We live in an age besieged with communication devices - smart phones, Ipads, pagers and emails that chirp continuously. Facetime, Skype and voice mail. Twitter, Facebook and I-messages. Some people even still talk in person. LOL It seemed rather incongruous that in a society of supersophisticated communication, we often suffer from a shortage of listeners. Erma Bombeck I listened in church on Sunday. I sit up front since I help with the opening worship and the children’s sermon, so the entire congregation is behind me. I can’t see them when I am in the pew as my back faces them, but I can hear them. And I listened Sunday. I closed my eyes and felt the beat of the music. I heard the preschoolers’ innocent voices recite the Lord’s Prayer. I caught the swish of the hymnal pages being turned behind me. My ears picked up the voices of fellowship, worship and prayer. I listened this Sunday. I thanked God for the amazing gift of hearing. Sometimes, maybe even too … [Read more...]
God’s Foolishness – Lectio Divina
“For God’s foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God’s weakness is stronger than human strength. 1 Corinthians 1: 25 Make me your fool, Lord. Then I will know your wisdom. Make me weak, Lord. Then I will know your strength. How senseless of me to even ask these prayers as I am already unwise in so many ways. Even in my most brilliant moments where I falsely believe I am in control, I am clever, I am tough – even then I am out of my league. I need your wisdom, Lord. I desperately rely on your strength. I am nothing without you. The world tells us we can do it all. We are strong. We are rulers of our fate. The evil one whispers we have the power on our own and we are in charge. But I am nothing without you. Come, Lord, show me how to be your fool. A fool for God. A weakling in your shadow. Help me let go of human wisdom and embrace your foolishness. The world may call me a fool for believing the irrational concept that God would … [Read more...]
Begin Again
I should have known better. I’ve been down this path in the past and it didn’t work well for me then, why should it now? Sigh. Will I ever learn? What is wrong with me? These are the types of negative thoughts that haunt me. The inner critic appears quite quickly: When I fail. When I lose my focus. When my good intentions fade and the temptation of too many calories, too much complaining and/or whining, and old habits take over. While on retreat last week I ran across the Benedictine saying from more than 1500 years ago: "Always we begin again." Buddhist wisdom calls it “having a beginner’s mind.” Meaning you are open, willing to keep trying and to listen to teachers. I am studying the Desert Mothers and Fathers this year and they also have reference to this concept: “Abba Poemen said that every single day is a new beginning, meaning again and again we commit our way to our spiritual practices and path.” I love the idea of new beginnings. Perhaps that … [Read more...]
Failing and Learning about the Spiritual Practice of Beholding
Last week I submerged my soul in silence at my annual spiritual retreat. I have learned that in order to hear God I need to get away at least once a year for a few days at a retreat center for solitude, silence and being with him. My time away and my notes in my journal nourish my spirit for many days afterward. I am a doer and settling my soul in silence and stillness isn’t easy for me. It often feels like I peel off layers of soiled clothing as I settle into the quiet. I have to hand over my concerns, my worldly frantic to do’s and my agenda into God’s hands. I attempt to embrace an attitude of open expectancy. During our time of lectio divina at the retreat, the leader slowly read three times the story of Jesus’s transfiguration. I just love Peter – his enthusiasm, his direct honesty and his determined desire to do. Peter sees Jesus along with Moses and Elijah and what does he want to do – build a shelter for them. He is doing instead of embracing this sacred instance that he … [Read more...]
Taking Up the Cross – Lectio Divina
“He called the crowds with his disciples and said to them ‘If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.’” Mark 8: 34 Lord, remember that moment yesterday? I thought of you. I was arranging the pulpit area at church for our Lenten services. What was missing? Then I knew. The wooden cross with the crown of thorns. I went to the upstairs storage area and found it. I picked it up forgetting just how heavy it was. My arms ached as I dragged it to the top of the stairs. Ouch! A splinter pricked my thumb. Slowly I descended, one step at a time, the cross battering on my shoulder with each move down. When I reached the bottom, I still had 25 feet to drag this awkward, bulky representation of death forward to the front of the church. That’s when I thought of you. My minor inconvenience of a simple cross of display compared to the instrument of death for you. When you carried your cross through … [Read more...]
Becoming What We Worship
A person will worship something, have no doubt about that. We may think our tribute is paid in secret in the dark recesses of our hearts, but it will out. That which dominates our imaginations and our thoughts will determine our lives, and our character. Therefore, it behooves us to be careful what we worship, for what we are worshiping we are becoming. Ralph Waldo Emerson This quote about becoming what we worship stopped me cold. I felt that nudge from the Spirit to pay attention. What am I worshipping? I would love to say I only worship, bow down to God, the Creator and Almighty. But in reality I know when I am honest, that my eyes often focus on other things. My heart yearns for accomplishment. My eyes see the glitter of the world. Envy and discontent pop up when I desire what others have. I remember pacing the floor, my tummy swirling in knotted anxiety as the Ohio State Buckeyes played in their last few games towards this year’s national championship. I … [Read more...]
12 Ordinary Things that Make Me Happy
“Gratitude can transform common days into thanksgivings, turn routine jobs into joy, and change ordinary opportunities into blessings.” — William Arthur Ward I read a blog post the other day about ordinary things that makes us happy. His words stuck with me, opening my heart and eyes to the everyday things that bring me joy and fill me with gratitude. The process of creating this list didn’t take long – I was amazed at the simple steps in each of my day that I truly enjoyed. I realized how rich I am with these simple pleasures. The smell of coffee in the morning, any morning, even the hottest morning. Just the aroma perks me up. Refreshing lemon in my water. The wonderful taste of chocolate and mint melting in my mouth. Snuggling into the bed to get cozy at night. The birds outside my office window. The giggles and laughs and phone calls of my grandchildren. The painting at our church which draws me into deeper worship. My journals with tattered edges from … [Read more...]
40 Days of Lent – Lectio Divina
“He was in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan; and he was with the wild beasts; and the angels waited on him.” Mark 1: 13 40 days, Lord. 40 days of rain for Noah. 40 days with God for Moses. 40 days of wilderness for Jesus. 40 days of Lent for me, Lord. Days to open my heart to your presence. Days to let go of what blocks me from you. Days to soak in your word. 40 days to watch for your tender touch throughout the day. 40 days to leave my self-centeredness and reach out to help others. 40 days to stand like Noah in your healing rain, with my arms open and my heart vulnerable, allowing you to wash away my sin. 40 days to wait like Moses listening for your whisper, knowing you keep your promises. 40 days to wander like Jesus through the wilderness of this troubled world, acknowledging you are with me in every way. 40 days, Lord. I offer these 40 days of Lent up to you, Lord. Please walk with me these 40 days of wilderness, … [Read more...]