“Well” is my word of the year and I wondered this month about how “well” is used throughout the Bible. So far this year I have been discovering “well” as a place of water. Picture an actual well with a bucket kind of visual. Depending on the version of the Bible, well can be read anywhere from 300-600 times. Most references refer to wells that provided water. Another use is the familiar verse, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” Matthew 25: 21. Wells of course, were places to supply water but also served as a place of social gathering. A source of meeting someone in community and receiving strength and renewal. For example, Jacob met Rachel at a well where she came to water her father Laban’s flock of sheep (Gen 29:1-11). Moses, too, met his future wife, Zipporah, at a well when she came with her sisters to water their father’s flock (Exodus 2:15-22).  After Hagar fled from Sarai, an angel of the Lord appeared to her at a well where he revealed to her the name of her … [Read more...]

Silly me.  The email pinged into my mailbox. The anticipated package would arrive the next day. I giggled. “It’s coming,” I shouted to the empty house. Like a kid the day before Christmas, I nervously tremble with excitement.  What was this all about?  Ok, I will tell you, but please don’t roll your eyes at me (Ok you probably will). My pending package?  My 2025 calendar. I know, I know this is all so silly, but I do love planning, organizing, and getting that new calendar each year.  Usually, I find and order one in midsummer but this year, 18 months 24–25-year calendars from the Happy Planner Store became available to order in March.  By the third week in March, I could have my new calendar.  And 30% off, too. I know the 30% sale is part of my rationalization to order.  Part of me feels guilty getting so thrilled over something so trivial.  I almost didn’t write this as a blog post – worried what would YOU think?  Should I … [Read more...]

Sacred wells fascinate me. I heard about them on our trip to Ireland and Scotland – their stories and legends around them and their deep connection to God. My word of the year is – WELL – and the image of a well is a wonderful starting point to explore and listen for the sacred lessons from this word. I remembered sacred wells, so decided this would a great place to start to explore. Man, was that a rabbit trail!  Ha! A delightful imaginative and meaningful adventure into stories, usages, and meaning of sacred wells. What is a Sacred Well? Also called holy wells, sacred wells are often tied to a Christian saint, but many wells have been around long before Christianity arrived in Great Britain. The ancient Celts believed wells connected man to the “other world.”  A thin place where we could connect with God. Some wells also were thought to have healing powers. Water does help in healing and is essential for all life. Sacred wells remind me that God is the “living … [Read more...]

Do you remember yourself as a teen?  I had a profound dream a few weeks ago that continues to haunt me.  I relived a moment at my older brother’s wedding. During the loud, dancing, partyin’ reception, I sat at a round table in the corner by myself, dressed in a too tight, not suited for my body bridesmaid dress, feeling sorry for the lonely, fat, out of place person I was. My arms tightly crossed in front of my blossoming chest, sinking my changing body lower into the chair, becoming invisible. Wondering who I was except for an ugly, awkward kid. I watched others interact, talk, smile and knew it was time to grow up. I wasn’t sure how I was going to make this work but knew deep down this moment was a turning point. After all I was 14 – older, more mature than 13.  LOL. This wasn’t a made-up kind of dream – this moment really happened to me in 1964. My dream dug this moment out of a hidden place where I tug away secrets  - a memory ready to be seen from a … [Read more...]

Four Somethings is the spiritual practice of remembering, reviewing, and savoring life’s lessons and sacred moments in our lives. You know one practice I frequently promote is reflection – pausing, rereading, pondering where you are, where you have come from and where is God inviting you into next.  So occasionally I share bits of wisdom in four categories. Gathering Four Somethings makes me aware of all the blessings often hidden under busyness, worries, and distractions. 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.  Here are some recent “somethings.” Something Wise "You are not the cause of everything that happens to you, but you are responsible for how you respond to everything that happens to you."  James Clear This is one quote that lingered with me most of the fall quarter and continues to guide my … [Read more...]