On retreat this summer the leader told us about one of St John of the Cross’s prayers:Make me invisible, Lord.That prayer has lingered with me and invited me to think about insignificance as a spiritual discipline. I am a three on the Enneagram and if you know anything about that personality, I thrive on achievement. Accomplishment is my motivator whether it is crossing things off my to-do list, obtaining goals and diving into items on my bucket list. I am driven to make a difference, to be remembered, and to leave a lasting legacy.I “do” “do” well. Just “being” is a lifelong struggle for me.Imagine then my astonishment at a book titled: Embracing Obscurity - Becoming Nothing in Light of God’s Everything. When I had a chance to read this advance copy of this new book published by B & H Publishing, I took the opportunity. God was certainly getting my attention with this topic.And get this: the author is “anonymous.” Isn’t that different? The book tells us this is a well-known author … [Read more...]
What/Who Do You Honor?
I heard a fun and interesting speaker this past weekend. Terry Hershey is the author of numerous books including The Power of Pause and Soul Gardening. His superb story telling opens the heart and makes you think and the quotes he shares lingers within you.Terry said one of his favorite quotes was by Plato: “What is honored will be cultivated.”He noted that Plato didn’t say what is taught, what is learned, what is believed, but what is honored. When we honor something, it grows, develops, encourages, and supports.I looked up and the actual quote from Plato is this: "What is honored in a country will be cultivated there." Mmmmm, now there is another aspect to think about!But the whole issue of what am I honoring in my life has stayed with me this week. What does it mean to honor something/someone? In my life am I honoring God? Honoring the Sabbath? Honoring others? Honoring myself as a child of God?To honor means to treat with respect, to keep your word, to speak highly of someone … [Read more...]
Rut or Rest?
“I just wish God would tell me clearly what to do,” said one of the participants in our spiritual direction group. “I don’t know which direction to turn and I really do want to be obedient.”I certainly could identify and empathize with that statement. With all my being, I do want to follow God’s path for me in life. Discernment is more than just making a decision: it is taking God’s view into account, not just our wants and desires. To discern comes from the Latin word, discernere: dis means apart and cernere mean to separate: So we look at all the options before us and we separate them apart for find the answer. I am in discernment right now. I can’t decipher if I am in a rut or a time of rest. I think I hear God telling me just to rest, but my natural tendency so to make a decision and get on with my journey. Have a missed the bus or am I to linger longer at this spiritual rest stop? If God is in all things and I do believe that, just what is He trying to teach me here?Then I … [Read more...]
Moving from Past Tense to Present Tense
Mary DeMuth’s new book is called Everything: What you give and what you gain to become like Jesus and is scheduled for release October 16. You can preorder it here. I am blessed to be part of Mary’s launch team for this wonderful book and have an early copy to study and enjoy. Over the next few Thursdays, I will be sharing a quote from the book and some thoughts that her words have stirred within my heart. This book is wonderful, full of wisdom and stories, and will help you discover the freedom in surrendering everything to Jesus. The past two Thursdays I pondered her chapter on Cultivating Astonishment and Practicing Resiliency; this week let’s explore another chapter: Be an AM.A standard piece of advice for any writer is: AVOID PASSIVE WRITING.Passive writing sucks the life out of your words. The meaning is heavy and it emphasizes the object not the subject in a sentence. Active tense is present and full of energy.Read these two examples. See how the second one is better?In the … [Read more...]
Summer Snapshots: Journeys
Living a reflective life is a powerful spiritual discipline. Periodically and intentionally looking back over the past months brings insights, joys, and perhaps regret. (Regret can be a wonderful teacher, full of lessons that motivate future behavior.)I like to get out my journal and with a highlighter in hand, reread key passages and words that resonated within my heart. I savor times I felt God’s presence and appreciate circumstances, both difficult and joyous, that drew me closer to Him. I see once again failures, ego-driven moments, and times I let emotions distract me from keeping my eyes and heart set on Jesus. I learn. I grow. And I embrace life on a new level when I “harvest” my journal.“Reflective thinking turns experience into insight.” John MaxwellOne of my favorite blogs is Finding Heaven. Writer Jen Ferguson challenged us to write about a mutual theme: Summer Snapshots, a glimpse into our summer. What you learned? What you did you see? How has God moved in your life? … [Read more...]
Pondering and Practicing Resiliency
Mary DeMuth’s new book is called Everything: What you give and what you gain to become like Jesus and is scheduled for release October 16. You can preorder it here. I am blessed to be part of Mary’s launch team for this wonderful book and have an early copy to study and enjoy. Over the next few Thursdays, I will be sharing a quote from the book and some thoughts that her words have stirred within my heart. This book is wonderful, full of wisdom and stories, and will help you discover the freedom in surrendering everything to Jesus. Last Thursday I pondered her chapter on Cultivating Astonishment; this week let’s explore another chapter: Practicing Resiliency.We have all heard the inspiring stories:· Michael Jordan was cut from his high school basketball team.· Film schools rejected Steven Spielberg three times.· The editor of a newspaper fired Walt Disney for lacking of ideas.· Thomas Edison tried nearly 10,000 times before succeeding with the electric light bulb. … [Read more...]
Cultivate the Discipline of Astonishment
Mary DeMuth’s new book is called Everything: What you give and what you gain to become like Jesus and is scheduled for release October 16. You can preorder it here. I am blessed to be part of Mary’s launch team for this wonderful book and have an early copy to study and enjoy. Over the next few Thursdays, I will be sharing a quote from the book and some thoughts that her words have stirred within my heart. This book is wonderful, full of wisdom and stories, and will help you discover the freedom in surrendering everything to Jesus.Once a month six of us gather in a circle for group spiritual direction. Each of us takes a turn sharing where and how God has been moving in our lives. We listen intensely and intentionally in silence to each story, then after prayer share a simple response, hopefully instilled with the Holy Spirit.Often I have to peer deep within me and struggle to find the words to describe my experiences with God. Last month I told them that since my June retreat I have … [Read more...]
Come Away with Me – Lectio Divina
“Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” Mark 6: 31bI read your invitation this week, Lord - Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.Thank you for asking me but with regrets, I am rather busy right now. I have things to accomplish.People seeking my help.And I do want some time for me, you know.Maybe I can squeeze You in a little next week...Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.I reread your statement. I don’t see the RSVP. You mean this isn’t an optional request? Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.You gently change my heart, stop my frenzied fretfulness, and refocus my energy to You. I let go of my all important to-do list, drop my agenda, and slowly ease into Your heart.I see Your hand open, welcoming me into Your presence. I reach for You to join You.I come by myself - leaving behind my close associates of busyness, worries, fears, and habits. I shed my backpack of dreams, desires, and … [Read more...]