Joy doesn’t come easy for me. I tend to be a focused, serious, get it done gal and am envious of others whose smiles light up a room and whose presence brings delight. When I do my year-end review and assess my various life arenas – physical, mental, spiritual, relationships, work, etc., the section titled fun, joy, or brightness of life often rates the lowest. I remember walking ahead of my mother and her friend down the neighborhood sidewalk when I was about 4 or 5 and overhearing the friend talk about me. “I worry about your daughter -she is so sober, never joyful.” What? Me? I didn’t feel that way, but that description scorched deep into my self image. I knew many moments of delight as a child but allowed that story to tell me otherwise. I realized the other day I have believing that narrative about myself even though I know it is not true. I asked God to help me practice joy more in His way. I cast away the old way of perceiving myself. Frederick Buechner wrote … [Read more...]
Always We Begin Again
“Always we begin again.” – St Benedict I think of this wisdom – always we begin again – at the start of every new year. I love the energy of starting an unmarked calendar, the hope of a new year, and all the possibilities that await to be discovered and explored. A fresh week, month, and year hold promises, dreams and joy filled expectations. I reread the writing in my journal. I called this “harvesting” and I glean the lessons from past 12 months. I honor all the experiences and emotions. I sit still, listening for the Holy Spirit’s guidance and enter the past, summarizing life in the rearview mirror. I wrote in 2011 on this blog: “January is the month of “Janus.” Janus was the Roman god of gates and doorways, depicted with two faces looking in opposite directions – a good image of this first month of the year. One face looks back on the year gone and the other looks forward to the new and uncertain one ahead. January is a reflective month – an opportunity to look back … [Read more...]
A Year End Blessing
I love the start of a new year. Days stretch before us full of promise, newness and undiscovered goodness. I pray you savor many blessings in 2022. John O'Donohue wrote a wonderful book titled, To Bless the Space Between Us, full of blessings for many occasions. I like to close a spiritual direction session by reading one of these blessings for the directees. I find his words bless me too. Last year I shared his blessing for a new year. This year I thought his words about the end of the year also could lead us to reflect and behold life. May this words bless you now too. At The End Of The Year As this year draws to its end,We give thanks for the gifts it broughtAnd how they became inlaid withinWhere neither time nor tide can touch them. The days when the veil liftedAnd the soul could see delight;When a quiver caressed the heartIn the sheer exuberance of being here. Surprises that came awakeIn forgotten corners of old fieldsWhere expectation seemed to have … [Read more...]
Treasure, Toss, and Tweak
Treasure, Toss, and Tweak I heard this phrase earlier this month as a guideline for year-end review of our lives. I am carrying this phrase into this week as I review what worked, what gave life, what drained life, and what do I want to carry forward into 2022. I also listen for a word, image, and/or verse to guide me ahead. I have shared some year-end rituals and questions on previous blog posts and invite you to revisit those words for some inspiration. I encourage you too to take the time to listen to your soul, linger with God, and savor time with family and friends. Be intentional about pausing and paying attention to what is stirring within you, calling your name, summoning, and welcoming you onward. I Am the New Year I am the New Year. I am an unspoiled page in your book of time.I am your next chance at the art of living.I am your opportunity to practice what you have learned about life during the last twelve months.All that you sought and didn't find is hidden … [Read more...]
Merry Christmas!
Christmas To-Do, To-Be List
I am a list maker. And this time of year, my lists multiply like bunnies in springtime. Gift list.Cards to send list.Yummies to bake list.Travel list.Year-end tasks and goals to finish list.Winter cleaning list.Church services/messages to plan list.Hopes and dreams to remember next year list. I am just like Santa - making lists and checking it twice. My desk overflows with post-it notes, calendars, and extra Happy Planner pages. Paper and phone notes all representing my fruitless effort to gain a false sense of control in life. Time to stop. Slow down. Trust God. Simply to be. My Christmas To-Be List To be present. I want to be fully awake and mindful in moments. My default mode is future oriented and full of the noise of internal chatter. I want to connect deeper with God, with family and friends, and even myself. One soul with another is holy ground. To be attentive. On the Myers-Briggs scale I am an INFJ. INFJs are energized by time alone … [Read more...]
The Church Year
The new church year has begun. Happy New Year! The church calendar flipped the page onto a new cycle of readings and messages and music beginning last Sunday. I love following the church year. The rhythm. The pattern. The framework for learning, listening, and being shaped by God. The church year calendar forms around the events in Jesus’ life. Then we too can center our lives, our worship, our spiritual formation around the lessons learned from walking and talking with Him. I love seeing the colors in worship change with each season of the liturgical year. Purple, white, green, black, red, pink, gold and others decorate the pulpit and altar creating a reflective atmosphere and setting the stage for pondering our God. The change of colors invites me to consider how is God changing/transforming me. The rhythm of the year reminds me of God’s ever presence no matter the season or time in my life. The ever changing, yet evolving and growing cycle of birth, service and death … [Read more...]
The Powerful Practice of Gratitude
Gratitude is one of the most powerful spiritual practices we can do. The longer I venture on this spiritual journey called life the more I am in awe of how being thankful radically changes not only how we see life but also adds to its depth, richness, and joys. One of this blog’s main focuses is focus on spiritual disciplines that turn our hearts to God and gratitude is certainly a great example of this type of practice. This time of year naturally turns our hearts towards gratitude yet we have to also be intentionally in its practice. I find the stress of the world, other’s expectations, and internal conflicts consume my positivity, yet when I pause, pay attention to my blessings and thank God for all his gifts, my spirit lifts. “Gratitude is like a flashlight. If you go out into your yard at night and turn on a flashlight, you suddenly can see what’s there. It was always there, but you couldn’t see it in the dark.” Dawn Markova My experience with … [Read more...]