Every life tells a story – a story rich with spiritual lessons. One spiritual practice I follow is learning about other Christians throughout church history and their spiritual journeys. Their lives fill me with hope, guidance and ways to draw closer to God. My faith tradition – Lutheran – has added to the worship and lectionary readings what they call commemorations – recognition of individuals or events that have been noteworthy in the life of the Church. Our Catholic friends have for centuries honored saints on certain festival days. What I am really enjoying is the expansion of the names on the Lutheran list to include people from all denominations. Teresa of Avila Many of you may never have heard of this woman who lived in the 1500s. We celebrate her day on October 15th. Teresa was born in Spain and at the age of fifteen, after her mother's death and the marriage of her oldest sister, Teresa was sent to be educated with Augustinian nuns. She returned home several times … [Read more...]
WHACK! “A Gentle Whack on the Side of the Head” Kind of God
What a great start to the morning -on my second cup of coffee, checking the third item off my to-do list, and accomplishing numerous jobs. I was a multitasking fiend, zipping along like a road runner. WHACK! Hitting myself on the side of the head I said out loud, “I forgot to pray this morning.” Each morning I try to start my day with the Lord. I sit quietly and praise him. I lift up my prayer concerns for family and friends and I read a devotional. Often I also journal where I feel God is leading me on my journey. Sounds nice, doesn’t it? But to be honest too often I dive into my day without first honoring God. WHACK! Do you watch NCIS? This favorite television show of mine shows the main character, Gibbs, occasionally slapping Dinozzo, another agent, on the back of the head -a mild, loving head slap to redirect Dinozzo’s attention back to where it belongs. Gibbs administers tough love on his agents. WHACK! As soon as I realized I forgot God, I quit all the … [Read more...]
Lord, Write It On My Heart – Lectio Divina
But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. No longer shall they teach one another, or say to each other, “Know the Lord,” for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, says the Lord; for I will forgive their iniquity, and remember their sin no more. Jeremiah 31:33-34 Lord, I see you – with a feather quill pen in your hand looking for my open heart. Here I am Lord, waiting for your works to be marked with indelible ink deep within me. I don’t care if it scratches or even hurts - inscribe your essence into my being. I want to taste you, see you, feel your presence. I want to know you are here, know I am yours forever. Write away, Lord. Mark me as your own. Tell me once again so I never forget that I am your child. That you will never leave me. That my … [Read more...]
Let Us Run to God – Quote of the Week
You never go away from us, yet we have difficulty in returning to you. Come, Lord, stir us up and call us back. Kindle and seize us. Be our fire and our sweetness. Let us love. Let us run. -Augustine … [Read more...]
52 Little Lessons from Les Miserables = Book Review
Les Miserables is one of my favorites books and shows. I love the moving music that uplifts my spirit but even more I relish this tale's profound story of transformation through love. Since this story means so much to me I was intrigued to read and review this new book by Bob Welch, 52 Little Lessons from Les Miserables. I received this book from the BookLook Blogger program but in no way am I required to give a positive review. I enjoyed this easy to read, thought provoking book. Welch gives the reader a background about the story and its characters, so if you have never trudged your way through the 1000+ pages of Hugo’s book, you won’t be lost. But you may find yourself humming the tunes from the musical though. ( : Each lesson begins with a quote from the book and then an illustration of each chapter’s title. You get an inside glimpse of Hugo, of actors who played various parts and how this story has impacted others. The book is filled with inspiration such as: “You … [Read more...]
My Faith Heroine – Aunt Anna
Have you ever felt connected to someone you really didn’t know? When you hear their name or read something about them, an electric link reverberates deep within your soul. You know you know them without really knowing them. They become a heroine to you – solidifying your sense of family, faith and foundation. My great Aunt Anna is that connection for me and she also is my faith heroine. The older I get, the more I see segments of her life, her ongoing DNA circling within me, leaving its mark. Anna was born in 1883 and died in 1967 when I was a flippant couldn’t care less about the older generation/wrapped up in my own world teenager. All I remember of her is an old lady with gray hair who hobbled around her home in Clearwater Florida. And to think I was named after her too! My middle name is Anne. Later I became curious about who she was since I was her namesake. That is when a faint echo in my spirit began to grow louder with each connection. A long linking thread united Aunt … [Read more...]
Shouting Trees – Lectio Divina
“Then shall all the trees of the wood shout for joy at your coming, O Lord. Psalm 96: 12 Master Artist, you have outdone yourself this fall. You have adorned your trees with magnificent colors – burnt reds, brilliant oranges and mellow yellows with just touch of crispy browns and lingering greens. My heart leaped as I looked out of the car window this week at your palette of fall fanfare. I think the trees are dancing with iridescent exhilaration. They raise their branches in waves of colorful shouts for joy. All praising you, Lord God, Maker of all. And I join them in their celebration of creation. … [Read more...]
How We Spend Our Lives – Evelyn Underhill – Quote of the Week
We mostly spend our lives conjugating three verbs: to Want, to Have and to Do. Craving, clutching, and fussing, on the material, political, social, emotional, intellectual, even on the religious plane, we are kept in perpetual unrest, forgetting that none of these verbs have any ultimate significance, except so far as they are transcended by and included in the fundamental verb, to Be, and that Being, not wanting, having and doing, is the essence of the spiritual life. Evelyn Underhill … [Read more...]