I witnessed love this week. I watched my daughter Katie, holding her newborn baby, Kyla. With protective arms, supporting her daughter's still wobbly head, Katie smiled and hummed a quiet tune. It was like no one else was in the room. Their eyes, fixated on one another, radiated an intense love. Amazing love. Amazing Love. I, a mere creature, a human, can never fully comprehend how much God loves us. Yet when I observed this tender and adoring exchange between a mother and child, I caught a glimpse of the Divine. “Listen to me…you whom I have upheld since you were conceived, and have carried since your birth. Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you.” Isaiah 46: 3-4 Throughout our earthly journey, God continues to hold each of us in His protective arms, supporting our wobbly fears. Like a baby’s full reliance on a mother’s care, our faith rests in his promise … [Read more...]
Follow the Rules – Rules for Life for a Healthy Spirituality
Do you follow the rules? What are the rules for life for a healthy spirituality? Some people never stray far from the boundaries in life. Others push the edges or outright break all barriers. Some just rebelliously refuse to even consider any guidelines. In this age of individualism, why would anyone even consider a rule for life? What is a rule for life, anyway? A Rule for Life is a collection of guidelines for living. It can also be called a Way of Life. Its purpose is to help us keep our sense of balance by intentionally addressing all aspects of life: physical, emotional, socially, spiritually, etc. Debra K. Farrington in her book, Living Faith Day by Day, encourages us to pick a practice under each of the following areas: 1. Foundations (putting God at the center of your rule and your life) 2. Prayer (finding a prayer type and rhythm that works for you) 3. Work (approaching your work as part of your spiritual life rather than something divorced from it) 4. Study … [Read more...]
Be Thou My Vision – Singing my Daily Prayer
“Those who sing, pray twice” I have been using my favorite hymn as part of morning devotions this week: Be Thou My Vision. This haunting Celtic tune lingers with me all day. Even though the words are old English with the Thou’s and Thy’s, every time I pray its message, I feel the presence of God. Be Thou my Vision, O Lord of my heart; Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art. Thou my best Thought, by day or by night, Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light. Be Thou my Wisdom, and Thou my true Word; I ever with Thee and Thou with me, Lord; Thou my great Father, I Thy true son; Thou in me dwelling, and I with Thee one. Be Thou my battle Shield, Sword for the fight; Be Thou my Dignity, Thou my Delight; Thou my soul’s Shelter, Thou my high Tower: Raise Thou me heavenward, O Power of my power. Riches I heed not, nor man’s empty praise, Thou mine Inheritance, now and always: Thou and Thou only, first in my heart, High King of Heaven, my Treasure Thou … [Read more...]
Where is All the Time Going?
Where is All the Time Going? Time - Where does it all go? ARRRGH! I just looked at the clock. Something is wrong. The time thief stole two hours this morning. I can’t believe this! I thought it was only 9:30, but every clock in the house (and I did look at other clocks to verify this mystery) shouts: NO, STUPID, IT IS 11:30! Where is the time going? People warmed me when I retired that I would begin to wonder how I ever worked a 40+ hour week as a fulltime mother and still got things done. “You will be busier than ever in retirement.” “Just wait, time will go so fast.” And I have discovered their predictions to be true. Or are they? Maybe the truth is how I use time. Where is the time going? I make plans prayfully, but soon find what I thought would take one hour, takes three hours. Or even worse – takes all day to complete. I carefully plot my daily to-do list, but discover the day evaporating before I know it. And is 2009 really half way done already? … [Read more...]
Staying Put on my Nest
Staying Put The idea of staying put sounds like a dull, unsuccessful lifestyle. Doesn’t the world tell us to make progress, keep growing, and be productive? Aren’t we all supposed to set goals and work on them steadily? And as children when we misbehaved, wasn’t being sent to our room to “think about what you have done” part of our punishment? We live in a restless world. Currently we pursue overstimulation, being bombarded by noise, lights, action, instead of a more peaceful, ordinary path. What is the value of putting down roots and staying put? I have been pondering this thought lately with my personal frustration with my local church and the temptation to go “church shopping.” My husband wants to stay put as he says, with much truth, that all churches are composed of humans being that bring the same set of wonderful and irritating traits. And it is not a problem that I disagree with my church’s theology. The issues that frustrate me have to do with the … [Read more...]
What Sustains You?
What Sustains You? The July issue of Sojourners Magazine asks various people the question: What sustains you? What keeps you refreshed for the journey to justice? The answers have been interesting. Richard Rohr writes, “my daily and primary practice is contemplation.” Other answers include centering prayer, prayer of examen, community, saying thank you, Bible reading, and retreats. So far no one has mentioned keeping a journal. Though journal keeping can be a form of prayer, I find it is so much more. A spiritual journal is different from a regular journal. It is a written record of personal reactions to spiritual matters. Many people have discovered that writing down their thoughts and feelings helped them clarify some of the basic questions they were asking about life. "What’s it all about?" "What am I doing here?", "What does God want me to become," "Where does God want me to serve." Journal writing gives us the time to think through and clarify our beliefs. … [Read more...]
The Blessings of Two New Girls
The Blessings of Two New Girls The blessing of two new girls graced our family lately. Our family grew by two girls this past week. Kyla Eve arrived June 5 and I wrote about her in the previous blog posting. But now it is time to welcome Mandy into our family. My son Brian proposed to Mandy in the infield at batting practice of the Chicago White Sox on June 6th. Mandy bravely (and as his mother I do say bravely) accepted. I am thankful to God for Mandy, but she does not know I have prayed for her for many, many years - even before I knew her name. I remember when Brian was a toddler, maybe two or three, nestled in my arms for a nap. That probably was the first prayer. I envisioned another mother someplace with a tiny girl sleeping in her arms – Brian’s future wife – and I lifted her up in prayer. Mothers, recall the excitement and tears of that first day of school? Another moment of prayer for the little girl someplace experiencing her first day of school. T-ball … [Read more...]
God’s Whoosh
God's Whoosh WHOOSH! Did you hear it? That loud whooshing noise last Friday, June 5th? At the exact moment of my new granddaughter’s birth, with her first intake of air, Kyla Eve stole my heart. Love for this new child swiftly gushed into my core and changed me forever. Other grandparents warned me. “You will love being a grandparent.” “There is nothing like it in the whole world.” “You will be amazed. “ I pooh-pawed them, thinking I knew better. After all I am in control. I know what to expect. What a fool I am! Whoosh! Love exploded triggering a chain reaction. Every instinct inside me wants to protect her, love her, and see her daily. Whoosh! God longs to protect us, love us and be with us with His exploding love. Whoosh! My arms ache to hold her, to touch her. Whoosh! God’s arms surround us, even as we tug to pull away. Whoosh! I want the best for her as she grows and anticipate joyous times together. Whoosh! God yearns for our best and showers us with … [Read more...]