Weeds (Photo credit: Robert Hruzek)During this hot dry summer, the only things that have grown well in my garden have been scrawny ugly weeds. The ground is too hard to pull them up. I cut them down and overnight they sneak in the reserves and multiple. Over and over again. Remember the story of Sisyphus from Greek mythology? The word “Sisyphean” means endless and unavailing task or labor. In the story Sisyphus was given the punishment to roll an immense boulder up a hill, only to watch it roll back down, and to repeat this action forever.Over and over again.Living with tension is part of being human. I guess the reality of living with unanswered questions, the paradoxes each of us face in this life and never really getting rid of the tension between right and wrong, love and hate, good and evil is like an unwelcomed houseguest who never plans to leave. Over and over again.Most of my adult life I thought if I worked hard enough or was good enough, this internal dilemma would be … [Read more...]
Lord, to Whom Shall We Go?
Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God.” John 6: 68-69“Lord, to whom shall we go?”We sing these words in our liturgy each Sunday, Lord. Often forgetting who said them first and to Whom.How could I go anyplace else, Lord?Once I have danced in Your light and hid in Your protective shadow.Once I have tasted Your sweet goodness and heard Your word.Once I have been swept away by Your powerful love.Once I have caught a glimpse of Your majesty.Once I tore off all my masks and stood vulnerable, open to You.Once I have been cleansed with Your forgiveness.Peter’s answer is so simple. Honest. TrueYou are the Holy One. Once my life has been transformed by You, there is no other person, place or thing to turn to. You are everywhere and everything.You are my All.You are the One.You are the Way. The Only Way.“Lord, to whom shall we go?"You and only You. … [Read more...]
Creativity Quote – Taking Back my Crayons – Hugh McLeod
Everyone is born creative; everyone is given a box of crayons in kindergarten.Then when you hit puberty they take the crayons away and replace them with books on algebra, etc.Being suddenly hit years later with the creative bug is just a wee voice telling you,“I’d like my crayons back, please.“Hugh McLeod … [Read more...]
Cultivate the Discipline of Astonishment
Mary DeMuth’s new book is called Everything: What you give and what you gain to become like Jesus and is scheduled for release October 16. You can preorder it here. I am blessed to be part of Mary’s launch team for this wonderful book and have an early copy to study and enjoy. Over the next few Thursdays, I will be sharing a quote from the book and some thoughts that her words have stirred within my heart. This book is wonderful, full of wisdom and stories, and will help you discover the freedom in surrendering everything to Jesus.Once a month six of us gather in a circle for group spiritual direction. Each of us takes a turn sharing where and how God has been moving in our lives. We listen intensely and intentionally in silence to each story, then after prayer share a simple response, hopefully instilled with the Holy Spirit.Often I have to peer deep within me and struggle to find the words to describe my experiences with God. Last month I told them that since my June retreat I have … [Read more...]
Keep On Stepping – One Step at a Time – Even in Circles
To get through the hardest journey we need take only one step at a time, but we must keep on stepping. – Chinese ProverbI’m frustrated. I thought I heard what God called me to do. I prayed. I listened. I obeyed. The only message I continue to hear from God is this: Complete what I asked you to do.So I try. And I tried again this morning: to finish what I believe is my next step.Nope, didn’t happen. The door remained shut. I don’t understand. I am bewildered. I feel surrounded by an enormous wall that I can’t see beyond or get through.Then I remember one of my favorite Bible stories: Joshua and Jericho.After the death of Moses, Joshua became the leader of the Israelites. As they entered Canaan, the Promised Land, the walled fortress of Jericho loomed ahead of them. How would the ragtag army of foreigners who have been traveling for 40 years ever defeat that city?Joshua prayed. God had a strange plan - The men were to march around the city once each day, for six days. The priests were … [Read more...]
Singing to the Lord from my Heart – Lectio Divina
Instead, be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.Ephesians 5: 18b-20 NIVSing and make music from your heart to the LordTo the Conductor of my life:With my eyes focused only on You, I lift my instrument, my heart, ready to sing Your music.I know I am far from the top soprano in Your chorus. I am not in the run for the prime solo part of the concert. I stand towards the back of the choir peering around heads ahead of me, watching You raise Your baton to lead us.But I come as I am. I bring my heart and my voice. I sing and make music from me to … [Read more...]
Asking the Questions – Quotes of the Week
I have felt surrounded by questions - deep, soul churning questions lately. Thought a few quotes about living with these stirring unknowns may help me. Maybe they will help you too.Confidence, like art, never comes from having all the answers; it comes from being open to all the questions.Earl Gray Stevens“The one who asks questions doesn't lose his way.”African Proverb“Be patient toward all that is unsolved in your heart and try to love the questions themselves.Do not now seek the answers, which cannot be given you because you would not be able to live them.And the point is to live everything.Live the questions.”Rainer Marie RilkeSometimes the questions are complicated and the answers are simple.Dr. Seuss … [Read more...]
Satan Doesn’t Want Us to Hurry – “Someday” Works for him
I am a great procrastinator. Someday I will get that book written.Someday I will lose weight and start exercising regularly.Someday I will send that letter to my old friend.Someday I will stop procrastinating.I have to keep telling myself that “Someday” isn’t one of the days of the week.Mark Twain quipped, “Never put off until tomorrow what you can do the day after tomorrow." I learn best through stories. This old tale that I rediscovered this week, really pierce through my procrastinating patterns.Satan, frustrated with the continued devotion of Christians, called his three chief devils to offer suggestions about how to undermine the Church and to stop the forward movement of Christ’s work.The first devil said, “I’ll tell them there is no Heaven. That will lead them to despair.” But Satan responded, “I’m afraid that will not work. Whenever parents see a newborn baby, or whenever anyone sees the Milky Way on a dark night, they will know that there must be a Heaven.”The second devil … [Read more...]