I love to travel. I grew up in a family that traveled as we took many exciting adventures when I was young. My hubby and I discussed travel with two friends when we were in our first couple of years of marriage. The other couple, hard working and very seriously, told us they planned to pay off their mortgage and work on their careers before they did any travel. Later that summer we turned down a trip to Germany due to a possible job change. The new job never materialized and we missed a wonderful opportunity. We decided right then to always fully evaluate trip possibilities – no regrets. As a couple we would rather have memories with a mortgage than no mortgage and no trip memories. Travel took a higher value for us from that year on (not the highest, God holds that place in our lives, then our family next). I love to travel. Here are my 4½ reasons why: Travel is mind expanding. I love to learn and see new sites and explore ways of thinking. Attentive travel helps us … [Read more...]
Prayer – God’s Delight – Quote of the Week
The baby was staring intently at other people, and as soon as he recognized a human face, no matter whose it was, he would respond with absolute delight. I realized that this is how God looks at us, staring into our face in order to be delighted. I suspect that only God, and well-loved infants, can see this way. Even when we try to run away from our troubles, as Jacob did, God will find us, and bless us, even when we feel most alone, unsure if we'll survive the night. God will find a way to let us know that [God] is with us in this place, wherever we are, however far we think we've run. Amen. Kathleen Norris … [Read more...]
Come and See – Jesus’ Invitation – Lectio Divina
"When Jesus turned and saw them following, he said to them, "What are you looking for?" They said to him, "Rabbi, where are you staying?" He said to them, "Come and see." John 1: 38-39 Come and See Jesus, you invite me to come and see. I am amazed you stop what you are doing in all your glory and turn to me, little unimportant me, at any moment in my day and ask me what I need. I can cry out to you in my raw honest vulnerable state and you listen. I can approach you with my questions. My doubts. My anger. My fears. And you invite me to come and see. You welcome my questions. You are open to my struggling uncertainty. You meet me where I am right now, not where I should be or will be or have been, but present in this very moment. You accept me - your unsure, quivering child - with open arms. I come to you, Lord and see you. Thank you for being a God who sees me too. … [Read more...]
Accept – Quote of the Week – Paul Tillich
"The courage to be is the courage to accept oneself, in spite of being unacceptable." – Paul Tillich … [Read more...]
You Alone – Prayer of the Week – Thomas Merton
Give me the strength that waits upon you in silence and peace. Give me humility in which alone is rest, and deliver me from pride which is the heaviest of burdens. Possess my whole heart and soul with the simplicity of love. Occupy my whole life with the one thought and the one desire of love, that I may love not for the sake of merit, not for the sake of perfection, not for the sake of virtue, not for the sake of sanctity, but for You alone. Thomas Merton … [Read more...]
One Word for 2014
For the last few years I have focused on one word as a theme for each year. This is a phenomenon that many other people do, so not an original idea with me. And to be honest, sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. One word is simple in a noisy world that is murky and complicated. One word grounds me and guides me back to God. Last year the word - Stretch - chose me. I am not one to remember my dreams but this word crept entered barged into my sleep one night and made itself at home within my heart. Stretch has been a good word for me this past year and described many of the adventures God offered me. And now let us welcome the New Year 'Full of things that nave never been. Rainer Maria Rilke What will 2014 hold for me? I love this time of year. I take out my journal and review the past year. I write down a summary. Then I prayfully ask God to lead me into thinking where he might want me to grow in the New Year. Choosing a word … [Read more...]
The Second Day of Christmas – Boxing Day
Christmas isn't over yet. Many traditions celebrate the 12 days of Christmas (from the 25th to Epiphany on Jan. 6) with today being number two. Some people call this day Boxing Day. December 26 doesn't get its due other than the madness of after Christmas sales. In some countries this day is St Stephen's Day but many more people celebrate Boxing Day. This tradition started as the day after Christmas was when servants and trades people received their gifts from their bosses called the Christmas box. The term, Boxing Day, has existed since the Middle Ages though no one knows for sure who it began. One theory is that is referred to the Alms Box found in church to collect money to help the poor. One tale implies Boxing Day began with Good King Wenceslas. Remember that carol? Here are the first and last verses: Good King Wenceslas looked out On the feast of Stephen When the snow lay round about Deep and crisp and even Brightly shone the moon that … [Read more...]
What are Antiphons? – An Advent Tradition
"It's time for the O's!" "I love the O's. They really get me ready for Christmas." "Oh, what are you two talking about?" I asked my friends. Not only did I hear the answer, but I learned a new Advent tradition. The O's they were referring to are the Antiphons or sometimes spelled O'Antiphones. These are seven prayers chanted in the evening the seven days before Christmas. Actually the Antiphons ritual begins December 17 until December 23. Their strange name, Antiphons, originates from the Greek language meaning responsive singing. What is special about these sentences is that each one is a title for the coming Messiah. They are, O Sapientia (O Wisdom), O Adonai (O Lord), O Radix Jesse (O Root of Jesse), O Clavis David (O Key of David), O Oriens (O Rising Sun), O Rex Gentium (O King of the Nations), and O Emmanuel. Each one refers to the prophecy of Isaiah of the coming of the Messiah. The Seven Antiphons December 17 "O Wisdom, proceeding from the mouth of the Most … [Read more...]