The United States celebrates a day of Thanksgiving this week. Many families pause and share something they are thankful for as they stuffed themselves with food, football, and family.Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.1 Thessalonians 5:17-18 (New International Version)What? In all circumstances? Come on, God, you don’t really mean that, do you? I am supposed to give thanks for everything – even the crummy, dirty, unfair stuff? I try to remember to show my appreciation when good things happen and even remember some of the time to shot up a “hey thanks, God” for some of the ordinary events in life, but really God, in ALL things?Oswald Chambers reminds us that “The best measure of the spiritual life is not its ecstasies, but its obedience.”Difficult, isn’t it? I have a long way to go in learning to express thanks, but here are three thoughts about Thanksgiving that are nurturing a spirit of gratitude within me.Pay Attention for Times to be … [Read more...]
My Conditional Love and God’s Unconditional Love
Once a month I help to facilitate the spiritual formation of a small group of people called to be spiritual directors. This past weekend we discussed Gerald May’s book Will and Spirit. This book fed my soul and mind in numerous ways, but one section in particular resonated in my heart.Buried in the middle of his chapter on love, he lists ways we get confused about our understanding of love.One obstacle May writes is “expecting unconditional love from human beings” and the second one: “expecting conditional love from God.”Suddenly upon hearing those phrases, though among many, I sat alone with God. What does this mean, Lord? Why did those phrases so deeply touch my spirit?Expecting unconditional love from human beings will set us up for failure, anger, bitterness and discouragement. We just can’t do it as humans, yet I know I have too many times sought that connection with others fully expecting to find what I am hungering for. Then I begin to wonder: what did I do wrong? What can’t … [Read more...]
Does God Giggle? A Prayer for Spiritual Silliness
Dear Creator God, I am in awe of all you have made – the morning sun, the majestic mountains, and the shimmering seas.The Bible tells me we are created in your image. I cling to that promise when I wear the mask of piety or struggle to be loving.When I kiss my granddaughter’s neck and tickle her tummy, she erupts with a glorious giggle. Her infectious laugh causes me to wonder: if you are THE creator, does that mean you also invented giggles? Do you giggle?You waved your hand and the universe was born. You designed the order of stars and planets and how things on earth grow and multiply. We stand in speechless amazement of your handiwork yet I think this innovative time was full of joy for you.Did you smile when you developed the prototype of the elephant and decided to exchange its long tail and short nose with a short tail and long nose?Did you kick up the dust with a cheering skip with when you threw like Frisbees, not one, not two but multiple rings around Saturn?Were you thrilled … [Read more...]
Five “What” Questions to Nurture Spiritual Growth
I believe God loves questions. He planted inside each of us a curiosity and he graciously is willing to receive our questions. He even is generous enough to hear some of the same questions over and over and over again.I ask questions all the time when talking with God. Of course I don’t always wait for his answer but that is another story. I have slowly learned to accept that mystery of unanswered questions that dominate much of our lives here on earth.Jesus asked many questions: Why do you worry? What can you give? Why are you afraid? What do you want? Who do you say that I am?Personally I am fond of the What questions.The question that asks Where could also be a fun one to explore.I know the Who – GodI don’t think we are to know When since we aren’t in charge, God is.I am not sure we will ever know the Why until we are in heaven and maybe not then.Here are five “what” questions that recently have been surfacing in my prayers, Bible study, and meditations:1. What does that mean? Any … [Read more...]
Spiritual Kindness
I believe in kindness.The intentional practice of being kind connects us with one another, gives us energy to walk our daily journey, and brings joy that brightens dreary, lonely days. An act of kindness lingers in our souls providing strength and nourishment and is sometimes the only thread we have to cling to.I believe in kindness.It is easier not to go visit an elderly friend or to smile at the store clerk or to cook soup for the lonely widower. But this doesn’t make it right either. It will take me a lifetime to fully learn that it is not about me, my wants or needs.I believe in kindness.I believe we have to make our minds up to practice this quality moment by moment, day by day.Michael Roach tells a story about kindness in the book The Diamond Cutter:"The early Buddhists of Tibet were known as the Kadampas — they were simple people, herders and carpenters and small farmers, who took to the new ideas like fish to water, in their simple but exquisite way. They carried around a small … [Read more...]
Spiritual Mold Growing in my Soil/Soul
I didn’t see it happen. My husband walked in from the garage, obviously amused by something he observed. He looked like the Cheshire cat with a silly grin on his face and twinkle in his eyes.“You are quite the gardener,” he said with a mischievous smirk.“What do you mean?” I asked, squinting my eyes with a growing suspicion that the answer was not one I was going to like.“You have grown a wonderful batch of mold and mushrooms in the garage.”I investigated and found out it was true. Yucky mold and yellowish mushrooms thrived, spreading their deep golden roots throughout my neglected bag of mulch. Several sprouts stalwartly burst through the plastic bag. A healthy bag of mulch whose purpose was to encourage the blooming of gorgeous backyard flowers now served to grow ugly things that never should see the light of day.I did have good intentions but neglected to follow through.I find that also true of my spiritual walk at times.My soul is best nourished with daily prayer, reading the … [Read more...]
WHACK! “A Gentle Whack on the Side of the Head” God
What a great start to the morning -on my second cup of coffee, checking the third item off my to-do list, and accomplishing numerous jobs. I was a multitasking fiend, zipping along like a road runner.WHACK! Hitting myself on the side of the head I said out loud, “I forgot to pray this morning.”Each morning I try to start my day with the Lord. I sit quietly and praise him. I lift up my prayer concerns for family and friends and I read a devotional. Often I also journal where I feel God is leading me on my journey.Sounds nice, doesn’t it? But to be honest too often I dive into my day without first honoring God.WHACK!Do you watch NCIS? This favorite television show of mine shows the main character, Gibbs, frequently slapping Dinozzo, another agent, on the back of the head -a mild, loving head slap to redirect Dinozzo’s attention back to where it belongs. Gibbs administers tough love on his agents.WHACK!As soon as I realized I forgot God, I quit all the important, urgent items in front of … [Read more...]
EXUBERANT SPIRITUALITY
What does it mean to be exuberant? Ever hear a word you haven’t heard for awhile, then all of a sudden you hear it and see it everywhere? EXUBERANT!Exuberant means to be fruitful, joyful, uninhibitedly enthusiastic, lavishly abundant and abounding in vitality. Wouldn’t that be a glorious way to live?Kyla, pictured here, displays exuberance when she squeals with all her miniature might like a Jurassic Park baby dinosaur. Zeal erupts from her very center and her chubby arms and legs gush with unabashed enthusiasm in every lively direction. Her face radiates with an eagerness adults too soon lose.LESSON: Exuberance involves my whole beingMy online writers group – all five of us – are participating in the National Novel Writing Month or NANO for short. The web site: http://www.nanowrimo.org/ describes the process as exuberant imperfection.People free write 50,000 word novels during thirty days, though a few of us rebels write non-fiction. The idea is to just dig deep into our souls and … [Read more...]