Seeking Validation Am I ok? How did I do? Have I earned your stamp of approval? A common hunger for most humans is acceptance, validation, approval. I read everywhere “we need to let go of this urge for pleasing others or the requirement for their endorsement for the way we live, act, believe." Let’s discuss and explore this human need to seek validation and what it means to us spiritually. I hear what the experts say: that too much people pleasing leads to not being our true selves or we end up doing things that contradict our values and beliefs or produces overwhelming, life sucking worry. At times, we do focus too much on approval and not what is important or live for someone else at the expense of our own identity. We live in an unhealthy world of approval addiction. I get it. Yet we do all seek validation at times. How good it feels to be affirmed, loved, and accepted for ourselves. If I am completely honest, I deeply desire this validation. I am learning to accept … [Read more...]
2015 Favorite Mostly Faith-Related Finds
I love discovering and finding fun and terrific tools to nourish my faith and make life easier. I thought it would be fun to showcase some of my 2015 favorite finds and maybe give you some ideas for a gift or two for someone else or maybe even for yourself. What are my 2015 favorite mostly faith-related finds? My favorite books I read this year: Rising Strong by Brene Brown. The subtitle says it all – “If we are brave enough, often enough, we will fall. This is a book about what it takes to get back up.” Big Magic – Creative Living beyond Fear by Elizabeth Gilbert. Inspirational and empowering by giving us permission to nourish our creativity as we were made to do. Essentialism, the disciplined pursuit of less by Greg McKeown. This book cultivates simplicity by being more selective with the power of choice and choosing what really matters to us. In God’s Holy Light – Wisdom from the Desert Monastics by Joan Chittister. If you have read Healthy Spirituality for … [Read more...]
Who was the Bishop of Myra? An Advent Symbol of Generosity
The Bishop of Myra was well known for his kindness, generosity and the way he took care of the poor. We honor this man from the third century early in December each year. Who was the Bishop of Myra? You know him as St Nicholas. Myra is a region in what we now call Turkey and in Advent each year, December 6 is remembered as St Nicholas Day. Too often our focus this time of year is buying, wrapping, card sending, decorating, and running crazily all over to parties, concerts and obligations. Pausing at least briefly during Advent helps us refocus on who this season is really about. The world screams What can Santa bring me? while history shows us a caring saint who took extra steps in taking care of the poor. St Nick was a man of God. I told his story in our church’s children’s moment last Sunday and shared one of the legends about him. He is a good lesson for grownups too. Stories about St. Nicholas, the Bishop of Myra Once there was a poor man who had three daughters. … [Read more...]
Is Your Advent Full with Stuff in your Hands or a Heart Stuffed with Joy? Thoughts & Quotes & Ramblings
Is your Advent season full with stuff in your hands or a heart stuffed with joy? Is there a whisper in your mind that you love Christmas time, but are secretly glad when it’s over? Does the thought of family conflicts, crowded parties, too much tempting food, overspending and unmet expectations deplete your energy and love for the season? Advent “should” be a time of joyous anticipation and rest and restoration that God keeps his promises. I don’t know about the rest of you, but I struggle to find that peace and hope in the busyness during Advent. "Take time to be aware that in the very midst of our busy preparations for the celebration of Christ’s birth in ancient Bethlehem, Christ is reborn in the Bethlehems of our homes and daily lives. Take time, slow down, be still, be awake to the Divine Mystery that looks so common and so ordinary yet is wondrously present. "An old abbot was fond of saying, ‘The devil is always the most active on the highest feast days.’ "The supreme trick … [Read more...]
What is Advent and Why is It Important?
Each year around this time I write a feature about Advent. In a conversation the other day one of my friends mentioned she didn’t know much about this season. When she asked about Advent, we had just finished the typical conversation you hear this time of year. Me: How are you? She: Busy like everyone else. Me: Yes, this is a crazy time of year. She: Yeah, it seems nonstop racing from Halloween to Thanksgiving to Christmas to New Years. I spent too much money and eat too much when I really need some peace and rest and bring the true meaning of Christmas back to my heart. She needs Advent. Advent Advent is the four weeks before the celebration of the birth of Jesus. November 29 is the first Sunday in this season this year and at our church we will light the first of the four candles surrounding the white Christ candle. The candles symbolize joy, hope, peace and love. This time before Christmas is a time of anticipation and waiting for the gift of this … [Read more...]
November – Tending the Holy – Desert Spirituality
On Thursdays in November we have been walking with the Desert Mothers and Fathers and their desert spirituality. You can read the previous post and who they were and what practices they used in the posts below or by clicking on the links in this sentence. Ever wonder about the symbolism in the desert and how that environment impacted their faith? Let’s explore desert spirituality today. “Desert spirituality is a spirituality of struggle, which is inevitable as we seek to know and to journey into ourselves, to face the demons in the depths of our personalities. It is a struggle with the apparent absence of God and a struggle in the darkness of our own emptiness and insufficiency.” David Prail As a writing I often had to stop as I write the word desert – are there two “S’s” or only one? Then I remember my high school English teacher reminding us that dessert has two since lots of people want dessert, but no one really wants the desert. What can the desert teach us? I would … [Read more...]
November – Tending the Holy – Desert Mothers and Fathers
Each month on Thursdays, I plan to write about a specific theme that helps us discover and explore people and practices that tend the holy. Spending several weeks on a topic will add depth to our spiritual walk. I call it Tending the Holy Thursdays. One week the background story about the person and/or practice (the who and what) will be given and then followed by a post with practical tips on how to implement the practice or a practice known to that person (the how and why). The third week will be a reflection of what I learned and ideas on how you can apply this to your walk with God. The last week I will share quotes, prayers and resources related to the topic. Sound interesting? Let me know in the comments if you like this idea and if you have a person/practice you would like to be featured. Let’s discover and explore together in our journey of tending the holy within us all. November – Tending the Holy - Desert Mothers and Fathers Who are the Desert Mothers and Fathers? … [Read more...]
Pay Attention to the Sparks – October’s Monthly Musings
“Pay attention to the sparks.” I heard Problogger Darren Rowse share this wisdom on a periscope yesterday. He was referring to making note of all those gems of ideas that come along, often unexpectedly, nurse them and they could just be the “next big thing” in your life. What is periscope you ask? It is live streaming video. You can check out my somewhat awkward attempt at broadcasting in this new medium at this site: https://katch.me/Jeanwise Paying attention to the sparks is also a way to live a more reflective life – a great spiritual practice - and to capture those moments/tips/words of wisdom that mean so much to us, but we often forget. This method appeals to me because it is so hard to capture and remember good moments when life is moving so quickly and with so much noise. Each month I share insights, tidbits of wisdom, resources I have discovered and life in general that I have observed in this feature called Monthly Musings. Monthly Musings – October: Lessons … [Read more...]