What’s saving my life right now? When I first heard this question, I wasn’t impressed. How odd, I thought. I don’t get the value of asking this. Last week I heard this question again from Emily P Freeman, then read another blog post by Crystal Rowe based on this. Emily explained on her podcast the origin and importance of this question: “Well, just this week I finished listening to Barbara Brown Taylor’s memoir, Leaving Church. It’s all about her story of finally getting her dream job as an Episcopal priest and serving a small parish in Georgia, only to realize about five years in that in order to save her own faith, she had to leave the role of priest behind. Now, I’ve read portions of this particular book of hers over the years, but the last few weeks I listened to the entire book from start to finish. Toward the end, she tells the story of being a guest speaker at an event. The topic she was invited to talk about was an invitation with a simple question. They asked her, … [Read more...]
Mountain Wisdom
Can we hear wisdom from mountains? In September Bill and I took a wonderful trip to six national parks. Three in the US (Grand Tetons, Yellowstone, and Glacier) and three in Canada (Waterton, Banff, and Jasper). Yes, all awe-inspiring and beyond words in creative beauty. I picked up this card in a gift store in the Tetons and thought it would be fun to find one in each of the coming parks. BUT this one was the only one I found. Bill and I then decided we would listen quietly to each place to hear its wisdom. God teaches us so many lessons in nature when we pay attention. “Believe one who knows: you will find something greater in woods than in books. Trees and stones will teach you that which you can never learn from masters.” Saint Bernard de Clairvaux Here is some insights from God’s imagination and creativity: Grand Tetons Wisdom (from the gift store) Savor life’s peak experiences. Be uplifting. Slow down and meander. Yellowstone … [Read more...]
All of Me Prayer Reflection
All as my word of the year continues to teach me, form me, stretch me. Who would think such a small “insignificant’ word held such wisdom. This spiritual practice is a wonderful way to hear God and see his touch in our lives. I shared earlier in the year the small plaque I found in Hobby Lobby – “All of me loves all of you” and its amazing lesson that continues to color my prayer and time with God. All of me -could refer to me. All of me - also refers to God speaking. Afterall, he is the All. I spend time soaking in this incredible message that the Creator of the Universe knows us, loves us, wants to me with us. Loves us unconditionally. His All loves our all. This lens sharpens my vision of all others. God whispers, “All of me love ALL of you.” Not just me, but all others. God loves all of us. Last week I sat at a meeting where one lady drove me nuts. Her gossiping. Her complaining. Her inappropriate behavior. She really got under my … [Read more...]
Push the Pause Button
Pause - we all need a break to rest, take a breather, slow down. I will be traveling the next couple of weeks. I originally planned to blog ahead but simply ran out of time. I am giving myself grace and pausing so you won't get a new blog post for several weeks. I will be back! Take time in your life to pause. Give yourself grace too. We all need it! See you later in midOctober! … [Read more...]
The Ebb and Flow of Life
September invites me to pause, savor, and reflect on the ebb and flow of this past season. The joy of family and families gathering for celebrations. The tender moments of reconnection. The warm (perhaps too warm some days) sunshine on the back yard deck. My roses outdoing themselves in blossoms this year. But I reread my journal, spotted with tears and anger and sadness experienced in the darker moments of life. War. Suffering. Illness. Separations. I am slowly learning that life is more and/both than either/or. Ebb and Flow. Good ol’ Henri Nouwen says it best in this prayer: “Dear Lord, Today I thought of the words of Vincent van Gogh: “It is true there is an ebb and flow, but the sea remains the sea.” You are the sea. Although I experience many ups and downs in my emotions and often feel great shifts and changes in my inner life, you remain the same. Your sameness is not the sameness of a rock, but the sameness of a faithful lover. Out of your love I came to … [Read more...]
Pondering All
All is my word of the year. All walks with me. Shows up unexpectedly in books and conversations. Stops me and says, “Hey, take a moment and listen. I have something to tell you.” I am fascinated by having a relationship with one simple word. A word of the year becomes a companion, a wise fellow traveler, and a fun sidekick. I think that is what surprises me the most about this practice – a word of the year isn’t all serious, deep, dramatic lessons – the word sparkles with joy and smiles too. I hunt for “all” in stores. Maybe finding a great sign. A pin. Or special greeting card expressing this word in a creative way. I am one who overthinks the past and lives in the future, planning, organizing, trying to control out of fear of what might happen next. All grounds me in the present. All is what we have right now. All is all that matters. Pondering the word “all” this year has given me a new lens to see my life and the world. All has widened my view. Given me … [Read more...]
Share Four Somethings – August 2022
Share Four Somethings is a regular blog post where I feature bits of wisdom in four categories. 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. 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 Something Wonderful Something Whispered Something Whimsical Each one reminds me to pay attention to these qualities in my life as gifts from God. I am learning that whimsical is the hardest one for me to capture and one that need the most coaxing to appear. This was true again this month. Something Wise Prayer is not asking for what you think you want but asking to be changed in ways you can't imagine. Kathleen Norris Prayer can be moments of letting go and leaping … [Read more...]
Book Lover Day – What Are You Reading?
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...]