I love summertime. One of the best joys are all those fresh fruits and vegetables – healthy and delicious combinations of exploding nutrition in our mouths. Even the colors – inside and out – are refreshing to the eyes. One of my favorites is the watermelon. Just learned I missed National Watermelon Day, which was celebrated August 3. So let’s celebrate a little late this year and wonder about the watermelon. If you take something you really enjoy and let your mind and heart wonder a bit, God shows up. As I relished a sample of watermelon last week I became curious about this innovation from God. I never realized all the interesting facts, diversity, and varieties of watermelon that existed. God just amazes me with His creativity and gifts. Perhaps that is why this column by Omid Safi attracted me a few weeks ago. He writes once a week on On Being (I signed up to get once a week email summary of their blog posts and almost always find treasure in their words.). Go read Safi’s … [Read more...]

I expanded my vocabulary last week and learned a new Celtic word - HIRAETH. Ever hear of it? Even if you haven’t I bet you have experienced it. The web site, Innerwoven, presented a five part series explaining this Celtic word. I encourage you to go there and read all of its wise and thought provoking words. Hiraeth is actually a Welsh word that basically means longing or homesickness. Robert Rife writes: “It might be defined as a longing, a homesickness for a home to which one can never return. It is the unrequited hope that produces ever more unanswered longing. It is a grieving for the lost places and moments of one’s past – a sense of loss for loving moments and places, fondly remembered. It sits in the dream world where longing, belonging, home, and wanderlust meet.” A few years ago my hubby and I discussed where we wanted to spend our rest of our lives. We just retired and the world was open to the next chapter in our lives. This small rural town I lived in for … [Read more...]

The following verses serve as the basis for prayer and one I offer up to you today with gratitude and love: That’s why, when I heard of the solid trust you have in the Master Jesus and your outpouring of love to all the followers of Jesus, I couldn’t stop thanking God for you—every time I prayed, I’d think of you and give thanks. But I do more than thank. I ask—ask the God of our Master, Jesus Christ, the God of glory—to make you intelligent and discerning in knowing him personally, your eyes focused and clear, so that you can see exactly what it is he is calling you to do, grasp the immensity of this glorious way of life he has for his followers, oh, the utter extravagance of his work in us who trust him —endless energy, boundless strength! Ephesians 1:15-19 (The Message) May the God of our Master, the God of glory embrace you with his wisdom and guidance so you can grow deeper within his love and his ways. May your eyes see clearly and precisely where he is calling … [Read more...]

On retreat last year I talked with the spiritual director about my continual struggle between my head and my heart. Sometimes it felt like a tug of war going on within me. Like I was two people – a split personality. I felt like I lived in either one place or the other, no peace. She asked me if I could describe how I felt in an image. After awhile I told her a hourglass. Two parts with a constriction in between. We sat silently as I pondered the meaning of that symbol. Quietly she suggested that I ask God for the gift of a new image if that would help heal the broken connection within me. Later in the day I did ask God if he could show me a new way to think about my clashing infighting for dominance. Why couldn’t these two children get along? Help me Lord bring them together. Help me find wholeness. I have always loved trees. I have been drawn to stories about them; verses about them. Lessons in their different seasons. The scales fell from my eyes and my heart … [Read more...]

  I’m an optimist. If an Optimist Anonymous existed – I would be their poster child. I have worked hard on developing this trait. See, I wasn’t born an optimist. In fact, as a newborn I emerged with quite a scowl on my face. When I was about 7 years old, I remember overhearing a friend of my mother discussing my frown and lack of smiling. Being optimistic didn’t come naturally for me. When I tell people that now, it surprises them. I am known to be quite a “look on the bright side of things” gal. Little Miss Sunshine. One of my most popular presentations is about optimism. In the second half of life, though I am finding more and more of what I used to think of as my strengths have become more like burdens. What I thought were strong foundations evolved into the rocks that I trip over. They weigh me down. For example I used to rely on my high valued sense of independence. I raised my kids to be independent. Stand on your own two feet. You can do it type of … [Read more...]