I attended a one-woman performance on Sunday. The actress, Linn Maxwell, portrayed Hildegard of Bingen, one of my favorite Christian women in history. You can read more about the actress, see video clips, and hear her beautiful soprano voice sing a song composed by Hildegard here. Famous for her “illuminating” visions and spiritual wisdom, Hildegard wrote nearly 400 bold and feisty letters to bishops and kings, books about medicine and nature, music, and plays; she also undertook several preaching tours and called for church reform. Quite a feat for any woman, let alone in the 12th century!Her most famous writing is “Scivias” or Know the Ways of the Lord. It is a visionary guide to Christian doctrine covering everything from creation to marriage and is written not in ordinary language but in extraordinary images.Hildegard wrote and spoke extensively about social justice, about freeing the downtrodden, about the duty of seeing to it that every human being, made in the image of God, … [Read more...]
Too Lazy – Lectio Divina
Those too lazy to plow in the right season will have no food at the harvest." Proverbs 20:4Too LazyCreator God, forgive my laziness.I delay the most important items, distracted by the noise and glitz of the world.And when the “right season” comes, I won’t have anything to offer or be prepared for opportunities to serve You.Lord, I do value down time, periods of rest and quiet times with You.But honestly, I know I waste time too.Time – a gift from You – thrown away like it had little value when each moment is a blessing.I know in my heart what I must do.But my strength, my will to complete what You have asked me to do, fails me. I need you, Lord.I depend on Your strength to complete the race you have set before me.I offer up to You my lazy spirit and ask You to enter its open space.I empty my heavy bags of inactivity in exchange for Your energetic abilities.You are the Lord; I am the servant.Help me start anew with Your strength and determination. … [Read more...]
Teach Me to Listen, Lord – John Veltri – Quote of the Week
Teach me to listen, O God, to those nearest me, my family, my friends, my co-workers.Help me to be aware that no matter what words I hear, the message is, “Accept the person I am. Listen to me.”Teach me to listen, my caring God, to those far from me– the whisper of the hopeless, the plea of the forgotten, the cry of the anguished.Teach me to listen, O God my Mother, to myself. Help me to be less afraid to trust the voice inside — in the deepest part of me.Teach me to listen, Holy Spirit, for your voice — in busyness and in boredom, in certainty and doubt, in noise and in silence.Teach me, Lord, to listen. Amen.This prayer was composed by John Veltri, S.J., a Canadian spiritual director and expert guide for those presenting the Spiritual Exercises. … [Read more...]
SELAH – A Spiritual Practice
Ever notice the Hebrew word, selah, in the Psalms? SELAH – Though opinions differ on its exact meaning, many experts say the word comes from the primary Hebrew root word [calah], which literally means “to hang,” and by implication to measure (weigh). In Biblical history, money, food, and other valuables were “weighed” by hanging or suspending them on a type of balance (the equivalent of our measuring scale) to determine their value.Selah signals that it is time to “measure” carefully the meaning of what has been said and to reflect on some deeper wisdom and understand its true meaning. Stop and listen. Pause and Reflect. Dwell in the moment and drink in the meaning of life.Observe the ordinary in silence; consider all the details of this one precious moment.Slow down and listen to God.Doesn’t sounds like modern life, does it?Selah is like a stop sign. The intermission or half time. Or refreshing recess. Yes I like the idea of a recess. An adult recess. A break from the busy, craziness … [Read more...]
BEDTIME PRAYERS: Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep and the Daily Examen
One of my earliest memories is my mother tucking me into bed and reciting with me the classic children’s prayer:Now I lay me down to sleep,I pray the Lord my soul to keep.If I should die before I wake,I pray the Lord my soul to take.The origins of this prayer are unknown. However, the first printed edition was in Boston in 1737.I know there are several versions of this including a humorous one for single women:Now I lay me down to sleepI pray for a man who is not a creep…But I digress…As an adult I have a different bedtime prayer ritual, the Daily Examen.The Daily Examen is a technique of prayerful reflection on the events of the day in order to detect God’s presence and discern his direction for us. The Examen is an ancient practice in the Church that can help us see God’s hand at work in our whole experience. It originates with St. Ignatius. The simple steps of this prayer are:1. Quiet yourself. And allow yourself to relax into God’s loving arms. Some people imagine sitting on … [Read more...]
Singing in the Presence of God – Lectio Divina
“On your feet now—applaud God! Bring a gift of laughter, sing yourselves into his presence. ” Psalm 100:1, MSG Sing yourselves into his presenceJump up onto my feet!Clap my hands! The Lord is present!!Tilt my head back and laugh aloud!Dance with glee and abandonment! The Lord is here!I don’t have to worry the God is goneI cast my fear away that He can’t love my unworthiness. The Lord is full of grace and love!When discouragement overwhelms meWhen hope disappears I will sing myself into Your presence.Music magically melts my masks and draws me into my Father’s arms - To be held To be forgiven To be loved.Nothing separates us from the love of GodNothingBut when the shiny decoys of the world and my blinding ego block my sight,I once again find You, Lord, though laughter and singing. … [Read more...]
The Word of God from God – Quote of the Week
Dear Child,Before you open my Word this morning, stop and consider what you are holding in your hands. It is more than paper and ink, more than words and sentences.You are holding in your hands the very essence of who I am!My Word in my nature, my wisdom, my guidance, my love distilled into letter form.You are holding health and life, truth and healing.Keep my Word before your eyes. Give it permission to roam in the rooms of your heart – cleaning, straightening, rearranging; closing doors on some things, opening windows on others.My Word can be for your heart a companion, a hearth, and a housekeeper; a gardener to weed your thoughts and a guard against intruders.And so, as you open my Word this day, read with your eyes, but listen with your life.I want to speak to you,GodFrom the book Postcards from Heaven by Claire CloningerMy child, pay attention to what I say. Listen carefully to my words. Don’t lose sight of them. Let them penetrate deep into your heart, for they bring … [Read more...]
His Eye is on the Sparrow
I learned the other day the story behind one of my favorite hymns: His Eye is on the Sparrow. If you don’t know that song or do and want to enjoy it again, listen here on You Tube, featuring the singing group, Selah. One approach to prayer I really like is to read aloud , not sing, the words of a hymn and let them seep into my heart and spirit. Here are all of the words to this song to add to your devotions:Why should I feel discouragedWhy should the shadows come, Why should my heart be lonely, and long for heaven and home, When Jesus is my portion? My constant friend is He: His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.I sing because I’m happy, I sing because I’m free, For His eye is on the sparrow, And I know He watches me.“Let not your heart be troubled,” His tender word I hear, And resting on His goodness, I lose my doubts and fears; Though by the path He leadeth, but one step I may see; His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.Whenever I am tempted, … [Read more...]