For the last several years I have written in my journal my desire to be more faithful in keeping the Sabbath. “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.” Exodus 20:8 I am a failure at keeping the Sabbath. I let my ever present to do list, my addiction to being online and my own ego driven desires rule that day. I focus my attention of the world instead of on God. Doesn’t honor the Lord much, does it? Then fellow blogger and Christian sister, Shelly Millerwrote about her struggles with Sabbath keeping and began a great series - Surrendering to Sabbath - on her blog, Redemptions Beauty. She even started a Surrendering to Sabbath Sisterhood for ongoing discussion and support. Shelly is sending out weekly emails to encourage us to keep the Sabbath; you can read one here. Shelly shared a wonderful quote by Margaret Feinberg: With rest, I noticed God-moments I might have missed before. My prayers grew clearer. … [Read more...]
Lent – a Solemn Season or a Season of Joy and a Little Lent Madness?
Lent begins in two weeks. In my church and I think this is true for other denominations, we don’t sing any Alleluias during lent. Why? I don’t know. I looked it up. In the season of Lent we focus on repentance and being sorry for our sins. Singing or saying the word "alleluia" has historically been suspended during Lent's forty days. The omission of alleluia during Lent goes back at least to the fifth century in the western church. Some churches even sing farewell to Alleluias the Sunday before Ash Wednesday. One other unusual ritual with this normal expression of praise is “burying the alleluias.” Yep, you read that correctly. Some churches make an alleluia from paper, fabric, metal, wood, or some other natural material that may be carried in procession or might lead a parade accompanied by instruments and singing. Burial could take place in the ground, or the alleluia could simply be placed in a suitable container that will remain in the worship space as a visual … [Read more...]
The Lost Art of a Handwritten Letter
My dad served in WWII, most of the time as a surgeon in a hospital in the Philippians. I cherish the six letters he wrote to my mom that were decorated by a recovering patient. What I treasure most though is his handwriting. Perhaps that is why I read in interest a blog last week, Yearning for God, about a month of letters challenge. A month of letters began in 2012 by writer Mary Robinette Kowal. Her idea is simple - write one letter each day in February. You can read more and sign up on this website. Her rules are easy: “1. In the month of February, mail at least one item through the post every day it runs. Write a postcard, a letter, send a picture, or a cutting from a newspaper, or a fabric swatch. 2. Write back to everyone who writes to you. This can count as one of your mailed items. 3. All you are committing to is to mail 23 items. Why 23? There are four Sundays and one US holiday. In fact, you might send more than 23 items. You … [Read more...]
No Regrets – Why I am Seeking a God-sized Dream
Bill and I had been married a couple of years when my brother, who was serving in the Army, was stationed in Germany. “Come over and visit us” was his invitation. We talked about going. We saved the money. We never went. We let life’s worries and “what if’s” block an opportunity and we have regretted it ever since. Bill and I often use this decision from early in our married life as a plum line for discernment. Will we regret not taking this opportunity? Will we look back later in life and say we should have? “The saddest summary of life contains three descriptions: could have, might have, and should have.” ~ Unknown Holly Gerth has been challenging us to discover and explore God-sized dreams. She has invited us to say yes to a God sized Dream. She explains her project on her blog here: She writes: “This is an invitation to come alive and live the life you were designed to live. And when you do, you can’t help but encounter the wonder of … [Read more...]
Savoring Sisterhood
We had dinner with college friends last week. Friends we hadn’t seen for a while, but who continue to delightfully cross our paths for 40 years. What a sisterhood and brotherhood, these friends are. Driving home I marveled - how time and distance separate us, yet once together we chat, giggle and share like old times. Immediately we are back on each other’s wavelength listening and caring. Friendship is priceless. What a miracle! On my spiritual journey I have learned when a good experience comes along - whether it is of God, in relationships or any life’s uplifting surprises, my best response is taking the time to be grateful and to savor that moment. Savor means to fully enjoy, relish, cherish. To hold and ponder this wonderful gift. To appreciate. I value these friendships from all stages of my life: Chrissy and Wendywho I met in 6th grade and continue to bless me and are the sisters God gave me since I have only brothers in my family. Herb, Kathy, Don, Margie, … [Read more...]
Katching Kindness
Kindness! Emerging new diseases make the headlines all the time. As a former public health official, I read about them, dissecting them like Abby Sciuto in the NCIS lab. Researchers have discover a new contagion and a surprising one too: KINDNESS. Researchers from the University of California, San Diego and Harvard found the first laboratory evidence that cooperative behavior is contagious and that it spreads from person to person to person. When people benefit from kindness they "pay it forward" by helping others, this creates a cascade of cooperation that influences dozens more. Kindness begats more kindness. Soon a domino effect erupts in which one person's generosity spreads first to three people and then to the nine people that those three people interact with in the future, and then to still other individuals in subsequent waves. “No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.” -Aesop The dance craze Zumba has really taken over … [Read more...]
I Need Help – What God Sized Dream?
We are still in the honeymoon era of New Year resolutions. I have some goals written for 2013 but haven’t hit the print button yet confirming their existence and launching their life.What is stopping me? Really it is a who. Who is stopping me? Holly Gerth is my obstacle Many of you know Holly as the blogger and co founder of (in)courage and active with DaySpring. I love her enthusiasm, warmth and friendliness. She has a great smile too.Yet she challenges me. She has invited us to say yes to a God sized Dream. She explains her project on her blog here. She writes: “This is an invitation to come alive and live the life you were designed to live. And when you do, you can’t help but encounter the wonder of God—those moments of spiritual awakening that make you long to know God more.”Ok so I revisited my goals and dreams and have discovered something I am not proud of: I think I can do them myself and God is on the sidelines. Yes some are lifelong dreams, but if I try hard enough, and … [Read more...]
A New Year – A New Beginning – Henri Nouwen Quote
A new beginning! We must learn to live each day, each hour, yes, each minute as a new beginning, as a unique opportunity to make everything new. Imagine that we could live each moment as a moment pregnant with new life. Imagine that we could live each day as a day full of promises. Imagine that we could walk through the new year always listening to a voice saying to us: “I have a gift for you and can’t wait for you to see it! Imagine! — Henri Nouwen … [Read more...]