Four Somethings – 2025 Fall Edition

Fall is in the air and I am certainly in the autumn mood. I have decorated the house and getting the warmer sweaters out.  I am ready to cozy up to read by the fireplace and smell a pot of soup bubbling on the stove all day. I do love summer, but each season brings such deliciousness.

That is why I love to pause and review my Four Somethings occasionally – things I have read, seen, experienced that made me stop and savor life. Spiritual practices enrich our lives and help us keep us aligned with God. One practice I frequently promote is reflection – pausing and pondering where you are, where you have come from and where is God inviting you into next.  I share bits of wisdom in four categories.

• Something Wise
• Something Wonderful
• Something Whispered
• Something Whimsical

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. 

Something Wise

The Center for Action and Contemplation just ran a weeklong email about Brother Lawrence and now a podcast about him also. They are both great. I loved this breath prayer from Brother Lawrence: “My God, I am all yours.”

Here is another quote from him, from the wonderful book, Practice of the Presence by Carmen Acevedo Butcher.

“In his letters to a laywoman, Brother Lawrence shares: 

God does not ask much of us, merely a brief thought of them from time to time, a little love, sometimes asking for grace, sometimes offering them your sufferings, other times thanking them for the blessings they have given, and are giving you. In the middle of your tasks you can comfort yourself with Love as often as you can, in all these ways. During your meals and conversations, lift up your heart to God sometimes. The slightest little awareness will always be very pleasant. We don’t need to shout out to do this. God is closer to us than we may think…. 

Remember, I beg you, what I recommended. Think of God often, night and day, in all your activities, even when you relax. God is always near you and with you. Don’t leave them alone. You would think it rude to leave a friend alone who came to visit you. Then why abandon God and leave them alone? Don’t forget Love. Think of God often, and love them without stopping. “ 

Something Wonderful

I love books and love to read. Yes, I do borrow books from the library all the time but also buy way too many books, well according to my hubby and my very high to-be-read stack of books.

I am an underlier, highlighter, notetaker, and yes turn down the corner of the pager. I write in the margins and stick in post it notes. I know some of you may think less of me and call me a book vandalizer, but I devour books and savor all their goodness. Yet I have noticed I don’t really have a good system to remember key things about each book.

Something wonderful I discovered this month a possible system from another book dog-earer, Terry Gross from NPR Fresh Air.  Watch her delightful Instagram post here. 

Something Whispered

German Beguine Mechthild of Magdeburg (1212-1280) wrote this prayer in her journal, “Lord, what do you want of me?”   She wrote she heard God answer, “I want you to let me rest weightlessly in your soul.”

Both her prayer and God’s answer lingered in my heart and I recorded these into own journal for further pondering. Isn’t that such a beautiful, open, receptive prayer?  Nothing else would need to be said after that.

And the idea of God resting weightlessly within my soul?  What an image.

What do you think?

Something Whimsical.

How about adding a new word to your vocabulary?

Snollygoster.

Doesn’t that sound wonderful and silly? But it doesn’t mean something wonderful. This word means a shrewd, unprincipled person, especially a politician. Probably quite appropriate for this time we find ourselves in!

What have you been noticing/paying attention this fall? What is surprising you?