What’s saving my life right now? Ever ask yourself this thought-provoking question?
I find sitting with this question to be life-giving, uplifting, refreshing and provides a moment of rest for my spirit.
One of my mentors, Emily Freeman, asks this question frequently too. She discovered this question in a book by Barbara Brown Taylor (another mentor of mine!) in her book, Leaving Church. Taylor shares the story of being a guest speaker at an event. When she asked for her topic, this was her host’s request: “Tell us what is saving your life right now.” These words invite us to pause, reflect, and savor what is giving us life at this moment.
What a great spiritual practice to pause, take a deep breath and listen to your life and ask: what is giving/saving your life right now? What is bringing you joy? What grounds you and helps you get out of bed each day? What helps you get your mind off this crazy messed up world and helps you remember beauty, meaning, and love? What IS saving your life right now at this present moment?
What is Saving My Life Right Now?
Interesting that most things that bring life into my heart right now are really tiny, ordinary, everyday actions. The big stuff of life is great, but not always the most refreshing. After I wrote this post I recognized such a thirst within me for hope and inspiration – Hope is saving my life right now.
Reading Fiction
I am as shocked as anybody. I am such a non-fiction nerd so to admit I am reading fiction this year and loving it, is quite the confession. I just finished Project Hail Mary and am halfway through Theo of Golden and loved both books. Both contain hope, inspiration, and imagination.
Today
My prayer each morning is this: “Thank you Lord for ______________(insert specific date). What do you want of me today?”
Paying attention to the new day before me, being present to moment, and awake to God’s presence starts the day aligned more with Him and less of me. This is the day the Lord has made;
We will rejoice and be glad in it. –Psalm 118:24 NKJV
Too often I am regurgitating what happened yesterday or planning, trying to control, or worrying about tomorrow. A deep breath and gratitude for today. I don’t want to let this gift slip through my heart so quickly.
Julian of Norwich
I am walking with one of my favorite Lamplighters this year: Julian of Norwich. You can read about what I call Lamplighters here. At least once a week I read a little about Julian and try to capture some of her spirit/spirituality into my soul. Books I return to often are: Julian of Norwich – The Showings, translated by Marabai Starr and Matthew Fox’s Julian of Norwich – Wisdom in a time of Pandemic and Beyond. Hope and inspiration revealed in her life and her words.
Settings/Places
As the weather warms sitting in my backyard restores my soul. So does travel – seeing and exploring new places. I am learning to be fully present in whatever setting I am experiencing.
Terry Hershey wrote a few weeks ago:
“There are two places we need to go often.
A place that heals you.
And a place that inspires you.
Both places embrace the permission (the invitation) to show up. To this life. To this day. To be here now. Because we know that we bring the gift of enough. To spill light where we can, in a world where darkness is real.”
What places heal you? Inspire you? Good questions, aren’t they?
Centering Down
After the hassle of traveling and the chaos of this world we live in I yearn for peace and finding that center within me of quiet and Love.
Reminds me of the quote by Howard Thurman:
How good it is to center down!
To sit quietly and see one’s self pass by!
The streets of our minds seethe with endless traffic;
Our spirits resound with clashing, with noisy silences,
While something deep within hungers and thirsts for the still moment and the resting lull.
With full intensity we seek, ere thicket passes, a fresh sense of order in our living;
A direction, a strong sure purpose that will structure our confusion and bring meaning in our chaos.
We look at ourselves in this waiting moment—the kinds of people we are.
The questions persist: what are we doing with our lives? What are the motives that order our days?
What is the end of our doings? Where are we trying to go? Where do we put the emphasis and where are our values focused? For what end do we make sacrifices?
Where is my treasure and what do I love most in life?
What do I hate most in life and to what am I true? Over and over the questions beat upon the waiting moment.
As we listen, floating up through all of the jangling echoes of our turbulence, there is a sound of another kind—
A deeper note which only the stillness of the heart makes clear.
It moves directly to the core of our being. Our questions are answered,
Our spirits refreshed, and we move back into the traffic of our daily round
With the peace of the Eternal in our step.
How good it is to center down!
Yes, yes, how good!”
What is saving your life right now?
I’d say writing is what saves my life–from boredom and lack of purpose. It’s been such a blessing to be a part of the blogosphere, meeting new friends like you Jean. (And what a special gift to meet you in person at that writers’ conference a number of years ago!) It’s also a privilege to be an encouraging voice, speaking into in the lives of others.
you are so right about writing. Writing here on the blog, my journal, my other creative outlets, What a lifegiving practice writing is for both of us. And I was so blessed to meet you in person. May we do that again someday!!