To let go is hard. I tend to cling to what I know, stay in the rut of self-pity too long and dwell in the past rather than moving forward, even when the healing has begun. I admit this. I am beginning to recognize this tendency quicker than I used to, and I am learning to let go. I love Emily P. Freeman's podcast, The Next Right Thing. A few weeks ago, she challenged us to "Leave It Behind." Well worth your time to listen to her wise words. Emily first discussed names we were and are called and continue to call ourselves. Do you have a nickname? What did your parents call you? Your friends? Your adversaries? I still hear a collection of monikers echoing in my heart: Jean Anne, Ammie, Jeanie, Indian Fatso (from 6th grade - ugh!) J, and Beanie. My weight watcher friends now call me Lean Jean – I like that one. ( : Emily shares: "Your life is a story already happening, and you bring every name with you wherever you go. Like … [Read more...]
Monthly Musings – What I Learned in July
I haven't written a monthly musing post since February – remember that month? Prepandemic? When events were still on the calendar? Vacations anticipated and planned? How quickly our worlds turned upside down. Yet the practice of reflection, examining where you soul is, how you spend your time, and how are you nourishing yourself in all dimensions, continues to ground us and grows us deeper. I think it is time I ponder July and possibly back even further. I like to look back at what I am discovering, learning, and exploring in life – I call these my monthly musings. Capturing these special moments gives meaning, depth, and delight to life. Let’s wake up to the wonders in the ordinary all around us. I record what I notice on the pages of my Monthly Musings Journal. You can use anything, scrapes of papers, a journal, or a calendar. Copies of my Monthly Musings Journal are available on Amazon and are a convenient way to keep track of the little things in life we often … [Read more...]
Fight – Flight – Forgive
To forgive is hard when all the human mind and heart wants to do is fight or flight. I have been wrestling with this concept for the past week. You see, a week ago two incidents ripped open old wounds in my soul. Places I thought were healed. Holes I assumed were restored. Hungers no longer driving my behavior. Other people's choices impacted my story in a deep disruptive way. Maybe I am more fragile due to these uncertain times we are living in or maybe now was God's time to revisit my deep hurts for more healing. Probably both. The attacks arrived about four days apart and immediately I took my stance to fight. I will show them. I will never again… I know I will do this in retaliation… Then I reversed into flight. I am done. I am leaving. I always knew… Never again will I… Fight and flight are normal human reactions to a threat. Humans would not have survived this long on earth without this protective … [Read more...]
Our Invitation to be ROYAL
Are you royal? But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people, in order that you may proclaim the mighty acts of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 1 Peter 2: 9 I helped to present a program last week about filling our wells as a writer and used the acronym of ROYAL. Not surprising the writers loved it and added more concepts to each of the letters. Is Your Well Full or Empty or Someplace in Between? What is the level of your well? That place deep inside you where you find peace, strength, wisdom? That reserve that keeps you going? Are you burned out? Is Covid draining your soul? Is the uncertainty of this time we are living in depleting your soul? Good news: God doesn’t burn out. Exhaustion, burnout, and depression are not signs that you are doing God’s will. God is gentle and loving. God desires to give you a deep sense of safety in God’s love. Once you have allowed yourself to … [Read more...]
Chocolate. Yummy Lessons from God
Chocolate. One of the world's most favorite flavors. Let's have some fun today and forget the troubles of this earth for a few minutes Did you know today, July 7 is World's Chocolate Day? Now October 28 is National Chocolate Day, but I am all for celebrating with chocolate more than once, right? In fact, I shared last year some interesting trivia about this delicious taste. https://healthyspirituality.org/chocolate/ One of my most requested topics as speaker and retreat leader is called “What Chocolate Taught Me about God.” This the story I tell at the beginning of the talk and I thought today would be a great day to share this: ~~~~~~~ What Chocolate Taught Me about God God decided one week to be creative. After the first day of work when he returned to heaven, Michael, the archangel, asked him, “What did you do today, Lord? He answered, “I made light and darkness, and it is good.” After a second day of work, God sat down … [Read more...]
Who is winning? Fear or Anticipation?
Who is winning? Fear or anticipation? I have wrestled with both of these emotions while in the present strange and uneasy moments of history we are living in. My head and heart push the panic button easily in this environment spinning out of control on the roller coaster of dealing with so many unknowns, the cancellation of multiple long-awaited life events, and the likelihood of more interruptions looming in the near future. Uncertainty amplifies fear. Fear saps the joy and energy from anticipation. So much of this pandemic has been dealing with naming and tackling various emotions and with God's help, growing stronger and wiser with each lesson. Looking forward to things is half the pleasure of them. Lucy Maud Montgomery I am battling with fear trying to win over the anticipation of good things to come. This morning I realized the struggle was not fear or anticipation, but the solution was fear and anticipation. Not either/or, but both/and. In … [Read more...]
The Spiritual Practice of Being Curious
Are you curious? Periodically I reread my journal entries and this morning read this line from my yearly goals written on January 2, 2020: "I am curious and creative – this gives me a sense of hope, excitement, and energy. I want to expand my imagination, resist mindless busyness and unproductive procrastination and live being curious, not furious." Just think – these words were written pre-pandemic. We didn't know the word Covid 19. "Shelter-in-place" was an activity in my old health department job. Social distancing sounded wonderful to introverts. Kids were in school with plans for graduation and prom. My hubby and I planned some wonderful and huge vacations in the spring and summer. We had no idea what was coming. One goal I have been working on so far in 2020 is reading more and one topic I been digging into is creativity. Yes, that was part of my ambition last January but I was missing a characteristic too. What happen to be being more curious? Yet during this … [Read more...]
Pondering Puzzles in the Pandemic
Puzzles are not normally a hobby, a pastime for me. Nor for my hubby. Yet during this strange time of pandemic we have rediscovered jigsaw puzzles. Mostly we have worked together on the dining room table 1000 piece puzzles. And I know I am not the only one. Puzzles disappeared like toilet paper from the store shelves in April. I knew my sister-in-law had some but didn't realize she had a full closet full of them. Amazing selection and man, have we been having fun piecing together puzzles. Pondering this process of puzzles has also revealed some spiritual insights. Keeping the box nearby to study and recheck guides our way. Seeing the final product on the top of the box gives us clues and keeps us encouraged. Time with God and studying his word works that way too. Too often all we see is the fragments of life. God the Artist, knows the final masterpiece and how beautiful it will be.We often start with the outside frame to get a sense of where we are heading. Having a … [Read more...]