Word of the Year practice can be a driving force in deepening our self-knowledge, in finding clarity and meaning, and in growing closer to God. I have both enjoyed and been stretched by this spiritual practice for more than 10 years. Here is a graphic I created for all my past (and my new) word of the year: If you look right in the middle, you will see what word emerged to accompany me in 2024: WELL The past few years I seem to learn more from simple words, though last year I complicated my journey with a phrase. The two years before, All and Go, were great companions. WELL jumped into my heart as I listened to a poet friend from South African share his newest poem. “Let me answer YES to the lightness of being, that I live well and love well, that I listen to my heart’s desires, living life fully human, fully alive.” I love Stanley’s inspirational words yet that day the simple, ordinary word – well – echoed deep within me. WELL holds so much … [Read more...]
Examen – Looking Back on a Whole Year
Examen is a reflective practice. The Examen is an ancient practice that can help us see God’s hand at work in our whole experience. It originated with St. Ignatius. Practicing the examen usually looks back onto the current day. For example, I use this practice most often as I drift off to sleep – asking God to help me see today through divine eyes, what am I thankful for and where did I see God’s presence that day. What a wonderful way to fall asleep being with God. Dennis Hamm called this practice “Rummaging for God: Praying backwards through your day.” Isn’t that a wonderful description? Here is an article he wrote about the prayer of examen. But examen can also be used to look back reflectively over any period of time as in a yearly review. Last week I shared with you some thoughtful questions to ask, but since then read this article from Ignatian Spirituality website about examen for the whole year that is well worth your time to read. Here is a summary of its … [Read more...]
End of the Year Questions to Ponder
Questions are a powerful tool for spiritual growth and practices. I love the exploring and wondering that can be done any time of the year, but is especially helpful with a year-end review. Next week I will further explore this year end practice of annual examen. I love this time of year. I slow down. I worship. I breath in the Christmas story. I sit quietly by the lights. I rejoice in the music. I listen and behold. One ritual I do every end of December is to reread my journal and write a summary page of highlights, quotes and learnings from the year that is ending. In early January I take the time to write dreams, hopes and what I feel God is leading me onward into as the new year begins. Capturing these moments in time grounds me, creates spiritual markings along my path, and helps me hear God often in times I am not sure of her presence. In 2015 I shared a post with a list of some of the questions tugging at my heart and opening my heart towards the new … [Read more...]
Advent is Coming
Advent is coming and coming fast. Soon the rush of the Christmas season will be upon us and before we know it we will be saying, “Happy New Year!” Times flies so quickly and does quicker each year. Advent invites us to pause and pray and rest in the Lord. To take a deep breath, savoring the season instead of surviving it. To refocus on the true meaning of Christmas – the coming of Jesus Christ. To light a candle or gaze quietly at the tree, knowing Jesus is the Light of the world. A Prayer for Advent I read this beautiful Advent poem by Walter Brueggemann: In our secret yearningswe wait for your coming,and in our grinding despairwe doubt that you will.And in this privileged placewe are surrounded by witnesses who yearn more than do weand by those who despair more deeply than do we.Look upon your church and its pastorsin this season of hopewhich runs so quickly to fatigueand this season of yearningwhich becomes so easily quarrelsome.Give us the grace and the … [Read more...]
Oh Wow!
“Oh Wow!” That was my reaction when we visited hilly southern Indiana last week and savored the autumn colors of the bushes and trees. God dipped deeply into his brilliant bright color pallet for this year’s displays. Oh Wow! Practice “In every act, or any act, look at the wonder of God's creation, and say, "Oh, wow!" Make that your goal for this year -- say ‘Oh, wow!’ and mean it, at least once a day.” Terry Bookman Imagine how life would feel if we put this into practice – seeking and finding a daily Oh Wow. The sense of wonder leads to gratitude leading to peace and connection to the Almighty. Wonder humbles us and reminds us who God is and who we are. Wonder brings us to our knees in awe and returns our eyes and hearts focused on our Creator, not on our temporary problems. Anne LaMott wrote a book about three essential prayers – Help. Thanks. Wow. I am good at pleading with God when I need help and I do remember fairly often to say Thank You. But … [Read more...]
Sacred Surroundings, Finding Grace in Every Place – The Birth of a New Book
Sacred Surroundings, Finding Grace in Every Place is born! Sacred Surroundings is my latest book and man oh man, has this work been through ups and downs, and twists and turns but wouldn’t let go and die. Sometimes as a writer a book takes on its own life – demanding to be released at its own time and in its own way. This book is my stubborn, resilient baby – insisting to live. Celebrate with me today if you will. Here is some basic info about this book now available on Amazon both as an e-book and print editions. What is Sacred Surroundings about? We go through life so blind to God’s presence all around us and experiencing God’s love and peace is hard to find. Sacred Surroundings is about how our places teach us. Our surroundings shape us. Our outer and inner geographies become key teachers and guides, inviting us to learn new lessons and open our eyes to see God in all places. Recognizing God’s presence around us is even more difficult in times of transition, change, … [Read more...]
Four Somethings – October
Four Somethings is the spiritual practice of remembering, reviewing, and savoring life’s lessons and sacred moments in our lives. So occasionally I share bits of wisdom in four categories. Gathering Four Somethings makes me aware of all the blessings often hidden under busyness, worries, and distractions. These “somethings” become markers in our spiritual journey. With so much pivoting and uncertainty in our lives right now, being grounded in a simple practice like this guides my way. Here are some recent “somethings.” Something Wise Kate Bowler shared this in her recent newsletter: “So I wanted to tell you about my friend, Gary Haugen. Gary runs International Justice Mission, a non-profit organization committed to liberating vulnerable individuals from the clutches of modern slavery and human trafficking across the globe. When I asked him for wisdom about sustaining that hard work of justice for decades? Joy. "Joy is the oxygen for doing hard things," he … [Read more...]
Word of the Year New Insight
My challenge this month from Lisa Burgess for my word of the year practice is to discover something new and answer the following questions: I am a lifelong learner and love to explore new aspects of what we take for granted. Reflection and curiosity refresh the soul. As you may remember I have a phrase this year instead of a single word – Honor the thirst deep within. I decided to go on a search for new surprises with two of the words – Honor and Thirst. Honor While I previously read many definitions of the word honor, I missed this one: “In square dancing, to honor is to meet or salute with a bow.” Have I dance with my phrase this year? Bowing before the thirst deep within? What music is it swaying to? The image of dancing, instead of seriously studying our words of the year, makes me smile and brings joy to my soul. There is lightness and delight allemandering and do-si- dosing with my word. I tend to be too serious and dancing with honor with … [Read more...]