Time goes by so quickly. If you try to catch it, like bubbles or whispers, the moments evaporate. Yet life occurs in those fleeting seconds. I am learning to treasure these ticks of time. To pause and breath. To hold sacred the seconds of living. Perhaps it was the retreat a few weeks ago when we began each session with three deep breaths. The first breath reminds that I am mortal, the second that others with you are mortal and the third reminds us that this makes the moment of interaction and coming together even more precious. I inhaled the breath of God and let it swirl within my soul, dancing around my heart. I exhaled the very depth of myself, back to Him, letting him remove my many masks and embrace my empty vulnerability. Maybe the awakening spring reminds me of how life emerges, cycles, and reiterates its rhythm and pace. I too often dash at full steady speed without the minding the tempo of time. The rests and the crescendos create dramatic music. Recently I … [Read more...]
The God Box by Mary Lou Quinlan
Do you have a God Box? Mary Lou Quinlan wrote a memoir about her mother titled “The God Box – Sharing my Mother’s Gift of Faith, Love and Letting Go.” Keeping a God Box is a wonderful spiritual practice I just added to my routine. The God Box is any box where you keep handwritten notes/prayers to God. No fancy paper or pen, no lavish words, no long theological petitions – just simple prayers scribbled to God for everyday concerns and thanks. Quinlan writes that the only caveat to her mother’s practice was once she put the request in the box, it became God’s. “If you think you can handle it better than God, it’s coming out,” her mom would tell her family. What a way to give hope, comfort and the relief in letting go of the gunk we keep inside our hearts way too often. Her mom’s requests were simple and always dated. “Dear God, Please make my right ankle stop hurting, Love Mary. “ “Protect Jack in decisions about his job. Thank you for all your blessings. Love Mary.” After … [Read more...]
The Spiritual Practice of Remembering our Baptism
Do you remember your baptism? Some of us come from beliefs where babies are baptized, while others practice baptism only with adults or near adults. Some of us sprinkle water at a font and others immerse fully. Anyway we are baptized, most of us believe we are marked with Christ in this sacrament. Do you think about your baptism often? Daily? My local church newsletter lists the upcoming month’s birthdays and below these dates, there are the dates of when people were baptized. This serves as a reminder to remember that we are children of God, loved by him and part of his family. Being baptized is not just a one-day celebration with candles, water and family. The day of our baptism is the day God connects with us deeply. Now that is something worth honoring and celebrating. While I was on retreat a few weeks ago, one of the participants shared how she remembers her baptism each day. When she showers in the morning, she puts her hands on the head saying aloud “Remember … [Read more...]
Spiritual Practice of Going On Retreat
Going on retreat is an essential spiritual discipline for me. Time for silence and learning informs the mind and forms the spirit. I leave refreshed, renewed, transformed – not quite the same as I arrived. I have always heard and wanted to attend the Upper Room’s Five Day Academy as they seemed to share my heart for spiritual formation and growth. My opportunity finally came around last week in Henry Illinois. This retreat provided time of silence, worship, music, laughter, walking and learning. The two presenters were Dr. Don Saliers, a scholar of worship and Rabbi Chava Bahle. Both speakers fed our minds and souls but I must say, Rabbi Chava was one of the best inspirational and moving speakers I have ever heard. I felt like I was sitting at the feet of a teacher full of wisdom. I gained a deeper understanding and love for the Jewish faith, our roots, our Judeo-Christian heritage. I learned new insights to the Jesus’s faith and what shaped him. I became more knowledgeable of … [Read more...]
The Season of Easter
Time to put away the bunnies? The plastic eggs? Didn’t we just celebrate Easter and it’s time to move on? When I was little, I thought Easter was only one day. I love it now that our churches celebrate a whole season of Easter, starting with Easter Sunday and continuing up to Pentecost. A whole 50 days! Our church’s liturgy during this seasons begins each week with the words, “Christ is risen. He is risen indeed!” This is a time to behold the resurrection and to study the appearances of the risen Christ. Maybe even see Jesus in unexpected places in our lives too. How can we celebrate the season of Easter? Here are some things I am pondering: Read the various Bible passages about Jesus’ appearances. One of my favorites is the Road to Emmaus story found in Luke 24. I think I will rewrite this story in my own words, journal as I unfold its meaning and silently sit with the Lord as I imagine what it would be like to be one of those disciples. How would my life, your … [Read more...]
Palm Sunday Ponderings
We are having a parade this weekend at church in celebrating Palm Sunday. I get to help lead the children in, waving their palms and shouting Hosanna. One of the few times they get to yell in church! I want to find one of those foam “number one” gloves to wear. Jesus is number one! Well at least he was the day he rode into Jerusalem to the praise of the crowds. Before everything changed from cheers to jeers. From hailing a king to crucifying the King. From adoration to abandonment. That finger that pointed heavenly, praising Jesus suddenly became a finger pointing to crucify him. In the midst of celebration and good times, the truth of the rest of Holy Week weighs on my heart. I know what is coming. I wondered about the custom of starting this holy time of year with this story of Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem. The celebration of Palm Sunday originated in the Jerusalem Church, around the late fourth century. By the fifth century, the Palm Sunday … [Read more...]
The Spiritual Gift of Laughter
I forget to laugh some days. Laughter is a healthy habit to practice, not only for the physical and emotional benefits, but also for social and spiritual reasons. What a gift laughter is. Think how laughter helps you: it reduces stress, recharges your focus, often gives you a much needed break, renews the spirit to find that courage to face a tough situation, connects people on a deep level, and I have read that it stimulates creativity. I believe the joy found in laughter comes from God. For the Lord your God is living among you. He is a mighty savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With his love, he will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs. Zephaniah 3:17 April 1st can be a fun day. Now, I don’t like practical jokes but starting this day from now on, I want to build more laughter into my life. We so easily allow ourselves to carry burdens, hurts and childhood baggage – why not drop one of those unnecessary weights and pick up a … [Read more...]
The Presence of the Lord – The Spiritual Practice of Silent Retreats
The song “Surely the presence of the Lord is in this place” walked with me this past weekend as I practice one of my favorite spiritual practices – going on a silent retreat. Its words and music continue to surround me even today. The spiritual practice of intentionally taking a retreat – a time away from ordinary noisy days and spending time with God – takes me deeper in my love and experience of God than almost any other practice. I entered this time away with no expectations. In the past I brought questions to lay before God, issues I needed guidance or healing or even just a hunger to be with Him. This time was different. Several months ago my spiritual director asked me why I strived so much and had I ever considered just allowing things like creativity or guidance to “bubble” up. “Bubble up” became my mantra for this retreat. Now this was difficult for this plan everything and keep in control of every detail girl. Remember one of my favorite poems about God and the … [Read more...]