Our pastor last Sunday shared the following story: A young man wanted to gain body strength and get into shape by working on his uncle’s farm one summer. His wise uncle suggested that he do vertical arm lifts while holding 1, then 5, then 10, then 25, and 50 pound sacks of potatoes. The young man exercised faithfully. Each day he would go to the barn and practice the repetitions with the potato sacks. Yes he started with the one-pound sacks and slowly advancing until the end of summer he was lifting 50 pound sacks. He finally accomplished his goal with 100-pound sacks in both arms. He rushed to his uncle exclaiming proudly his achievement. “And guess what, Uncle. Next week I plan to start putting potatoes into the sacks.” The congregation chuckled at this silly tale. But our pastor went on to clarify that many of us treat our daily devotional life in the same way. We skim our Bible reading. We rush through obligatory prayers. We ramble with nonsense instead of … [Read more...]
Please Take my 2015 Readers’ Survey
I would really like your input on how to improve and grow this blog. Below is a link to the 2015 Healthy Spirituality Readers' Survey and I would appreciate you taking the time to fill it out. I want to ensure this space does the best possible job of answering your needs and interests and draws you closer to God. And that means I need to know more about you. Your input is important to me. The survey is easy to fill out, and the results are completely anonymous. I can’t tell who said what. The survey will be open until August 2. Thank you so much. https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/SXKHFMX … [Read more...]
Help! Where Are You, God and Why Can’t I See You?
Ever pray this prayer: Where are you, God and why can't I see You? I have running crazy in July with company visiting, summer to do’s and trying to work on dreams and where God is leading me. I finally took some deep breaths this morning to create space with God – reading my Bible, journaling and spending time with him. It was like having my morning coffee with a friend I was missing and longing to be with. Where have you been, God? I asked with a smile, knowing it wasn’t his absence but my busyness that kept me from experiencing him lately. Then I remembered this story I heard a long time ago. I love its imagery and reassurance of God’ presence. So sit back and enjoy story time today. May its words also bless your journey: Once upon a time a woman spoke her deepest desire to God. “Lord, I want to find you. See you. Be with you” She held that prayer closely in her heart for many many years. She said no to worldly desires and accomplishments to focus only on God. She … [Read more...]
Kindness – A Powerful Quote to Guide Your Way
I expect to pass through this world but once. If, therefore, there be any kindness I can show, or any good thing I can do, to any fellow being let me do it now. Let me not defer nor neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again. I have this quote sitting on my kitchen window sill. To be honest I have moved it from house to house, season to season and mood to mood. It is one of my favorite and has proven true. A powerful quote to guide my way. Some sources say it is a Quaker saying from the mid 1800s; other credit it to Stephen Grellet, a Quaker missionary. I believe its message on the value and importance of kindness. And kindness in a prompt manner – don’t leave that good intention on the shelf. My mama lived this quote and practiced its meaning. She would always say if you hear something kind about someone, pass that onto that person. Everyone needs to hear kind words – there is just too much negativity surrounding us. Smile at the store clerk. Use the person’s name … [Read more...]
The Invasion of the Party Crashers
The weather was delightful in northwest Ohio for our Fourth of July cookout. Food smelled great. The table was set. Games ready to go. Friends arrived. Laughter abounded. The Party is Crashed. Then the Party Crashers invaded. Four grey kittens and one calico kit invited themselves into our backyard to folic and celebrate the holiday with us. It didn’t bother them that two of our guests were allergic to cats. Nor was it their concern that one of my best friends shudders with even the thought or sight of these feline beasts. I shooed them away. I yelled. I chased them out. Yet they kept returning. I fretted and fussed over their insistence to stay. We tried all sorts of remedies to move our unwanted guests – all humane of course. I steamed as we finally moved our human group inside the house away from furry invaders. Two of them had to nerve (probably to spite me) to sit by the back door, meowing in their cute baby voices, tilting their cute heads and begging to be … [Read more...]
Happy July 4th! What a Holiday!
Happy July 4th! July 4th is our country's birthday. Happy birthday, United States! July 4th Quote I love this Erma Bombeck quote about our nation's birthday. Yes we celebrate not with tanks, guns and showing the world our military strength. “You have to love a nation that celebrates its independence every July 4, not with a parade of guns, tanks, and soldiers who file by the White House in a show of strength and muscle, but with family picnics where kids throw Frisbees, the potato salad gets iffy, and the flies die from happiness. You may think you have overeaten, but it is patriotism.” Erma Bombeck We put the emphasis on family, fellowship and of course food. And don't forget "even the flies die from happiness." She had quite a way with words, didn't she? If you are in the U.S. how will you celebrate today? … [Read more...]
One Surprising Award of Deep Listening
As a spiritual director I have learned the practice of deep listening. And besides being beneficial for the people I companion, I have discovered one surprising award for myself. Deep listening involves quieting myself through prayer, stillness and deep breathes before meeting with someone. Then while I sit with them, I am open to the Spirit’s whispers, nudges and leading to offer silence, ask questions and pause before speaking. The focus is about the person I am with, their reflections, not my opinions. I am fully present to them. I honor the sacred ground I am on with another and hold that moment without judgment. I listen for the unspoken words, the hidden meanings behind their stories, where God may be appearing in their life. As I cultivate this deep listening skill, I have been surprised to notice I now listen to myself more deeply too. All those gifts offered freely to another: presence, nonjudgmental, silence, pause, honoring the inner stirrings, and sorting out of … [Read more...]
Quick! I Desperately Need Patience!
When God handed out gifts, he skipped filling me with even a tiny bit of patience when constructing my DNA. I want patience and I want it now. Quick! I desperately need patience. I have been talking all year with God about how I can learn to be more patient. I realized how quick my impatient trigger lets loose when I gasped seeing the following painting by Melanie Weidner at the Spiritual Directors International conference last April. She does beautiful work. Check out her web site. I looked at this art piece several times and it kept calling me back to learn its lesson. Finally on the third day I bought it for my office. It is based on the saying: “Do you have the patience to wait Till your mud settles and the water is clear? Can you remain unmoving Till the right action arises by itself?” Lao Tzu Being patience involves time to let unclearness, anxiety and noise that suppresses the answer to settle so the right path will emerge. Ok, Lord I hear you. Be open and … [Read more...]