What are God Winks? I have a friend whose 19 year old daughter died a year ago from cancer. In talking with her about her grieving, she mentioned she is discovering blessings in her pain. In my feeble attempt to comfort her, I offered the platitude that God often will send us comfort when we least expect it during a time of loss. “Oh, no, Jeanie,” she sternly responded, “God sends us blessings all the time. I was just too busy earlier, too blind, to see them.” The truth in the statement that God drenches us with his gifts all the time and we “are too busy, too blind” to see them lingers in my heart and mind. That conversation also reminded me of a book I recently read, God Winks by Squire Runsnell. He writes, “Most of the day to day coincidences that happen to you are not big and significant. Generally they’re the small, sometimes whimsical little winks that make you quietly ask: does that mean something? Little winks do mean something; that you are not alone, that there … [Read more...]
Springtime Gardening
Springtime Gardening My backyard bursts with new growth and springtime gardening. Tiny seedlings emerge through the dark earth with green eagerness and daily surprising transformations. Spring is a time of awakening. One section near the fence is covered with a multitude of small sprouts extending their teeny arms upward. It reminds me of baby birds all stretching their heads up, screaming feed me, feed me. As a gardener I see a problem in this area – I need to thin out these new growths for a healthier batch of flowers later in the summer. The dandelions are also quite healthy in my garden. With deep roots and bright yellow faces, they are the first to bloom. They taunt me: “Ha, see we are back again. No use trying to get rid of us. We will return to take over your precious garden bed!” Then there is the issue of “What is growing there anyway?” Is it a weed or is it a fogotten bloom I planted a long time ago? Do I let it grow and later regret not digging it out … [Read more...]
New and Improved!
SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT: Springtime is the perfect time to spout a new and improved blog. I began this blog several weeks ago and have been posting about once a week. Next week I am increasing my entries to twice a week with the long term goal of expanding even more. One post (I am aiming for Tuesdays) will be on spiritual health and the second post will feature books and resources that feed the soul. (Friday) I am grateful for you reading my words and hopefully the expansion will glorify God and lead us all closer to Him. Here are some thoughts for you to inspire your new and improved spirituality and to thank you for reading my words: May God bless your journey now and into the unknown new and improved future. … [Read more...]
Unexpected Expectations from the Spiritual Director International Conference
Spiritual Directors International Conference The Spiritual Directors International Conference last week exceeded my expectations. Throughout my career I have attended numerous national and international conferences. Unfortunately most of the time I leave the workshops disappointed with generalities, gaining little tools to use helping others, and an inner sense that I wasted my time. So loaded down with low expectations, last week I traveled to Houston to attend the Spiritual Directors International (SDI) conference for the first time. The quality and depth of this conference surprised me and in the following list of expectations for anyone going to this particular conference I share some of the treasures I discovered there: 1. Expect to be surprised. This conference exceeded all my expectations in multiple ways. 2. Expect to be surrounded by God’s spirit. The prayers, décor, music, silence, discussions and networking all opened my heart and eyes to see God’s … [Read more...]
Spiritual Directors International Conference
Spiritual Director International Conference I leave tomorrow to fly to Houston to attend the Spiritual Director International Conference. This will be my first time to participate in this event. Spiritual Director International is a membership organization and learning community of people from many faiths and many nations who share a common concern, passion, and commitment to the art and contemplative practice of spiritual direction. Its mission is: “throughout human history, individuals have been called to accompany others seeking the Mystery we name God. In this time, Spiritual Directors International responds to this call by tending the holy around the world and across traditions.” One of my goals this year was increased networking with people in the field of spirituality, especially those who write. The keynote presenter at the event this year is author Ron Rolheiser, who has written books like The Holy Longing, The Restless Heart and the Shattered Lantern. One full day … [Read more...]
What is Spiritual Direction?
What is Spiritual Direction? Spiritual direction, sometimes referred to as spiritual guidance or spiritual friendship, is an on-going relationship in which one person (the directee), desirous of being attentive to his or her spiritual life, meets with another person (the director) on a regular basis (approximately once a month), specifically for the purpose of becoming more attuned to God's presence in order to respond more fully to that Presence in all of life. Spiritual direction has been part of the Christian tradition for centuries. Why would someone want spiritual direction? To explore their yearning for God. To understand meaning in their life. To gain a sense of discernment. To understand where they are going. To live their life more fully. Meeting with a spiritual director is helpful when you want a deeper relationship with God. Spiritual direction is a vital tool for a healthy spirituality. Simply, spiritual direction helps people tell their own … [Read more...]
New Grandmother’s Nickname – What a Gift!
A New Grandmother's Nickname - What a Gift! If you could pick out a new name for yourself describing your ideal role what would it be? I chose Amma. “Amma?” You asked. “What do you mean?” My daughter Katie is expecting her first child in June and thus I enter the new realm of grandmothering. At first this presented an identity crisis for me – I am not old enough to be a grandmother, I thought. An unknown author wrote: “It’s amazing how grandparents seem so young once you become one.” But then I embraced this new adventure and decided to honor the passage with choosing my name. I wanted it to be just the right name – representing how I saw myself and exemplifying this new role. I talked to many other people asking what their grandchildren call them or what they called their grandparents. By the way, this is a great conversation starter and most people tell great and unique stories about the names. I searched book stores and Amazon and bought two books about grandparent … [Read more...]
Silent Listening
Silent Listening I love words so spending multiple days at a silent retreat draws me out of my comfort zone. What are some of the benefits of entering into a grand silence to hear the whispers of God? How does silent listening help the soul? Silent is a wonderful, yet challenging word. Mother Teresa said, “We need to find God, and he cannot be found in noise and restlessness. God is the friend of silence. See how nature - trees, flowers, grass - grows in silence; see the stars, the moon and the sun, how they move in silence. We need silence to be able to touch souls.” Use the word silent as an anagram. An anagram rearranges or unscrambles the letters of one word to create a new word. The result is: SILENT = LISTEN. Like an anagram, silent listening rearranges, unscrambles, reorganizes and reorders my spirit: Silent listening rearranges my thoughts, providing clarity and a new sense of direction and meaning. Silent listening unscrambles my prayers affirming who I … [Read more...]