Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays. I love the family getting together. The delicious smells showering my kitchen. The turkey browning in the oven. The laughter and chatter even while washing the dishes and scrubbing the pans. I smile with the memories of past holidays with loved ones now in heaven and still in our hearts. And of course, the side dishes. We will have my sister in law's sweet potato dish. Katie's homemade pumpkin pie. My mom's crockpot dressing. Good ol' green bean casserole and our family joke about needing the recipe to make it just right (We don't really but we always cut it out of the magazine ads each year and send it to each other) And cranberry jello the grandkids request and we all enjoy. Gratitude for all God's gifts overwhelmed my heart this week as I got out the recipes and made these plans for Thursday. Thank you for family. Thank you for the ones not in our near bubble we can't be with this year. We miss them. Thank you for … [Read more...]
Hello! November 21 is World Hello Day!
Hello! A simple delightful greeting we all say. I didn't know though until recently that November 21 celebrated this word. November 21 is the 48th annual World Hello Day. The purpose of this day is simple – to encourage communication and dialogue between people of different backgrounds in order to achieve peace and understanding. And we all need peace and understanding especially in turbulent times like we have experienced this year. World Hello Day began in 1973 as a simple response to the conflict between Egypt and Israel. The conflict was called the Yom Kippur War. Two brothers, Brian McCormack and Michael McCormack, founded World Hello Day. They mailed 1360 letters in 7 languages to encourage world leaders to participate. Today it is a global expression of peace in 180 countries. Did you know that: This is one of the first words a baby says. My kids started with Da-da but learned early on how to wave hello and bye-bye.Thomas Edison was the first to say this word … [Read more...]
Ever hear of Yahrzeit?
My dad died on November 12, 1966. At the end of October as I flipped the calendar to November, the 12th jumped into my attention, piercing my heart once again. Funny how anniversaries of the death of those we love echoes in our souls, aggravating the scar left by their love. Grief is a roller coaster that brings unexpected twists and turns that jar our spirit, awakening memories. Memories bringing comfort, joys, and smiles. Memories dosed with regrets, and what if's too. The spiritual practice of remembering is powerful and life-giving. Ever hear of Yahrzeit? I hadn't until I read about this practice the other day. Yahrzeit is a Yiddish word that means anniversary of a death. Our Jewish friends light a special long-burning candle on the anniversary of a loved one's death in their memory. Isn't that delightful? Many traditions believe that the candle is the symbol of the soul. This is loosely based on Proverbs 20: 27. The spirit of man is the candle of … [Read more...]
Discernment in the Midst of Multiple Options
Discernment is difficult, especially in a time with multiple options. Choosing what to do or where to go next is like finding just the right cereal in the grocery store breakfast aisle. Lots of great tasting choices and many healthy selections. Me? I want a clear, easy, quick decision. I want God to flip on the directional sign from heaven showing me where to go. Just tell me, Lord. The discernment road isn't always smooth. The path shrouds in fog and we get weighted down in mud as we slough through a decision. Sometimes it's our fault. Sometimes it's an act of obedience to keep moving forward building our spiritual muscles. Sometimes I hear God plainly and other times, struggle to hear my own voice. Discernment isn't easy. To discern mean more than to understand or to make a decision. Dis mans apart and cernere mean to separate. Thus from all the options before us we ‘separate apart’ those that seen uniquely suited to us. We do that when making a decision … [Read more...]
Discovering Wisdom
How are you discovering wisdom? This is a dark time and we need help and guidance daily. Words help me grow – God's word. Words from others – both written and spoken and more experienced, more articulate, more, yah, just more. Here are some collections of quotes about wisdom I shared a few years back. More stretches me. More enlightens me. More - the great More - reminds me God is always more – more than I imagine and more mighty that any evil on earth. Here are some recent earthly wisdoms - that have expanded my mind, enlarged my heart and stretched my imagination. Enjoy exploring and discovering wisdom with me. "That at any given moment, we have the power to say: This is not how the story is going to end.Maybe, just maybe, we need to embrace that gift today." Terry Hershey. I love his daily dose of insight and inspiration. Here is the link to his Sabbath Moment readings. He is quite the storyteller and brings not only wisdom but encouragement and delight to my … [Read more...]
Spiritual Journaling in 2020
Spiritual journaling is the pdf most people request from this blog. This has been true throughout the years (I can't believe I have been blogging since 2009!) and true this year too. Click below if you what to see the number one request. Click Here to Get the Tip Sheet I love talking with God in my journal. At home. While traveling. On retreat. My journal companions me on all types of journeys, especially through this adventure called 2020. Expressing my prayers, emotions, hurts, dreams and whatever else is on my heart to God through the spiritual practice of writing in a journal brings me clarity and peace. I hear God's voice and discern his wisdom. Writing becomes my camera capturing a moment in time in the net of my pen. I began thinking about this word – capturing – this past week and discovered three treasures emerging during 2020 in my journal. Spiritual journaling captures history. I have literally copy, printed then inserted into my journal internet … [Read more...]
I Arise Today – St Patrick and I Wake Up
"I arise today" is the phrase for me launching each new day. I stir, one eye half open peeking at the time on the clock and stretch my arms over my head while still tucked under the cool sheets. There is an old joke. Some people wake up and say, " Good God it's morning." Others start with their day with "Good Morning, God." I am in the Good Morning, God group. Good morning, Lord brings a smile to my heart and a push to get moving. The Holy Spirit rouses my soul and pushes my get going button to full throttle. Ok, not full throttle. Often, I putter and stall, then I recall the phrase, "I arise today." This is a prayer, also called the Deer's Cry, attributed to St. Patrick. Here are the words. I arise todayThrough the strength of heaven;Light of the sun,Splendor of fire,Speed of lightning,Swiftness of the wind,Depth of the sea,Stability of the earth,Firmness of the rock.I arise todayThrough God's strength to pilot me;God's might to uphold … [Read more...]
10 Spiritual Retreat Tips
Interested in spiritual retreat tips? I recently blogged about my usual way of going on retreat – in a group at a retreat center – and how Covid had cancelled all these types of events. I then scheduled my own retreat at a hermitage. While there I noticed insights that I thought may be useful to you for your next retreat. Paying attention is a key practice all the time as his presence coats all our times and he is so willing to show us his lessons. Here are a few photos of the hermitage at the Lady of the Pines, Fremont Ohio and 10 spiritual retreat tips. 10 Spiritual Retreat Tips Give yourself grace – Every retreat I have participated in, this one included there is a time to slowly let go and enter into the stillness and silence. I forget the outside noise and inside chatter need time to slowly drip away and space for quiet and God to gently appear. The first evening and some of the first full day becomes the entrance way, the threshold, the … [Read more...]