Our pastor last Sunday shared the following story: A young man wanted to gain body strength and get into shape by working on his uncle’s farm one summer. His wise uncle suggested that he do vertical arm lifts while holding 1, then 5, then 10, then 25, and 50 pound sacks of potatoes. The young man exercised faithfully. Each day he would go to the barn and practice the repetitions with the potato sacks. Yes he started with the one-pound sacks and slowly advancing until the end of summer he was lifting 50 pound sacks. He finally accomplished his goal with 100-pound sacks in both arms. He rushed to his uncle exclaiming proudly his achievement. “And guess what, Uncle. Next week I plan to start putting potatoes into the sacks.” The congregation chuckled at this silly tale. But our pastor went on to clarify that many of us treat our daily devotional life in the same way. We skim our Bible reading. We rush through obligatory prayers. We ramble with nonsense instead of … [Read more...]
Help! Where Are You, God and Why Can’t I See You?
Ever pray this prayer: Where are you, God and why can't I see You? I have running crazy in July with company visiting, summer to do’s and trying to work on dreams and where God is leading me. I finally took some deep breaths this morning to create space with God – reading my Bible, journaling and spending time with him. It was like having my morning coffee with a friend I was missing and longing to be with. Where have you been, God? I asked with a smile, knowing it wasn’t his absence but my busyness that kept me from experiencing him lately. Then I remembered this story I heard a long time ago. I love its imagery and reassurance of God’ presence. So sit back and enjoy story time today. May its words also bless your journey: Once upon a time a woman spoke her deepest desire to God. “Lord, I want to find you. See you. Be with you” She held that prayer closely in her heart for many many years. She said no to worldly desires and accomplishments to focus only on God. She … [Read more...]
Kindness – A Powerful Quote to Guide Your Way
I expect to pass through this world but once. If, therefore, there be any kindness I can show, or any good thing I can do, to any fellow being let me do it now. Let me not defer nor neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again. I have this quote sitting on my kitchen window sill. To be honest I have moved it from house to house, season to season and mood to mood. It is one of my favorite and has proven true. A powerful quote to guide my way. Some sources say it is a Quaker saying from the mid 1800s; other credit it to Stephen Grellet, a Quaker missionary. I believe its message on the value and importance of kindness. And kindness in a prompt manner – don’t leave that good intention on the shelf. My mama lived this quote and practiced its meaning. She would always say if you hear something kind about someone, pass that onto that person. Everyone needs to hear kind words – there is just too much negativity surrounding us. Smile at the store clerk. Use the person’s name … [Read more...]
One Surprising Award of Deep Listening
As a spiritual director I have learned the practice of deep listening. And besides being beneficial for the people I companion, I have discovered one surprising award for myself. Deep listening involves quieting myself through prayer, stillness and deep breathes before meeting with someone. Then while I sit with them, I am open to the Spirit’s whispers, nudges and leading to offer silence, ask questions and pause before speaking. The focus is about the person I am with, their reflections, not my opinions. I am fully present to them. I honor the sacred ground I am on with another and hold that moment without judgment. I listen for the unspoken words, the hidden meanings behind their stories, where God may be appearing in their life. As I cultivate this deep listening skill, I have been surprised to notice I now listen to myself more deeply too. All those gifts offered freely to another: presence, nonjudgmental, silence, pause, honoring the inner stirrings, and sorting out of … [Read more...]
Quick! I Desperately Need Patience!
When God handed out gifts, he skipped filling me with even a tiny bit of patience when constructing my DNA. I want patience and I want it now. Quick! I desperately need patience. I have been talking all year with God about how I can learn to be more patient. I realized how quick my impatient trigger lets loose when I gasped seeing the following painting by Melanie Weidner at the Spiritual Directors International conference last April. She does beautiful work. Check out her web site. I looked at this art piece several times and it kept calling me back to learn its lesson. Finally on the third day I bought it for my office. It is based on the saying: “Do you have the patience to wait Till your mud settles and the water is clear? Can you remain unmoving Till the right action arises by itself?” Lao Tzu Being patience involves time to let unclearness, anxiety and noise that suppresses the answer to settle so the right path will emerge. Ok, Lord I hear you. Be open and … [Read more...]
My Fitbit and Me – Housewalking
Our summer challenge in Weight Watchers is to get more active. I love a good challenge and decided to “walk” the distance between my home and Avon, North Carolina, home of the Outer Banks. This is our destination for our next trip the middle of September. So my Fitbit and I are going for a walk. I am tracking the distance – 846 miles! I need to walk about 9 miles a day from June 1 to mid September. That will give me some leeway for the weeks we have company or times I don’t get or can’t get the miles done. Stepwise – this is around 21000 steps a day for me. I know I sound crazy but I usually do accomplish 15000-20000 so this is pushing myself just a little more. Why I am telling you this? (And all the while praying you don’t stop reading or unsubscribe since now you think I am looney) Two reasons: Please hold me accountable and in your prayers. I promise to report later on in the summer how I am progressing but also promise not to bore you with frequent accounts. The … [Read more...]
Pondering with CS Lewis
God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pains: it is his megaphone to rouse a deaf world. CS Lewis This quote lingered with me today. Sometimes in the good times, I hear God quite plainly and at a great volume level. I also believe I miss his many whispers too when the noise of the world and my inner chatter is set on loud. I am learning in the second half of life to make friends with my hindrances and allow my discomforts and even pains and hurts emerge as lessons. I used to squelch them, bury them in ego protecting layers or ignore them, choosing instead to spend time with ice cream and fattening comfort foods. I am more patient with difficulties now – or at least attempt to be – allowing time to heal and discover their message. God is in all my experiences – the pleasures, the worries and even the excruciating sobs of life. He doesn’t cause them but he will make things new again if I walk along side with him, listening, … [Read more...]
Thankful for Behind the Scene People
Lately I am thankful for the behind the scene people who bring light to the background of my life. So often we take them for granted, failing to fully appreciate their assistance in keeping things running smoothly and the beasts at bay. Many people don’t even know the names of the ones supporting each of us in a wide variety of ways. Who cleans the bathrooms and empties the waste cans following the big game? At church who comes in early to be sure the heat or a/c is at the perfect temperature, the doors unlocked and the lights on? These are the ones who make the magic happen and keep the bus a-rolling. Open your refrigerator and look at the food there. Who stocked the shelves at the store for you before you made your purchases? Who grew the food? Who drove the truck to deliver the supplies? Who wrote the paychecks and balanced the books at the store? We oo and awe at celebrities and wonder what a grip or a gaffer is in the credits listed at the end of the movie. Those working … [Read more...]