Why in the world did I sign up for such a long retreat? This is exactly what I lamented a couple of weeks ago as the retreat I registered for many months ago loomed and interrupted my summer plans and activities. Eight days is a huge chunk of time and energy away from home, family and my precious to-do list. But my mind was hungry to learn. My heart needed refreshed. My spirit parched. And God called. I am so grateful for the time away with God. My mind has been stretched, encompassing new thoughts. My heart nourished and my spirit drenched. The retreat was presented by Louis Savary, a former Jesuit and author who shared ideas from his latest book, The New Spiritual Exercises – In the Spirit of Pierre Teilhard de Chardin. The format of the retreat was a wonderful mixture of time learning, time of private pondering, journaling and prayer and time to share in a small group. Louis rarely talked more than 30 minutes on an idea, gave us ideas for something to work on, … [Read more...]
My Fitbit and Me – Housewalking
Our summer challenge in Weight Watchers is to get more active. I love a good challenge and decided to “walk” the distance between my home and Avon, North Carolina, home of the Outer Banks. This is our destination for our next trip the middle of September. So my Fitbit and I are going for a walk. I am tracking the distance – 846 miles! I need to walk about 9 miles a day from June 1 to mid September. That will give me some leeway for the weeks we have company or times I don’t get or can’t get the miles done. Stepwise – this is around 21000 steps a day for me. I know I sound crazy but I usually do accomplish 15000-20000 so this is pushing myself just a little more. Why I am telling you this? (And all the while praying you don’t stop reading or unsubscribe since now you think I am looney) Two reasons: Please hold me accountable and in your prayers. I promise to report later on in the summer how I am progressing but also promise not to bore you with frequent accounts. The … [Read more...]
Pondering with CS Lewis
God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pains: it is his megaphone to rouse a deaf world. CS Lewis This quote lingered with me today. Sometimes in the good times, I hear God quite plainly and at a great volume level. I also believe I miss his many whispers too when the noise of the world and my inner chatter is set on loud. I am learning in the second half of life to make friends with my hindrances and allow my discomforts and even pains and hurts emerge as lessons. I used to squelch them, bury them in ego protecting layers or ignore them, choosing instead to spend time with ice cream and fattening comfort foods. I am more patient with difficulties now – or at least attempt to be – allowing time to heal and discover their message. God is in all my experiences – the pleasures, the worries and even the excruciating sobs of life. He doesn’t cause them but he will make things new again if I walk along side with him, listening, … [Read more...]
A Collection of Prayers and Quotes about Prayer
I leave for a seven day retreat on Sunday and have been prayerfully pondering my “intention” - my deepest desire for this time with God. Christian Valters Painters in her new and wonderful book, The Soul of a Pilgrim, recommends: “As a way of naming the grace you seek for this time, I intite you to open yourself to receive a seven word prayer to carry with you... Let this evolve over several days, sitting with whether the words that have emerged feel right for you.” Here is my seven word prayer that have formed within me for this retreat: “Deepen within me Your life and way.” Pondering prayer and allowing its words to seep within the crevices of my soul reminded me of several of my favorite quotes about prayer and favorite prayers. I copied the following down in my journal to nourish me next week on my path into the heart of God. God understands our prayers even when we can't find the words to say them. Unknown The value of persistent prayer is not that he will hear us . . . … [Read more...]
Defining Discernment
I met with a new client last week who was seeking a spiritual director. I always schedule one meeting when starting with a new person just to talk about spiritual direction and clarify expectations. I mentioned one reason people seek spiritual direction is in the time of discernment. He asked me to define discernment. I told him I thought discernment was discovering and articulating how God is moving in our lives. We listen deeply together to identify how the spirit is guiding us in live. Once home I was curious how others define discernment. Here are some definitions I found. Discernment is a spiritual understanding and an experiential knowledge of how God is active in daily life…Discernment is faith living and listening to God’s love and direction so that we can fulfill our individual calling and shared mission…The purpose of discern is to know God’s will, that is , to find accept and affirm the unique way in which God’s love is manifest in our life. Henri Nouwen. “The … [Read more...]
And How’s That Workin’ For You?
My Weight Watcher leader asked us to think about our journey to eating and living healthier. I have struggle with my weight all my life – I entered the world more than nine pounds and at one point just a few years ago topped 260#. Though I have lost quite a bit of weight, my long-term goal still taunts me from afar. “And how’s that workin’ for you?” Karey asked as I thought about how I like to snack graze all day long, sipped an occasional wine (Weight Watchers does allow that!!) and skip my exercise. With my recent weight plateau, obviously, my current pattern of weight loss is NOT working at all. I found this question invaded other aspects of my life. My writing goals sit dormant and untouched since April. “How’s that workin’ for you?” My morning time of deepening contemplative prayer? Only occasionally. “How’s that workin’ for you?” Those long-term projects to complete by March, April, May – ha! “How’s that workin’ for you?” “How’s that workin’ for you?” dwells … [Read more...]
Thankful for Behind the Scene People
Lately I am thankful for the behind the scene people who bring light to the background of my life. So often we take them for granted, failing to fully appreciate their assistance in keeping things running smoothly and the beasts at bay. Many people don’t even know the names of the ones supporting each of us in a wide variety of ways. Who cleans the bathrooms and empties the waste cans following the big game? At church who comes in early to be sure the heat or a/c is at the perfect temperature, the doors unlocked and the lights on? These are the ones who make the magic happen and keep the bus a-rolling. Open your refrigerator and look at the food there. Who stocked the shelves at the store for you before you made your purchases? Who grew the food? Who drove the truck to deliver the supplies? Who wrote the paychecks and balanced the books at the store? We oo and awe at celebrities and wonder what a grip or a gaffer is in the credits listed at the end of the movie. Those working … [Read more...]
Is NICE an Appealing Attribute?
What do you think of when you hear someone described as nice? Is that an appealing attribute? We were out with friends last week, having a great time. I smiled at my good buddy and spontaneously thought – “She is one of the nicest people I know.” Then I started the internal debate. Nice? Is that word strong enough? Or is it a weak way to compliment her? What does nice mean anyway? Merriam-Webster defines the adjective NICE as kind, polite, friendly. Hey that sounds good. But NICE’s roots come from Middle English meaning foolish and wanton, from Anglo-French meaning silly, simple, and from Latin ignorant. OOPs – maybe nice isn’t such a nice word after all. And what’s that old joke about the southern girls response to her friend’s bragging. “That’s nice.” (Maybe you don’t know that joke but this isn’t really the place to explain it.) It's nice to be important, but it's more important to be nice. ~Author Unknown Researchers are divided whether being nice is … [Read more...]