Good morning…
Yesterday, in the early morning hours, the Spirit nudged me to blog about the inspiration of our dear friend, Beth Jordan. Beth died in the fall of 2017, after thriving through brain cancer for eight fertile years. Throughout the day, many texts and emails came in recounting the joy of journeying with this big-hearted, tiny woman.
Together, Beth, her mom, and a group of us at church studied Choose Joy: Because Happiness Isn’t Enough by Kay Warren. So many good discussions. So much inner strength granted. So many memorable stories shared. Two quotes I will always remember from our learning together are these:
“Joy is the settled assurance that God is in control of all of the details of my life, the quiet confidence that ultimately everything is going to be all right, and the determined choice to praise God in all things.”
and
Using parallel train tracks as an analogy, a joy track and a sorrow track running up and down the countryside, we do well to stay connected to both joy and sorrow throughout all the days of our lives. Then… “One day, in the brightness of his coming, we will meet him face to face. And when we do, the tracks of joy and sorrow will merge. The sorrow will disappear forever, and only the joy will remain.”
When I think of Beth Jordan now, only the joy lives on.
But you, dear friends, carefully build yourselves up in this most holy faith by praying in the Holy Spirit, staying right at the center of God’s love, keeping your arms open and outstretched, ready for the mercy of our Master, Jesus Christ. This is the unending life, the real life! (Jude 1:20-21, MSG).
…Sue…
P.S. Beth was a giver of her time, her resources, and her passion for those in need. In honor of Beth, might you help us to fill fifteen Welcome Bags for the women attending the spring Ignatian Spirituality Project (ISP) retreat at Ignatius House Retreat Center next week? These courageous women are recovering from homelessness and addiction, and our Welcome Bags will offer them a tangible glimmer of God’s unending life.
Respond to me personally if you would like to contribute items for these nurturing overnight bags or make a donation to Ignatius House to help cover the cost of this retreat, which is offered free to special women.
