Courage is my word of the year and what a challenging, stretching, and intense word to play with this year. I say “intense” because this is the first word that seems to pop up everywhere for me. A word that likes to surprise me; almost sneaks up on me with a “ah-ha, here is something to think about now concept about courage.” I never have had a word of the year before with so much “life” of its own before. I have been gathering quotes about what others have said about courage so thought this month I would share some of these words of wisdom with you about courage. I will continue to collect these throughout the year and know they will add to my depth of knowledge about courage. Many people rate courage very highly and I have much to learn yet: “Courage is the most important of all the virtues because without courage, you can't practice any other virtue consistently,” Maya Angelou "Courage is not simply one of the virtues but the form of every virtue at its testing … [Read more...]
Secrets of Adulthood – Gretchen’s and Mine
Gretchen Rubin just published a wonderful new book titled “Secrets of Adulthood – Simple Truths for our Complex Lives.” This is a collection of inspirational quotes that will delight your soul, make you think, and offer you wisdom and insight. A book to consider as a gift for Mother’s Day, graduation or birthday. Here are some examples: So what would you write as YOUR Secrets for Adulthood to pass on to others. I think this could be a great practice for each of us to write out in our journal to leave as a legacy for our children. Or to have as a family or friend conversation around the table. This is the type of topic that wouldn’t be one and done either but one that would start and be added to over the years. Here are a few I initially started: Looking Up Just the physical act of lifting your chin and looking up, raises your spirit. But looking up also holds many spiritual lessons too. I find looking up throughout the day - to nature, to the heavens, outside of … [Read more...]
Four Somethings – Spring Edition
I love to create and share my Four Somethings – things I have read, seen, experienced that made me stop and savor life. Spiritual practices enrich our lives and help us keep 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 WiseSomething WonderfulSomething WhisperedSomething 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 A wise story: "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 … [Read more...]
What Will Bring Comfort to Sorrow?
Holy Week last week affected me deeper than usual. I felt the heaviness of Christ’s sorrow and grief in my soul like a huge solid lump weighing me down. Its presence constant and its immensity relentless. Even though I knew the joy and hope on Easter morning, the exhaustion of grief wore me out. I identified with sorrow on a new level. The past 12 months I experienced many types of losses – some family disruptions, friendship fractures, friends losing loved ones, friends’ loved ones suffering, watching friends’ health slowly deteriorating, watching our country change in ways I can no longer support nor tolerate, so many places and people I love no longer being what they used to be yet not yet what they will become…all losses. No wonder I was ripe and raw for a time of grief. This was a major reason why I began a course in January and am still taking called Grief Companioning. I wanted to be a better listener and fellow pilgrim with my friends and myself in these journeys with … [Read more...]
Dimmer Switch Courage
Do you remember the story I wrote about a few weeks ago about the contemporary light fixture our friends had above their dining room table? (If you missed it, read about it here.) The one that made me exclaim, “I would never have the courage to try that!” and all the lessons that emerged from that experience? One detail I failed to mention about that light was it was attached to a dimmer switch. I have been pondering about that element lately. I wondered if my courage control knob instead of an on/off toggle were a dimmer dial. Would it make a difference in how I view the word courage? What if courage could be slowly increased incrementally? What a novel idea – dimmer switch courage! I imagine there are times courage may be needed immediately such as in response to an emergency but other times we can make choices over time too. A bit like deciding how to enter a swimming pool. Some days it is easier just to jump in all at once (the toggle switch); other times we enter … [Read more...]
Grounding Virtues
I enjoy listening to Krista Tibbit and her conversations full of wisdom on the On Being Project. Their words always give life, and something rises within me that makes me think yes maybe the world can be a better place after all. The group recently published what they call their “Grounding Virtues.” These are the six basic principles that guide the work they do. They believe what they practice, they become. For each virtue, they have written a paragraph full of wisdom and inspiration about each virtue. Well worth reading and pondering, especially since it is such a unique list of principles, don’t you think? Check them out here. Makes me wonder what would be on my list. I took this list on my recent silent retreat and prayed about this. Then remembered in a way I already had my own Grounding Virtues in my Rule of Life. If you are interested in learning more about writing a rule of life, check out my book about Creating A Rule of Life on Amazon. Sorry for the plug… The … [Read more...]
My Thick Head – Relearning Life Lessons!
I relearned a lesson a few weeks ago. In fact, two lessons. Sometimes my thick head is so hard God sends me these lessons multiple times – LOL. Anyway, the lessons were to remind me most of my difficulties are really first world problems and get a perspective in life. I am really quite blessed and can handle most things with some space, a couple of deep breaths and a little bit of time. Maybe a good cry too. I know some problems are much worse, but many of our problems are really nuisances – we make them much more. Well, that is what I did last week! The phone rang and as soon as I saw the caller ID and I knew. It was the Florida resort we were staying at this coming May. The one that was hit by two hurricanes last fall but had reopened. We had requested pre-storm a specific unit with its own private hot tub in a secluded area. I specifically made that reservation early to secure that room and was so excited to finally stay in that location. Since we hadn’t heard from them … [Read more...]
What Spiritual Practices are Life Giving to Your Spirit Right Now?
What spiritual practices are giving life to your soul right now? Spiritual practices are not disciplines to be checked off, to complete in order to be “good” or to earn love. I find these sacred rhythms ground me, remind me of the magnificent of God and all the wonders and holiness of God. I remember to pause and give thanks. I ask forgiveness. I bow in reverence. I serve. I love. I draw near and am renewed. I am one with the One. My focus in less on me and more on the More. I am not rigid with a spiritual practices schedule but use the word “regular.” But I do find it helpful at times to pause and take an inventory what is working and maybe what isn’t working in my spiritual life. What am I forgetting? Neglecting? Pushing aside? Or need more of? Is it time to try a new practice? Stretch myself into a new arena? When I paused and honestly reviewed my practices this past week, I found myself “too busy” for longer contemplative prayer – a practice that nourishes my … [Read more...]