Dear Creator God, I am in awe of all you have made – the morning sun, the majestic mountains, and the shimmering seas.The Bible tells me we are created in your image. I cling to that promise when I wear the mask of piety or struggle to be loving.When I kiss my granddaughter’s neck and tickle her tummy, she erupts with a glorious giggle. Her infectious laugh causes me to wonder: if you are THE creator, does that mean you also invented giggles? Do you giggle?You waved your hand and the universe was born. You designed the order of stars and planets and how things on earth grow and multiply. We stand in speechless amazement of your handiwork yet I think this innovative time was full of joy for you.Did you smile when you developed the prototype of the elephant and decided to exchange its long tail and short nose with a short tail and long nose?Did you kick up the dust with a cheering skip with when you threw like Frisbees, not one, not two but multiple rings around Saturn?Were you thrilled … [Read more...]
Weekend Reflections on the Word of God – November 15, 2009
Lectio Divina - a holy reading of the Bible slowly, savoring it, and enjoying it with the Lord – is the spiritual practice of sacred reading of the scriptures. The intention is not to learn or gain information but to deepen our relationship with God. St Benedict encourages us to “to listen with the ear of our hearts.”Join me once a week for Lectio Divina. I will share a verse and a word that spoke to my heart. Read and listen to the verses here. And gently ask God for a word or phrase that speaks to your heart for that day – that is what lectio means. Once we find that gift, we hold it, meditate, and savor its meaning. This step is called meditation.Then offer that word back to God in prayer or the third step of oratio. In prayer we allow our real selves to be touched and changed by the word of God.Finally, we simply rest in the presence of the One who has used His word as a means of inviting us to accept His transforming embrace. No one who has ever been in love needs to be reminded … [Read more...]
Making a Difference through Simple Compassion
What difference can I make? How can I show compassion? What is my role in fighting injustice in the world?I just read a new book by Keri Wyatt Kent, titled Simple Compassion- Devotions to Make a Difference in your Neighborhood and your World. This book contains 52 devotional readings about compassion that could use individually or by a small group. Each chapter contains Biblical references and ends with action steps. A leader’s guide is also printed for small group reference.The book offers inspiration and motivation to explore how God is calling each of us to grow hearts full of compassion. What a refreshing way to approach a topic like this that should be rooted in prayer and meditation by having an only a once a week reading. This creates space to open our hearts to how God is calling us and our eyes to fully see injustice surrounding us.Two quotes I especially liked are: “If the goal of Christian spiritual formation is to become more Christ-like, then I should be more … [Read more...]
Five “What” Questions to Nurture Spiritual Growth
I believe God loves questions. He planted inside each of us a curiosity and he graciously is willing to receive our questions. He even is generous enough to hear some of the same questions over and over and over again.I ask questions all the time when talking with God. Of course I don’t always wait for his answer but that is another story. I have slowly learned to accept that mystery of unanswered questions that dominate much of our lives here on earth.Jesus asked many questions: Why do you worry? What can you give? Why are you afraid? What do you want? Who do you say that I am?Personally I am fond of the What questions.The question that asks Where could also be a fun one to explore.I know the Who – GodI don’t think we are to know When since we aren’t in charge, God is.I am not sure we will ever know the Why until we are in heaven and maybe not then.Here are five “what” questions that recently have been surfacing in my prayers, Bible study, and meditations:1. What does that mean? Any … [Read more...]
Weekend Reflections on the Word of God – November 8, 2009
Lectio Divina - a holy reading of the Bible slowly, savoring it, and enjoying it with the Lord – is the spiritual practice of sacred reading of the scriptures. The intention is not to learn or gain information but to deepen our relationship with God. St Benedict encourages us to “to listen with the ear of our hearts.”Join me once a week for Lectio Divina. I will share a verse and a word that spoke to my heart. Read and listen to the verses here. And gently ask God for a word or phrase that speaks to your heart for that day – that is what lectio means. Once we find that gift, we hold it, meditate, and savor its meaning. This step is called meditation.Then offer that word back to God in prayer or the third step of oratio. In prayer we allow our real selves to be touched and changed by the word of God.Finally, we simply rest in the presence of the One who has used His word as a means of inviting us to accept His transforming embrace. No one who has ever been in love needs to be reminded … [Read more...]
Spiritual Kindness
I believe in kindness.The intentional practice of being kind connects us with one another, gives us energy to walk our daily journey, and brings joy that brightens dreary, lonely days. An act of kindness lingers in our souls providing strength and nourishment and is sometimes the only thread we have to cling to.I believe in kindness.It is easier not to go visit an elderly friend or to smile at the store clerk or to cook soup for the lonely widower. But this doesn’t make it right either. It will take me a lifetime to fully learn that it is not about me, my wants or needs.I believe in kindness.I believe we have to make our minds up to practice this quality moment by moment, day by day.Michael Roach tells a story about kindness in the book The Diamond Cutter:"The early Buddhists of Tibet were known as the Kadampas — they were simple people, herders and carpenters and small farmers, who took to the new ideas like fish to water, in their simple but exquisite way. They carried around a small … [Read more...]
Spiritual Mold Growing in my Soil/Soul
I didn’t see it happen. My husband walked in from the garage, obviously amused by something he observed. He looked like the Cheshire cat with a silly grin on his face and twinkle in his eyes.“You are quite the gardener,” he said with a mischievous smirk.“What do you mean?” I asked, squinting my eyes with a growing suspicion that the answer was not one I was going to like.“You have grown a wonderful batch of mold and mushrooms in the garage.”I investigated and found out it was true. Yucky mold and yellowish mushrooms thrived, spreading their deep golden roots throughout my neglected bag of mulch. Several sprouts stalwartly burst through the plastic bag. A healthy bag of mulch whose purpose was to encourage the blooming of gorgeous backyard flowers now served to grow ugly things that never should see the light of day.I did have good intentions but neglected to follow through.I find that also true of my spiritual walk at times.My soul is best nourished with daily prayer, reading the … [Read more...]
Weekend Reflections on the Word of God – November 1, 2009
Lectio Divina - a holy reading of the Bible slowly, savoring it, and enjoying it with the Lord – is the spiritual practice of sacred reading of the scriptures. The intention is not to learn or gain information but to deepen our relationship with God. St Benedict encourages us to “to listen with the ear of our hearts.”Join me once a week for Lectio Divina. I will share a verse and a word that spoke to my heart. Read and listen to the verses here. And gently ask God for a word or phrase that speaks to your heart for that day – that is what lectio means. Once we find that gift, we hold it, meditate, and savor its meaning. This step is called meditation.Then offer that word back to God in prayer or the third step of oratio. In prayer we allow our real selves to be touched and changed by the word of God.Finally, we simply rest in the presence of the One who has used His word as a means of inviting us to accept His transforming embrace. No one who has ever been in love needs to be reminded … [Read more...]