Four Somethings – End of July Edition

2025 is more than halfway over and what a great time to pause and savor that we do have time to reflect what has passed, and the gift of time still to come ahead for us. This is one reason why I love to stop and share 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

Once an unhappy young apprentice came to an old master and told the master that he was deeply sad and asked for a solution. The old master instructed the unhappy young apprentice to put a handful of salt in a glass of water and then to drink it. Then he asked “How does it taste?” “Terrible!” spat the young apprentice.

The master nodded and asked the young apprentice to take another handful of salt and put it in the lake. The two walked in silence to a nearby lake and the apprentice swirled his handful of salt into the lake. The older master said, “now drink the lake.” The apprentice cupped his hands and drank. Again, the old master asked, “How does it taste?” “Good!” said the apprentice. The master then asked, “Do you taste the salt?” and the apprentice smiled and said, “No.”

The master sat beside the trouble young apprentice and took his hands. “The pain of life is pure salt; no more, no less. The amount of pain in life remains the same. But the amount we taste depends on the container we put it into. So when you are in pain, the wisest thing to do is to enlarge your sense of things. Stop being a glass. Become a lake.”

Something Wonderful

We thought you were a weed

But we let you grow

And what a surprise

A sunflower bloomed

And brightened our day,

Made us smile,

And brought us hope!

Something Whispered

Why does it always surprise me that we are loved by a God who loves to surprise us? I simply wrote out some deep prayers the other day asking for clarification, next steps, some guidance. The act of writing alone brought some light. Finding the words. Articulating the pain soothed the hurt. Slowly wisdom emerged. A hint of holy leading the way. God is present always, showing me the next steps and willing never to leave me alone. Why does that always surprise me?

Something Whimsical

Well, I don’t like heights, but it certainly doesn’t stop these goats from getting their daily dose of salt.  Amazing to watch them!

What have you been noticing/paying attention to so far in 2025?

What is moving within your heart this year?