Read more...]
The Spiritual Practice of Simplicity
Simplicity is a spiritual practice promoted by many. But I am going to be honest – keeping it simple is hard for me and this is one practice I ignore and neglect. Anyone with me? After all the uncertainties and constant pivoting of the pandemic, the turmoil of war and political divisiveness, and life in general I crave more simplicity. Letting go. An uncluttering of the emotions crammed in my soul and simple trust in God. I have kept my eyes far too long on what is wrong and have been weighted down with fears, shifting, ever-changing plans, and doubts on where I need to go into the future. "To be simple is to fix one's eye solely on the simple truth of God at a time when all concepts are being confused, distorted, and turned upside down."— Dietrich Bonhoeffer How am I trying now to practice simplicity? Please note the word: trying. I have much to learn yet about this discipline. I am decluttering my schedule. Reviewing all my commitments and activities. … [Read more...]
50 Years!
50 years ago on July 15th I married my hubby. A partnership with no regrets. Lots of love and challenges. Ups and downs. Joys and unforgettable moments together. I don’t feel old enough to be married this long – love must keep you young. I love you more today than ever before. And I would do it all again. This week we thank God for bringing us together, giving us both patience and wisdom and a companion for life. Love you, Sweetie! … [Read more...]
A Retreat Intention and God’s Intervention
Intention means what one plans to do or is aiming for in a particular situation. Every retreat I have been on the last few years, the leader has asked us what are our retreat intentions and deepest desires for our time with God. I attended a silent retreat two weeks ago and this time I knew my hunger was for clarity – clearness on my next steps in my ministry and how best to spend my time and calling. I also yearn with time to be with God, focused on the Lord, not my to do list. And yes, I hold these intentions lightly with open palms. God’s will, not my agenda. God always surprises me – with so blessings. I wrote the following in my journal towards the end of the retreat and simply share this today with you: I asked for clarity; God brought me stillness. I asked to be filled; God helped me empty. I asked what should I do; God invited me to be. I asked How can I love you more; God ask me to open, receive, and know His love. I asked for more time in the … [Read more...]
Lord Jesus, You Shall Be My Song – Hymn and a Prayer
Hymns are beautiful forms of worship and moments of prayer. Often, I just say, not sing, hymn lyrics when being with God. This practice deeply connects me with that song plus gives me wonderful expressions that help me articulate what I want to say to God through cries for help, praise, lament, comfort, desire, and love. Lord Jesus, You Shall Be My Song was a new hymn for me when we sang at our synod assembly a few weeks ago. I stopped singing just to breathe in the words. I closed my eyes and listened deeply. I worshipped. I prayed. Later I wrote them out in my journal and have used them in my morning devotion. “Those who sing, pray twice” has always been one of my favorite sayings. I think those who pray songs, sing twice! This hymn was originally composed in French by “Les petites soeurs de Jésus” ("The Little Sisters of Jesus"). The tune is a little hard to follow which probably explains why we haven’t sung it much in church, but I do love the words. Such … [Read more...]
Coddiwompling with the Phrase: After All
After all is a phrase that includes my word of the year. All is my word of the year and so when I see, hear, noticed this word I look deeper with eyes of my heart. Is there a lesson there? Is this a new way of seeing my word? What does this phrase, setting, or use of my word stir in my spirit? So I hold up this phrase now – listening, leaning into its meaning, what does it mean to my deep hungering for All? I am coddiwompling with this phrase. Isn’t that a great word? Coddiwomple means to travel in a purposeful manner towards a vague destination. These words have become my companion as I look for its meaning but not sure where I will end up. I am exploring my soul, after all. Etiology of After All First I take this phrase into the world of the dictionary. After All is used “for saying that something is true despite what was said or planned before.” Or to add information as a way of verifying what we said. I have also seen it used in this manner: … [Read more...]
NO POWER
No power. I woke up suddenly knowing something happened while we slept. In my foggy first moments I realized the power was out and pitch blackness saturated the room. I could hear the thunder and assumed the storm knocked out our electricity. With the dim glow of my cell phone, I cautiously moved to the front of the house scanning the neighborhood for any signs of light. None. No power anywhere along the street. My phone’s data allowed me to googled the local energy company and found its map for outages. Yep, our entire village’s electrical grid was down with the estimate time of repair of 4 am. Ok, it’s 11 pm the lights will be back on by the time I need to get up and get ready. Wrong. The time kept changing. 8 am. 3 pm. 11 pm. What caused this disruption on my world? The truth is stranger than fiction. In our neighboring town a lightning strike took out a transformer that sent all power to my village. Wires dangled lower over railroad tracks and sure enough … [Read more...]