One of my favorite authors, Emily P Freeman, just released a new book, How to Walk into a Room. The host of a wonderful weekly podcast too, Emily accompanies us as we discern the decisions we face in life. As a spiritual director, discernment is often the doorway that directees seek an appointment with me - they are at the crossroad. Do I stay? Or do I leave? And how will I know? Emily’s new book is a practical tool for discernment, full of helpful clarifying questions. Here is her description of the contents: “If life were a house, then every room holds a story. What do we do when a room we’re in is no longer a room where we belong? What do you do when you start to feel a shift and must decide if it’s time to make a change? When it comes to navigating big decisions about when to stay and go, how can we know for sure when the time is right? Though we enter and exit many rooms over the course of our life—jobs, relationships, communities, life stages—knowing how and … [Read more...]
Sacred Wells
Sacred wells fascinate me. I heard about them on our trip to Ireland and Scotland – their stories and legends around them and their deep connection to God. My word of the year is – WELL – and the image of a well is a wonderful starting point to explore and listen for the sacred lessons from this word. I remembered sacred wells, so decided this would a great place to start to explore. Man, was that a rabbit trail! Ha! A delightful imaginative and meaningful adventure into stories, usages, and meaning of sacred wells. What is a Sacred Well? Also called holy wells, sacred wells are often tied to a Christian saint, but many wells have been around long before Christianity arrived in Great Britain. The ancient Celts believed wells connected man to the “other world.” A thin place where we could connect with God. Some wells also were thought to have healing powers. Water does help in healing and is essential for all life. Sacred wells remind me that God is the “living … [Read more...]
My 14-Year-Old Self
Do you remember yourself as a teen? I had a profound dream a few weeks ago that continues to haunt me. I relived a moment at my older brother’s wedding. During the loud, dancing, partyin’ reception, I sat at a round table in the corner by myself, dressed in a too tight, not suited for my body bridesmaid dress, feeling sorry for the lonely, fat, out of place person I was. My arms tightly crossed in front of my blossoming chest, sinking my changing body lower into the chair, becoming invisible. Wondering who I was except for an ugly, awkward kid. I watched others interact, talk, smile and knew it was time to grow up. I wasn’t sure how I was going to make this work but knew deep down this moment was a turning point. After all I was 14 – older, more mature than 13. LOL. This wasn’t a made-up kind of dream – this moment really happened to me in 1964. My dream dug this moment out of a hidden place where I tug away secrets - a memory ready to be seen from a … [Read more...]
Rest
Rest is the theme for this year’s focus for the Lutheran synod my church belongs to. They wrote, “Time and time again God calls us into rest through scripture. We read stories of Jesus retreating into the hills, journeys being paused, and creation being celebrated with rest. So what does it mean for God’s people to engage in rest? Throughout 2024 we will explore this question, not just through sleep or vacation time, but through little moments each day that nourish and renew us.” My first reaction? Nope. I don’t have time for this spiritual practice. Nope, I have tried this before and I have learned that rest, practicing Sabbath, isn’t easy for me. Nope, no skill, desire, talent in this area at all! Yet God modeled for us rest. Our Bishop wrote, “There is a sacred rhythm to God’s created order. We know this story well, and we get the point of the creation narrative as it is recorded in the Book of Genesis, chapter 1. We think we know this story … [Read more...]
Hildegard of Bingen
Hildegard of Bingen is one of my favorite “lamplighters.” I heard the term Lamplighters from wisdom teacher mystic Cynthia Bourgeault who described the spiritual teachers in her life – both ancient and contemporary – as lamplighters, those lighting the way for her path. I decided in 2024 to watch for various lamplighters to emerge and call to me to learn from them. Maybe only a few will appear; maybe more. About a month ago an article about Hildegard appeared with an interview of Joan Chittister. After reading the article I wanted to reread more about this lamplighter. Who is Hildegard Hildegard of Bingen was born in 1098. The tenth child of a noble family, she was dedicated at birth to the church as was the custom of the day. At age eight she was sent to live with Jutta, an anchoress, so she could get her religious education. An anchoress is like a religious recluse who spent most of her days in prayer in her tiny private cell. When Jutta died years … [Read more...]
Why Well?
Why did the word “well” emerge as my word of the year? I shared a few weeks ago my experience of “well” jumping into my heart. I listened to a poet friend from South African share his newest poem. “Let me answer YES to the lightness of being, that I live well and love well, that I listen to my heart’s desires, living life fully human, fully alive.” While all of Stanley’s words spoke deeply to me, I kept circling back to “well.” Well invited me to walk with her this year. To play well. Read well. Rest well. Discern well. Live well. Love well. All will be well. I love the potential in this word and feel an excitement to explore her lessons and meanings. Well implies a mystery, something to discover and full of anticipation of what might be found. This word spoke to me, became alive for me, beckoned me to look deeper. The image of a well intrigues me: water wells, ink wells, stairwells. Tears well up in our eyes and deep longing well from our hearts. Well … [Read more...]
15 Year Blog Anniversary
15 years ago. What were you doing? Can you recall February 2009? One memory from that month and year stands out for me. I attended the Florida Christian Writers Conference for a second year and remet my new writing buddies that formed a great friendship the year before. We called ourselves the Kindred Heart Writers. Well they were all into blogging, especially as a venue for writing. I said, “No way was I going to start a blog.” I was too overwhelmed by everything else to start something new. And especially something with that type of commitment. My good friends persisted and as we sat together in the gathering place, all of us started blogging. They dragged me into this practice and now 15 years later, I am so grateful they persevered. 15 years ago this month, Healthy Spirituality was born. Happy Birthday to my blog. Here are links to the first few posts, one to introduce the blog and the next one on my core word Nurture. Both are still relevant today. The … [Read more...]
Four Somethings – End and Beginning of the Year Edition
Four Somethings is the spiritual practice of remembering, reviewing, and savoring life’s lessons and sacred moments in our lives. You know one practice I frequently promote is reflection – pausing, rereading, pondering where you are, where you have come from and where is God inviting you into next. So occasionally I share bits of wisdom in four categories. Gathering Four Somethings makes me aware of all the blessings often hidden under busyness, worries, and distractions. These “somethings” become markers in our spiritual journey. With so much pivoting and uncertainty in our lives right now, being grounded in a simple practice like this guides my way. Here are some recent “somethings.” Something Wise "You are not the cause of everything that happens to you, but you are responsible for how you respond to everything that happens to you." James Clear This is one quote that lingered with me most of the fall quarter and continues to guide my … [Read more...]