Marinate. Marinate means to seep, rest in, soak in the elements, to leave time to reflect. This word reentered my heart when I attended the Network of Bible StoryTellers Festival Gathering a few weeks ago. In order to learn the bible story they are sharing, the teller gives time for the story to marinate within them. Most tellers commented that learning the story wasn’t a process of memorization, but the story became a part of them, transforming them forever. They marinated in the story. How powerful is that? God’s living Word taking root deep within us, soaking every cell and element of this human body and spirit, then blossoming outward for others to see and hear. And when you marinate, you absorb the taste, the spices and all the wonderfulness of what infuses your soul. God’s characteristics enveloping us. We become the story. Dr. Leonard Sweet wrote: "The more you marinate your mind and soak your soul in the Scriptures, the more the Word becomes your … [Read more...]
Irrevocable Gifts and Calling – Lectio Divina
“For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.” Roman 11: 29 Lord this verse stopped me cold this morning. Irrevocable? You mean the gifts you have given me are final, unchangeable? The calling I have experienced from you – they are irreversible and fixed forever in your kingdom. I can’t quit? I can’t stamp them with “return to Sender?” I can’t deny them? In your compassionate benevolence, you give everyone gifts. What an adventure life becomes to discover your hidden treasures and to take them into your world. You call each of us in unique and matchless directions. Others need us to answer that call permanently etched onto our hearts by your fingers and love. Guess this means you can’t and won’t take these gifts and vocation back either. You have deeply and eternally wired us as you designed us. Irrevocable – are your gifts. Irrevocable – is your calling. Irrevocable – is your love. … [Read more...]
When Life Becomes a Roller Coaster, Enjoy the Ride! – Quote of the Week
"Life is full of ups and downs. If you are anything like me, more than once you’ve prayed to God to take away some of the low spots. If I had only realized, the experience I was trying to avoid was actually a life-altering opportunity that shaped me into the woman I am today, I would have yelled, 'Hit me with your best shot!' Knowing this after the fact didn’t make it any easier, but I now see I’m a better person for having endured it. So the next time your life becomes a roller coaster, Climb into the front seat, throw your arms in the air and enjoy the ride!" Suzy Toronto … [Read more...]
Fostering Creativity – Dancing on the Head of a Pen – Book Review
Everyone has the gift of creativity. We just express creativity in different ways. All children are born oozing with curiosity and creativity. As adults we need to coax that childlike inventiveness out of its hidden corner. Some people excel in the kitchen. Some garden. Some tackle complex computer problems and get lost in the world of numbers and equations. Some take their ingenuity to work with broken people. Some of us nurture creativity in others. Some of us are painters or poets or potters. And some of us write – creating with words and crafting with letters and our tools of ink and computer clicks. “Every day is an opportunity to be creative – the canvas is your mind, the brushes and colours are your thoughts and feelings, the panorama is your story, the complete picture is a work of art called, ‘my life’. Be careful what you put on the canvas of your mind today – it matters.” — Innerspace I just finished reading a wonderful book by Robert Benson called … [Read more...]
Weeds – Lessons from the Garden
Weeds! We were only gone six days last week and weeds invaded, besieged my garden. Not only did they abundantly appear, the weeds grew tall like arrogant, pompous, well you know. Not only did they multiply like unwelcomed rabbits, the weeds imbedded their gangly roots near the bases of my blooming perennials. Not only did they grab vital real estate belonging to the cheerful Black Eye Susans, the weeds brought along their buddies, the beetles. No, not John, Paul, George and Ringo to serenade my garden – nasty looking hard shelled black ones delightfully chewing on my roses. Reminds me of the parable about the sowing of the seeds: “Listen! A farmer went out to plant some seeds. As he scattered them across his field, some seeds fell on a footpath, and the birds came and ate them. Other seeds fell on shallow soil with underlying rock. The seeds sprouted quickly because the soil was shallow. But the plants soon wilted under the hot sun, and since … [Read more...]
The Grace of God – Quote of the Week – Frederick Buechner
The grace of God means something like: Here is your life. You might never have been, but you are because the party wouldn't have been complete without you. Here is the world. Beautiful and terrible things will happen. Don't be afraid. I am with you. Nothing can ever separate us. It's for you I created the universe. I love you. There's only one catch. Like any other gift, the gift of grace can be yours only if you'll reach out and take it. Maybe being able to reach out and take it is a gift too. -Frederick Buechner … [Read more...]
Bible Storytelling
I am attending today a conference/festival on Bible Storytelling presented by a group called the Network of Biblical Storytellers. I have always been fascinated by good storytellers – they bring life to words and pull even the most reluctant adult into a story world. Going to this festival has been on my bucket list for a long time. Our own holy scriptures were first told verbally. Just imagine hearing the parables of Jesus or the story of Noah told well around a campfire. Sacred stories are those of transformation, they are stories that draw us closer to what I call the Lord Within The Heart, and they help us to see our connection to all things. There’s a saying in the Jewish tradition that the shortest distance between [a hu]man and God is through a story. So if storytelling is a journey, sacred storytelling is a pilgrimage—a pilgrimage to a place called Hope. Andy Fraenkel I will share more about my learning adventure next week once I return but this made me think about … [Read more...]
The Master’s Hands – Visio Divina
Yet you, Lord, are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand. Isaiah 64: 8 This verse kept coming to mind as I watched the video below. With meditative music, these images can lead us closer to God as we allow him to mold and shape our lives. This is a type of prayer called Visio Divina – spiritually watching a video or a painting or even a beautiful sunset and emerging your soul with God’s. A divine moment. Lectio divina is praying with scriptures; visio divina is praying with media. So take a deep breath and allow yourself to melt into this video. How did these masters of pottery led your to the Potter of all? … [Read more...]