Funny how sayings from your mother stay with you. I can still hear my mama’s voice on quite a few words of wisdom, though the oddest one is this: “You can pee in one hand and wish in the other and see which one you get filled first.” Yep, she really did say that. I can’t remember but I must have “wished” a lot as a child cause I heard that quote quite a bit. A good reflective practice is to listen to the language you use. What does your vocabulary say about you? I have been trying to hear the words I chose in daily life during this Lenten season. I have discovered I continue to “wish” frequently. I wish I would lose more weight. I wish I would finally be a multi-book author. I wish it were summer. I wish I could hear God better. I wish…. I wish… Wishing is easy; work is harder. Wishing and working though are two sides of the same coin. We need to wish, to dream, to imagine the what if’s. Wishing gives us hope. Wishing fuels our motivation. Wishing … [Read more...]
Trusting God During Transitions
Transitions. Changes. Crossroads. All times that can be challenging and full of emotions – joy, sadness, fear and confusion. “I guess all endings hurt a little even when you need them” – words of wisdom I heard last week from one of my daughters as she changes jobs. Good insight. We all go through changes and life shifts often facing them with faith and fear and probably some self-doubt. We chose a direction, then wonder if we made the best decision. We step out… no, we often leap into the unknown, not 100% sure where we will land. Williams Bridges wrote a classic book on this concept called Transitions. He writes there are three stages to every change: Ending – every transition begin with the ending. Of course there is sadness, loss, letting go. Allow yourself time to grieve. The Neutral Zone – that confusing muddle of the middle, in-between time where we feel disconnected and not belonging anyplace. We often feel lost at this stage. The New Beginning – where we … [Read more...]
The Gift of Hearing
We live in an age besieged with communication devices - smart phones, Ipads, pagers and emails that chirp continuously. Facetime, Skype and voice mail. Twitter, Facebook and I-messages. Some people even still talk in person. LOL It seemed rather incongruous that in a society of supersophisticated communication, we often suffer from a shortage of listeners. Erma Bombeck I listened in church on Sunday. I sit up front since I help with the opening worship and the children’s sermon, so the entire congregation is behind me. I can’t see them when I am in the pew as my back faces them, but I can hear them. And I listened Sunday. I closed my eyes and felt the beat of the music. I heard the preschoolers’ innocent voices recite the Lord’s Prayer. I caught the swish of the hymnal pages being turned behind me. My ears picked up the voices of fellowship, worship and prayer. I listened this Sunday. I thanked God for the amazing gift of hearing. Sometimes, maybe even too … [Read more...]
Failing and Learning about the Spiritual Practice of Beholding
Last week I submerged my soul in silence at my annual spiritual retreat. I have learned that in order to hear God I need to get away at least once a year for a few days at a retreat center for solitude, silence and being with him. My time away and my notes in my journal nourish my spirit for many days afterward. I am a doer and settling my soul in silence and stillness isn’t easy for me. It often feels like I peel off layers of soiled clothing as I settle into the quiet. I have to hand over my concerns, my worldly frantic to do’s and my agenda into God’s hands. I attempt to embrace an attitude of open expectancy. During our time of lectio divina at the retreat, the leader slowly read three times the story of Jesus’s transfiguration. I just love Peter – his enthusiasm, his direct honesty and his determined desire to do. Peter sees Jesus along with Moses and Elijah and what does he want to do – build a shelter for them. He is doing instead of embracing this sacred instance that he … [Read more...]
Becoming What We Worship
A person will worship something, have no doubt about that. We may think our tribute is paid in secret in the dark recesses of our hearts, but it will out. That which dominates our imaginations and our thoughts will determine our lives, and our character. Therefore, it behooves us to be careful what we worship, for what we are worshiping we are becoming. Ralph Waldo Emerson This quote about becoming what we worship stopped me cold. I felt that nudge from the Spirit to pay attention. What am I worshipping? I would love to say I only worship, bow down to God, the Creator and Almighty. But in reality I know when I am honest, that my eyes often focus on other things. My heart yearns for accomplishment. My eyes see the glitter of the world. Envy and discontent pop up when I desire what others have. I remember pacing the floor, my tummy swirling in knotted anxiety as the Ohio State Buckeyes played in their last few games towards this year’s national championship. I … [Read more...]
Imagine God Smiling at You
I saw this photo from the Hubble space telescope last week and just couldn’t get over it. My, doesn’t God have a sense of humor. Visio divina is a practice I have mentioned previously here and here on this blog: when we gaze prayerfully over a photo/painting/icon and allow the image to invite us into a conversation with God. I centered on this newly discovered space photo as my prayer practice this past weekend. One of my most favorite quotes – one that is display on my desk so I can easily see it as I write is from Anthony deMello: “Look at God Looking at you… And smiling…” Like a loving parent beholding at their sleeping infant. Watching us with consuming compassion and mercy. Picking us up, drying our tears and holding us as we sob. Smiling, not at us, but with us, tenderly knowing the depth of our emotions. What love we drink in as children of God. This photo brought me to several Bible verses to ponder and journal about: Why are you down in the dumps, … [Read more...]
Getting Ready for Lent – A Prayer and Resources
Henri Nouwen wrote this Lenten prayer, which is so fitting as we get ready for Lent as it starts next week. “The Lenten season begins. It is a time to be with you, Lord, in a special way, a time to pray, to fast, and thus to follow you on your way to Jerusalem, to Golgotha, and to the final victory over death. I am still so divided. I truly want to follow you, but I also want to follow my own desires and lend an ear to the voices that speak about prestige, success, pleasure, power, and influence. Help me to become deaf to these voices and more attentive to your voice, which calls me to choose the narrow road to life. I know that Lent is going to be a very hard time for me. The choice for your way has to be made every moment of my life. I have to choose thoughts that are your thoughts, words that are your words, and actions that are your actions. There are not times or places without choices. And I know how deeply I resist choosing you. Please, Lord, be with me at every moment and … [Read more...]
The Spiritual Practice of Visio Divina
I have used the spiritual practice of lectio divina – praying deeply with the word of God – for many years but haven’t ventured very much into visio divina – praying deeply with the eyes of your heart, while gazing at art and other visual images. Until this week. NASA just released new photographs taken with its Chandra X-Ray Observatory Space Telescope. Along with the U.N’s declaration that the year 2015 is the International Year of Light, these photos invited me into the awe of our Creator and I couldn’t contain my praise as I danced in his wonder. Come and be dazzled with me in the Lord’s light: “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.” John 8: 12 Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light. Genesis 1:3 It is you who light my lamp; the Lord, my God, lights up my darkness. Psalm 18:28 The sun shall no longer be your light by day, nor for brightness shall the moon give … [Read more...]