Ever have a word haunt you? It peeks around the corner when you least expect it. Someone uses it in a sentence, a friend over coffee brings it up, then you read about this word in 14 gazillion blogs. Like Sheldon on The Big Bang Theory who repeatedly knocks on his neighbor's door saying her name three times, sometimes a word beats over and over again on my heart. Its voice is persistent and it lingers waiting for me to notice. Sometimes the word isn't bolded, but hidden among other friends. It teases you, calls your name until you finally say, "ok what am I to learn about you?" Intentional. "Intentional" has tackled and seized my attention. What does this word mean and what is it telling me? Intentional come from Latin meaning a stretching out, straining, exertion, effort; attention, to turn one's attention. The middle of the 14th century Old French word of entencion implies "stretching, intensity, will, thought." To many of us it means being … [Read more...]
Do Unto Others – Lectio Divina
"Do to others as you would have them do to you." Luke 6: 31 Do unto others. Do unto others. Lord, this is one of the first lessons I learned from my mother. And know once again I hear these words from you - the Golden Rule. You, Lord, who model this way of living. You notice those on the margins. You touch the untouchables. You reach out to those full of fear. You heal the sick. You feed the hungry. You wrap your arms around little children. You defend the poor. You mend the brokenhearted. You answer your critics. You forgive all of us. You love the unlovable. Thank you for noticing, touching, reaching out, healing, feeding, hugging, defending, mending answering, forgiving and loving me. Lord, help me treat others who cross my path as you would. Break open the eyes of my heart to spot the ones who need you the most. May I do unto others as you would, as I would want them to treat me. You showed us the way … [Read more...]
Henri Nouwen’s Story about the Flyer and the Catcher
I facilitated a discussion about spirituality with two small groups last weekend at a synod wide educational event. We talked about many of the spiritual practices that open our hearts to God. The reality is we do nothing to make God come closer. He is here already. We just need to learn to let go and trust him. That reminded me of one of my favorite stories from Henri Nouwen. I shared it here on this blog a couple of years ago but seems the time is right to repeat it: “The Flying Rodleighs are trapeze artists who perform in the German circus Simoneit-Barum. When the circus came to Freiburg two years ago, my friends Franz and Reny invited me and my father to see the show. I will never forget how enraptured I became when I first saw the Rodleighs move through the air, flying and catching as elegant dancers. The next day, I returned to the circus to see them again and introduced myself to them as one of their great fans. They invited me to attend their practice … [Read more...]
Spiritual Lessons from Personality Profiles – INFJ
INFJ on the Meyers-Briggs. Three on the Enneagram. Now that you know my inside secrets of my personality, please don't leave! Ha! I have always been fascinated by these personality profiles. While I don't want to be pigeonholed in some box of identify, I have gained insight and deeper self-knowledge by learning through these scales. Knowing myself better has helped me shed the false self - the masks I put on to appear what the world, others and even myself thought I should be. I feel more comfortable in the skin of this true being, accepting my strengths and my flaws. Knowing my "Achilles heel" has also been useful since I've learned the devil also know where he can sneak into my ego. Being aware of that has more than once opened my eyes early on to missteps and disbeliefs. “Without knowledge of self, there is no knowledge of God. Our wisdom, insofar as it ought to be deemed true and solid wisdom, consists almost entirely of two parts: the knowledge of God and … [Read more...]
Who Are You? – 2013 Reader Survey Results
Who are you? As a blogger I wondered who read these words I hurl into cyberspace four times a week. Thank you to all of you who took the time to give me some feedback and insight into who glances at my writings by filling out the survey I sent out a couple of weeks ago. How wonderful to meet you as a whole.One question generated a slew of interesting answers and remains one we probably all need to ponder. What do you struggle with?I thought I would try to group some of the answers to share with you today and promise to bring many of them back to this space for our conversations in the future.One big struggle for many of us is finding time, keeping God as our first priority, and being consistent in spiritual practices.We also wrestle with trusting God, especially in times when he can't hear him and wonder if he is hearing us.Quite a few people mentioned their lack of self worth, and self-esteem, self-doubts, discouragement, alone-ness and knowing God/Jesus really loved them without … [Read more...]
10 Simple Steps for Happiness
Researchers are identifying common ways to build more happiness in life. I recently read an article that listed ten ways to move towards more joy and was fascinated how simple and short these were. Here is the link to the full article about the 10 simple things you can do today that will make you happier, backed by science. Why do I want to make everything more complex and difficult? I have been pondering this and concluded I am really just seeking excuses. "Of course I would be happier if only I could do that impossible thing! But it is too hard so I will just stay here permanently in Whiney Ville and wallow in my sorrow." Here is the list and I think you will see just how simple these actions are: 1. Exercise more - 7 minutes may be enough. 2. Sleep more - you will less sensitive to negative emotions. 3. Move closer to work - a short commute is worth more than a big house 4. Spend time with family and friends 5. Go outside. 6. Help others - 100 hours a … [Read more...]
7 Questions to Ask When Choosing between Good vs. Great
"I have to learn to say no." my friend sighed. "Life is full of so many great choices, it is hard to chose at times," I said. This conversation last Tuesday made me wonder again how to choose between good and great. Some times both options are great. Which one to choose? ahhh, the conflict between good vs. great. Then I read this quote today from Charles Spurgeon: “Learn to say no. It will be of more use to you than to be able to read Latin.” Discernment can be difficult. I know I would love to have God simply tell me what to do sometimes (to be honest many times I want to control that decision - but when I am not sure that's the time I want him to tell me clearly and directly.) DO THIS JEANIE. GO THIS WAY! That is what I want to see headlined in the clouds! I want clear direction between good vs great. I get so excited about learning, accomplishing, and growing as a person I jump into something because it is good instead of really stepping back and … [Read more...]
Listen to Your Vocabulary
Native American folklore tells the story of the creation of the Finger Lakes region in upstate New York. The lakes were formed when God laid his hands on the land to bless it. His fingers left imprints that filled with water, hence the name “Finger Lakes." Isn't that a beautiful story? I had to laugh, though, since there are 11 fingers in the Finger Lakes. mmm, that gives us a new image of God! Many of us have heard stories of our beginnings. I was always told my parents - already bringing up two boys, ages 6 and 8 - decided to try one more time for a girl. Me! This story always made me feel wanted and loved. A spiritual director once told me, "Listen to your vocabulary. It reveals what you deeply think about yourself and others." This reminds not just to listen, but to pay attention carefully to the language I use to describe, understand and explain things in life. Listen to the words you use. Listen to your … [Read more...]