Transformation is the topic featured this month on Healthy Spirituality. I am so excited to have today a guest post by Ceil Ryan, a Christian sister, blogger buddy, fellow nurse, and frequent commenter here in our community. I invited her to reflect about transformation and I am sure you will learn much with her thought-provoking words. Transformation Takes Time It's been about a month since we celebrated Easter. We all traveled through Lent together, a special time of prayer and sacrifice, ending in the joy of Christ's triumph over death. Easter was a beautiful day - temperatures in the low 70's, flowers blooming and trees budding. Signs of new life and rebirth were everywhere, reminding all of the transformative life we are promised too. Honestly, I don't know about you, but I'm still looking for my 'transformative moment'. I know all the grace that was gifted to me in Lent and in the celebration of Easter remains in me. But I seem to be, disturbingly, the same. I … [Read more...]
The Spiritual Practice of Transformation
Let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Romans 12: 1 (NLT) Transformation? What? Let God transform me? Change? Who, me? Do I hafta? Ideally, I should embrace and welcome God’s molding my life, but to be honest, I like my comfort zone, me being in control, and the knowledge of predictability and stabilization of what I expect. Note: “what I expect.” In May, here on the Healthy Spirituality blog, the spiritual practice of transformation will be explored. Each month on my Thursday posts, I pick one theme (or person of faith) to explore deeper. I call this series Tending the Holy Thursdays. Have you noticed the trend this year for my monthly themes are NOT my strengths, but practices that challenge and stretch me in new ways? I am sure glad you come along with me on this journey and appreciate the community support and shared wisdom. As usual I created a free download for you. I wrote out a worksheet for myself and to share with you … [Read more...]
FOMO
FOMO. I am seeing this term used more and more. This word has even been added to our dictionaries. Do you know what FOMO means? FOMO is the Fear Of Missing Out. FOMO is the uneasy and all too often all- consuming feeling we are out of touch, not in the “in” group. Or heavens forbid, we don’t know the latest news, gadgets, celebrity gossip or world’s funniest video. Marketers, sellers, and political persuaders use FOMO. Ramping up this emotion increases the urgency to buy and buy now or you might miss out. The fear you might miss something keeps us on social media longer than we want to or is healthy for us. We take our phones to bed with us, just in case. FOMO increases our anxiety. What if I miss the next big thing? How does my life compare to others? FOMO has been around for a long time in the form of jealousy, keeping up with the Jones, and “but mom, all the other kids have one.” Human nature defaults to assessing our status in relation to others and the deep … [Read more...]
National Renewal Day May 4
Today is National Renewal Day. Ever hear of this day before? I hadn’t. National Renewal Day was created to honor new beginnings and fits well in the spring time growth occurring in the northern hemisphere. Its purpose is to reinvigorate us after a long winter and refresh our spirits. The dictionary defines renewal as the state of being made new, fresh, or strong again: the state of being renewed. I like the phrase “strong again.” Yes, I want to be strong, not cold and dying. We must always change, renew, rejuvenate ourselves; otherwise we harden. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe Ways to Celebrate National Renewal Day You could use this day in a tangible way. Plan your spring cleaning. Commit to repaint a room. Refinish a dresser. Open the window to the fresh air (not a good idea here today in northwest Ohio. I think I will wait for a warmer, drier day) Renewal can be physically, mentally, socially, and spiritually, too. How can you recharge yourself … [Read more...]
Spontaneous vs. Reserved Waving
Buzzing along a few weeks ago in my car, I passed a friend’s house with my cruise control set at 58 mph. Yes, minding the law and following the rules… He was walking up his gravel driveway, his back to the road, mail in his hand. I tooted my horn. Immediately, he raised his arm and extended his hand in an automatic gesture, returning my honked greeting. A spontaneous hello. I don’t think he even knew who signaled this greeting. He naturally returned the welcome with a friendly wave. This tiny incident lingered in my heart. I am not a spontaneous waver; I am more reserved. Waving Equals Being Friendly We moved to this small village in 1981. I remember one of the first things the wise school superintendent told my hubby and I was this: This is a friendly town. If someone honks, you wave. Wave even if you don’t know who is passing by. Knowing that piece of wisdom from many years ago, my assessment that I am slow to wave made me think about how this simple act conveys … [Read more...]
Monthly Musings –What I Learned in April
April Monthly Musings Spring has arrived in northwest Ohio. This is my favorite time of year – I love the new buds on trees, early flowers, and opening the windows for fresh air. Writing these monthly reflections remind me to pause and say thank you to the Lord of all seasons. How are you living a reflective life? Each month I look back at what I am discovering, learning, and exploring in life – I call these my monthly musings. Capturing these special moments gives meaning, depth, and delight to life. Let’s wake up to the wonders in the ordinary all around us. I record what I notice on the pages of my Monthly Musings Journal. You can use anything, scrapes of papers, a journal or a calendar. Copies of my Monthly Musing Journal are available on Amazon and are a convenient way to keep track of the little things in life we often miss. Or if you want to click the button at the end of this post to get a FREE copy of my one sheet Monthly Musing handout. Monthly Musings Lesson … [Read more...]
Meet Amelia Bloomer
Amelia Bloomer. Ever hear of her before? I didn’t until recently when I read her fascinating story. She was featured on Lent Madness as one of the 32 Christians placed into a tournament-like single elimination bracket for 2017. She made it to the Final Four of this fun and educational match up of the faithful. I knew once I heard her story, she would be a great one to share here on this blog. Healthy Spirituality Friends, meet Amelia Bloomer. Amelia Bloomer’s Story Amelia was born in 1818 in Homer, New York and is known as publisher, social reformer, fashion designer, women's rights advocate, and a journalist. A member of the Episcopal Church, she fought not only for the rights of women, but also assisted poverty-stricken people through various charitable causes. She died in December 1894. Hard for us in the 21st century to imagine what it was like for women in the United States in the mid 19th century. Women were expected to keep silent – hushed by the culture, laws, … [Read more...]
10 Tips for the Spiritual Practice of Celebration
I remember I felt shocked, uneasy, and troubled, the first time I heard the following story. Its words almost sounded foreign to my heart. I wondered why the account made me so uncomfortable. “A man told the audience about a dream he once had. He dies and as he enters heaven, he sees Jesus waving him over to join him at a small round table. He feels welcomed and accepted as he sits down in this intimate setting with the Lord for tea and conversation. ‘I have a question for you,’ said Jesus. The man panics. Here it comes, he thinks. I am about to be grilled on how many people I brought to Christ. Or what about that time 20 years ago that nobody knows what I did. Or I’ll have to account for my bazillion lies and failures. And I know I didn’t pray enough. Or serve enough. Or love enough. Jesus leans forward, intently listening for his response to his question: ‘Did you enjoy the gift of life?" Do you enjoy the gift of life? As I pondered this tale and it effects on my … [Read more...]