Why do I miss seeing what's right in front of me? Why do we always make things so difficult when the answer often is right in front of us? I’m short. I used to be five foot three, but to honest I think I am closer to five foot two now. But even with my height deficiency I was able to help someone last week. I was in the grocery store concentrating on my grocery list, pushing the cart up and down the aisles. I wandered lost in my own thoughts, needs and world. I almost bumped into an elderly lady standing by the boxed potato section, mumbling to herself. I ignored her at first, but she looked me in the eyes and said with exasperation and a deep sigh, “Why do they put everything up so high?” “Can I help you?”I asked. “I can’t reach that box on the top shelf.” Ha! One shorty asking another shorty for help with the top shelf, that’s funny. I looked around to be sure I wasn’t being filmed for some sort of reality humor show. Never in my life before had I … [Read more...]
God Runs to His Children – Lectio Divina
So he got up and returned to his father. The father looked off in the distance and saw the young man returning. He felt compassion for his son and ran out to him, enfolded him in an embrace, and kissed him.Luke 15: 20 (The Voice)I run from You, Lord.You run towards me.I turn with lowered eyes and shame dripping my from head.I limp homeward.You run.I barely turn the corner, limping back.You run.You come the furthest to welcome me home.The prodigal - full of fear and dread and remorse.The Father - full of nothing but love.With the first hint in my eyes of seeking Your face, You rush into my heart.I wonder what your eyes look like in that moment of love, greeting this lost child of Yours.Lord You come to us, for us.You descend into our sin.You embrace us and lift us up.You look off into the distance, watching for our slight turn towards you and Your heart fills with compassion.You don’t stop there. You race to me.You don’t see the rags, the dirt, the sin coating me.You only see me.You see … [Read more...]
Closing All Doors to Find Your True Self – Quote of the Week
Every time you close another door--be it the door of immediate satisfaction, the door of distracting entertainment, the door of busyness, the door of guilt and worry, or the door of self-rejection--you commit yourself to go deeper into your heart and thus deeper into the heart of God.This is a movement toward full incarnation. It leads you to become what you already are--a child of God; it lets you embody more and more the truth of your being; it makes you claim the God within you.Henri J. M. Nouwen … [Read more...]
Walking with Strong Women From History – Take my Survey and Help Me Choose
Perhaps it started with the Dorothy Day quote I read the other dayOr maybe it was reading that tomorrow, March 8, is International Women’s Day.Or could it have been the fun and crazy voting and cheering on different spiritual giants in the Lent Madness brackets?Now fellow blogger Sarah Bessey is hosting a discussion about strong women. Check out her blog. But I am ready to walk with a strong woman from our Christian history.When I entered the program to become a spiritual director we picked someone to study. I chose, no, I believe she chose me - Dorothy Day. For two years I read her writings and other books people wrote about her. I really felt like she accompanied me on that part of my journey.Last June on retreat, Teresa of Avila sat with me.Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Hebrews 12:1I compiled a list of … [Read more...]
Spiritual Practices of Reading and Retreating
Reading and retreating - going on a retreat - are two practices that nourish our spiritual growth. In our everyday hectic distraction-filled life we need to be intentional about what feeds our spirit. Too often we focus on other people’s needs or give into the addiction of busyness. We neglect the holy habits that help us hear, know and love God. Reading My bedside stand has been full of great books that have called to me lately and I thought I would share a few with you. Yes I am one of those types that have many books going at one time. Keeping the Sabbath Wholly by Marva Dawn - I am revisiting this book as I attempt to honor the Sabbath more each week. This book explores the different dimensions of ceasing, resting, embracing and feasting - a very holistically approach to the Sabbath. Daring Greatly - Brene Brown. I mentioned this book on my recent post about Being Stretchedthis year. Brene researches the value of having the courage to be vulnerable and how that can … [Read more...]
God’s Invitation: Lectio Divina
If you are thirsty, there’s water for all. Whoever is poor and penniless can still come and buy the food I sell. There’s no cost—here, have some food, hearty and delicious, and beverages, pure and good.I don’t understand why you spend your money for things that don’t nourish or work so hard for what leaves you empty. Attend to Me and eat what is good; enjoy the richest, most delectable of things.Listen closely, and come even closer. My words will give life, for I will make a covenant with you that cannot be broken, a promise of My enduring presence and support like I gave to David.See, I made him a witness to the peoples, a leader and commander among the nations.Now you will issue a call to nations from all over the world - people whom you do not know and who do not know you. They will come running, because of Me, your God because the Eternal, the Holy One of Israel, has made you beautiful.Isaiah 55: 1-5 (The Voice)come here; comecome even closer.your Godhas made you … [Read more...]
God is With Us – Lenten Quote – Edwina Gateley
God is With Us - Lenten Quote - Edwina GateleyI know that no matter how far we travel, how much we accomplish, how deeply we suffer, or how joyfully we dance, God is always with us in all of those things for the whole of our life's journey.That dark, silent, and mysterious place stays with us, housing the holy.Like the Lenten experience, there are no extra props. There is just the darkness and the emptiness and, at the very heart of all that the divine presence, the Holy One whom we seek, breathing, hidden within us, eternally loving and waiting.~Edwina Gateley … [Read more...]
Finding My Marker’s Mark
I thought I had bugs flying in my kitchen. First I assumed they were tiny gnats, then possibly a large black fly. I don’t like bugs, especially in my house. But when I stopped and looked again, I realized what I was seeing was a sudden burst of floaters in my left eye. mmm, this isn’t good. First thing the next morning I was at the eye doctor who dilated my eye and didn’t like what he saw. They scheduled me for an appointment right away the eye specialist. Yep, I had a tear in my retina that he promptly repaired with the laser. My eye is healing well with only a few gnats and flies spots still floating by. Both doctors peered deep into the back of my eye. With an intense bright light I think they probably could illuminate everything from my tonsils to my toes. I wonder if they saw any of the secrets and dirt hidden in the corners of my heart? “You have a beauty mark on your retina,” Dr. Pesin told me at my two-week recheck. “Nothing to worry about, … [Read more...]