Faith stories. Can you express your personal story of how God has shaped your life? Do you know and share your faith story? How does this spiritual practice impact both our lives and the lives of others? Faith stories. I listen to them in conversations. I love reading them in books and articles. I lean forward expectedly when they are shared in interviews. Faith stories connect us with one another. Remind us we aren't on this journey alone. They inspire us to try once again. They motivate us to stand up for grace, justice, and love. Knowing, speaking, and sharing our stories reveal how God is ever-present in our lives. Knowing our faith story – Reflecting on how we first learn about God, how to pray, what helps us hear him gives us insight into how God is shaping us, calling us near to him. I call it holy hindsight – to review both our spiritual high points and low times and know God walked alongside us. Knowing our faith story brings healing and fills me with … [Read more...]
Questions – A Spiritual Practice to Ponder
We are in times of uncertainty and many unknowns. Thinking of our present Covid 19 reality reminded me of one of my favorite quotes. Rainer Maria Rilke wrote this in his book, Letters to a Young Poet: "I want to beg you, as much as I can, dear sir, to be patient toward all that is unsolved in your heart and to try to love the questions themselves like locked rooms and like books that are written in a very foreign tongue. Do not now seek the answers, which cannot be given you because you would not be able to live them. And the point is, to live everything. Live the questions now. Perhaps you will then gradually, without noticing it, live along some distant day into the answer." While I love to plan and know things for certain, I am gradually learning the value and lessons in listening to the questions whirling around us during this time. What a spiritual practice for all of us to learn and use – a light that will help us thrive in unclear present moments with unknown … [Read more...]
What Are You Reading? Fiction? Nonfiction? Both?
What are you reading right now? I am normally a nonfiction reader so this will surprise those of you who know me – I actually read and finished a fiction book this past week. I also enjoy several nonfiction ones in my improved practice of making the time for self-care in reading. This was one of my goals for 2020. The spiritual practice of reading feeds the mind and the heart. New ideas stretch our imagination and shape our faith. I love opening my eyes to see the world in new ways, in God's way. What am I reading? The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek by Kim Michelle Richardson. This is the fiction book I mentioned above. I did enjoy the story and couldn't put it down once I get started. Based on historical facts about in the 1930s in Kentucky where women rode mules or horses to deliver books and reading material into the hills of Appalachia – of course, anything doing with books appealed to me. The main character is a traveling librarian, part of … [Read more...]
It’s Time for a Silent Retreat
Attending a silent retreat is a primary spiritual practice of mine. I hesitated when going for the first time in 2004 and was filled with fear and anxiety. Four days of not speaking???? What would I do? The void threatened my soul. I felt vulnerable, almost naked without the cushion of noise and the comfort of busyness to protect my ego. But not only did I survive, but I also heard God in newer and deeper ways. As I kept track of my journey in my journals each time, God gently unfolded my heart in a fresh way and touched me with his healing love. One year I skipped this practice and as that year progressed, I felt restless, uncertain and longed for time – silent time – alone with our Creator. I have never missed an annual retreat since then and make scheduling one a priority every year. I leave this coming Thursday through Sunday for my next retreat at a retreat center about an hour from my home. I haven't been to this center in quite a while so I am looking … [Read more...]
How to Enter into Sacred Space
How do you enter into sacred space? Barge right in? Loudly bang on the door, demanding your right to cross the threshold? Abruptly sit down, run down your list of prayers, then check this action off your to-do list? Sounds horrible, doesn't it? Not very honorable of God. Yet lately I have become aware of my first moments as I move into my time with God. Rushed. Pressured. Too much hustle and not enough holy. This year I am exploring and pondering sacred space – internal and external. You can read about my theme for the year here. What I Learned During my Online Retreat I experienced God in a new way a few weeks ago when I participated in Becky Eldredge's Busy Person's Online Retreat. I spent longer morning time in prayer, Bible reading, and journaling and finished each afternoon on Zoom with a spiritual director. One of the best lessons I learned was how I entered into sacred space of prayer and journaling impacted how I heard God and felt his … [Read more...]
Letting Go – A Spiritual Practice for Lent
Lent begins with Ash Wednesday on February 26 this year of 2020. Each year I listen for a theme for these holy 40 days before Easter and pray I lean into Lent with openness and obedience. Letting go is a practice calling to me this year. Letting go creates space for God, for my own spirit, for others to enter in. This follows well my theme and word for the year. Letting go is a path of subtraction, not addition. Letting go of what draws me away from God instead of closer to the Lord. Of holding my palms upward, holding all things lightly and given to God to do as he wills. Thomas a Kempis, The Imitation of Christ, advocated making a regular practice of letting go: "To sum up, dear friend of Mine, unclench your fists, and let everything fly out of your hands. Clean yourself up nicely and stay faithful to your Creator." During Lent this year, I plan to listen. I hope to list all and any attachments that sidetrack me from keeping my eyes always on the … [Read more...]
20/20 Vision for 2020
20/20 vision? Don't you love the play on this year's name? Churches, organizations, and even individuals are exploring and updating their vision and thoughtful sense of direction as we step into the new decade. Two stories to consider as we look forward to where God may be leading us on our spiritual journey. Story Number One about Vision I was a chubby sixth-grader when the school nurse sent home a note saying I failed the routine eye exam. Already not very attractive and bullied for my appearance, I dreaded having to add glasses to my round face. My sight was no way near 20/20 vision. I was not a happy gal. Mom took me to the eye doctor and yes, the nurse was correct – I needed glasses. Remember those old-style frames with the flared upper outside edges. Ugly! About two weeks later we picked up the new glasses and I slouched in the backseat of the car as we drove home. I lowered my head, trying to hide, fearful what others would say. … [Read more...]
What is Sacred Space? My Word of the Year
What is sacred space? You may at first think of a physical space such as a grand cathedral oozing with the presence of God or the delight of gazing upward amidst stately Redwoods. The awareness of sacred space may arise when watching meteors race across the sky or pausing to breathe in the colors of an amazing sunrise or sunset. God is quite the artist! Sometimes my prayer chair next to my home altar creates a sacred space for me. My word for 2020 is sacred space. Ok, that is two words, but I think both of needed. At least longed for deep within my spirit. Sacred Space Holy ground is all around when we see the sacred in both our physical and spiritual geographies. This year I want to intentionally practice noticing and honoring the sacred everywhere: In my ordinary flat territory (boring? bleak?) of northwest Ohio. Listen to the land where God has planted each of us for this season of life.In the space between others and myself as we share life, … [Read more...]