How do you choose a word for the year? Do you even choose one word for the year? One single word to guide your journey into the next chapter of your life? I am a goal setter. Yes, one of those crazy detailed people who makes lists and exhaustive files of what I want to get done, by when, how much and even my why. I love planning and to be honest, planning is my finest form of procrastination. Perhaps that is why the simplicity of choosing one word appeals to me. One word for the year is straight forward, easy to remember and downright fun. I have learned four things about finding just the right word each year. I call it my SOSS. Surprise: Often it is not of my choosing. The word comes on its own and appears unexpectedly. Towards the end of the year I pay attention to what words resonate within me as I read. Does it seem like I see it everywhere? It pops up in conversations. I begin a small list of potential possibilities (of course I would have a list! LOL) and then pray, … [Read more...]
Tending the Holy Thursdays –December’s Spiritual Practice –Weekly/Quarterly Reflection
December’s Spiritual Practice – This Week: Reflection: Weekly/Quarterly Tips In December, we are looking at the spiritual practice of reflection and today will look at how to build reflection into your weekly and quarterly time frames. Remember the spiritual practice of reflection gives meaning to our lives, helps us see God’s presence in the details, grounds us with landmarks on our journey and enables us to let go of what holds us back in life. It’s like hitting the pause button at regular intervals. You can review the overview of this practice and see how I practice reflection on a monthly and daily basis on the last two Thursdays’ Tending the Holy post. Spiritual Practice of Reflection -Weekly Ideas When I was working full time, one practice I had was to write in my journal most Sunday afternoons. I ended up missing some weeks, but to be honest, I wrote more regularly then than I do now. Having a weekly routine made all the difference. Find a weekly rhythm for any or all … [Read more...]
Tending the Holy Thursdays –December’s Spiritual Practice –The Daily Examen
December’s Spiritual Practice – This Week: the Daily Examen In December, we are looking at the spiritual practice of reflection and today will look at one way this practice, the Daily Examen, can be implemented each day. Remember the spiritual practice of reflection gives meaning to our lives, helps us see God’s presence in the details, grounds us with landmarks on our journey and enables us to let go of what holds us back in life. It’s like hitting the pause button at regular intervals. You can review the overview of this practice and see how I practice reflection on a monthly basis on last Thursday’s Tending the Holy post. Living an examined life, a reflective life, involves daily, weekly, monthly and yearly connecting points where we pause and review a particular time period. This can be done on a daily basis by using what is called the Examen of Conscious or Daily Examen. The Daily Examen The Daily Examen is a technique of prayerful reflection on the events of the day … [Read more...]
Tending the Holy Thursdays –December’s Spiritual Practice: Reflection
December’s Spiritual Practice – Reflection The spiritual practice of reflection gives meaning to our lives, helps us see God’s presence in the details, grounds us with landmarks on our journey and enables us to let go of what holds us back in life. Living a reflective life is hitting the pause button at regular intervals – daily, weekly, monthly and yearly – to look back on our emotions and experiences, to connect the dots that reveal patterns and to find hope and strength to keep moving forward. By three methods we may learn wisdom: First by reflection, which is noblest; Second by imitation, which is easiest; And third by experience, which is the bitterest. Confucius Practicing reflection is this month’s spiritual practice to explore in December. Each month on Thursdays, I plan to write about a specific theme that helps us discover and explore people and practices that tend the holy. Spending several weeks on a topic will add depth to our spiritual walk. What is the … [Read more...]
Is Your Advent Full with Stuff in your Hands or a Heart Stuffed with Joy? Thoughts & Quotes & Ramblings
Is your Advent season full with stuff in your hands or a heart stuffed with joy? Is there a whisper in your mind that you love Christmas time, but are secretly glad when it’s over? Does the thought of family conflicts, crowded parties, too much tempting food, overspending and unmet expectations deplete your energy and love for the season? Advent “should” be a time of joyous anticipation and rest and restoration that God keeps his promises. I don’t know about the rest of you, but I struggle to find that peace and hope in the busyness during Advent. "Take time to be aware that in the very midst of our busy preparations for the celebration of Christ’s birth in ancient Bethlehem, Christ is reborn in the Bethlehems of our homes and daily lives. Take time, slow down, be still, be awake to the Divine Mystery that looks so common and so ordinary yet is wondrously present. "An old abbot was fond of saying, ‘The devil is always the most active on the highest feast days.’ "The supreme trick … [Read more...]
What is Advent and Why is It Important?
Each year around this time I write a feature about Advent. In a conversation the other day one of my friends mentioned she didn’t know much about this season. When she asked about Advent, we had just finished the typical conversation you hear this time of year. Me: How are you? She: Busy like everyone else. Me: Yes, this is a crazy time of year. She: Yeah, it seems nonstop racing from Halloween to Thanksgiving to Christmas to New Years. I spent too much money and eat too much when I really need some peace and rest and bring the true meaning of Christmas back to my heart. She needs Advent. Advent Advent is the four weeks before the celebration of the birth of Jesus. November 29 is the first Sunday in this season this year and at our church we will light the first of the four candles surrounding the white Christ candle. The candles symbolize joy, hope, peace and love. This time before Christmas is a time of anticipation and waiting for the gift of this … [Read more...]
November – Tending the Holy – Desert Spirituality
On Thursdays in November we have been walking with the Desert Mothers and Fathers and their desert spirituality. You can read the previous post and who they were and what practices they used in the posts below or by clicking on the links in this sentence. Ever wonder about the symbolism in the desert and how that environment impacted their faith? Let’s explore desert spirituality today. “Desert spirituality is a spirituality of struggle, which is inevitable as we seek to know and to journey into ourselves, to face the demons in the depths of our personalities. It is a struggle with the apparent absence of God and a struggle in the darkness of our own emptiness and insufficiency.” David Prail As a writing I often had to stop as I write the word desert – are there two “S’s” or only one? Then I remember my high school English teacher reminding us that dessert has two since lots of people want dessert, but no one really wants the desert. What can the desert teach us? I would … [Read more...]
Why is Gratitude So Powerful?
My experience with intentionally practicing gratitude has been transformational. This spiritual discipline helps me focus on what I have - not the vapor wishes I think I need. Being thankful helps me step out of the way, thanking God for all things, not relying on my own self centered strength. Gratitude has taught me the fun in discovering hidden blessings, treasures I may have missed if I hadn’t been paying attention. Counting my blessings turns what my emotions blindly convey as a rotten day into “hey that wasn’t so bad after all” type of reflection. Thankfulness adds meaning to life, even in difficult times. “Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all others.” Cicero Pondering gratitude stirred my curiosity about why is gratitude as a spiritual practice so powerful? I spent most of the morning on Monday reading about the research behind gratitude. What I learned is amazing. Research Here is just a smidgen of the benefits of gratitude … [Read more...]