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...]
How to Create a Consistent Reading Plan – 2020 Goal
How do you create a consistent reading plan? Reading more books has been a yearly goal of mine for the past few years. And one I failed. Ok, maybe not a letter grade of "F" but certainly in the "C-" range. Yes I borrow books from the library.Yes I love buying books. Amazon addict here. And don't take me to a book store – I will disappear for hours.Yes I am always adding additional bookshelves. Yes I do love reading as it expands the mind, refreshes the heart and nourishes my soul. I have great intentions. I have twice declared on this blog my focus to read more (here is an example ) and yet my pile of unread books multiple each year like unsupervised bunnies. Even gathering dust as dust bunnies do. In 2019 I created a shelf in my office and selected some of the books that called out to my heart for reading. I read one. Failure. But I persist and am trying once again to read more this year, especially these unread ones summoning for attention and … [Read more...]
Honoring the Passage of Time – a Decade Review
Honoring the passage of time? How do we heed time on its swift journey? One moment it is January 7 and * blink * we are celebrating Christmas 2020. Time flies. Many psychologists will confirm that time really does zip by faster each year, Of course, time doesn't change its speed – each minute, second, moment is the same length as another. But mentally and maybe even spiritually, our perception tells us time zooms ahead at warp speeds. Reflection is a wonderful and effective spiritual practice for gently hitting the brakes and slowing life down a bit. Each December I reread my journal entries from the past year and write up highlights, key lessons, words and verses that resonated with my spirit and how I experienced God those 12 months. These yearly summaries capture time and help me honor the passage of time and the journey I am on. “People overestimate what can be done in one year, and underestimate what can be done in ten.”J.C.R. Licklider Besides a yearly … [Read more...]
The Spiritual Practice of Being Curious
"Be curious" This phrase was advised by a speaker I heard a few weeks ago in her talk about learning to observe ourselves – our behaviors, our patterns, our self – talk. "Don't be judgmental. We tend to criticize ourselves so easily. We get upset that we continue to do what we don't want to do. Overeat. Gossip. Allow self-doubt, fear, and disappointment to overtake our hearts. Don't judge yourself so harshly. Be curious, instead." The Spiritual Practice of Being Curious What a wonderful trait/skill to develop. I would rather respond with curiosity, then with shame and anger any day! Being curious allows us to be more objective in viewing our responses in our thinking, doing and feeling. Being curious shines the light on patterns and to give name to what we experience. Being curious gives us the space to step back to study, to learn and to ask questions. Being curious reveals options to our behavior and thoughts we never realized before. Being curious gives us … [Read more...]