Good morning... Up in the middle of night's darkness, I wonder, "God, where do we begin praying for loved ones facing death, divorce, depression?" I pull out a poem we received at this weekend's retreat at Ignatius House, and I whisper it out loud on behalf of all who are in pain, dear ones hurting deeply. ****** “Beloved [...]
Good morning... On Tuesday morning, we returned again to our therapeutic community group on the PAWkids campus in Grove Park. Men and women. Young and old. Black and white. We gathered again following our summer break. For our activity, we chose various cards from a deck of images to give voice to things we've experienced since last seeing [...]
Good morning... While on retreat Monday and Tuesday, we spread out into delightfully inviting guest rooms. One friend brought me into her room, and said, "Sue, look what's on my bedside table." Wow. It was The Circle of Love, a small, hardback book of meditations written by my spiritual mentor Betty Skinner. How dear. We just happened to [...]
Good morning... As pressures pile up and anxiety spirals down, we can feel buried beneath the stress. This simple Instagram post helps us to see the light. "The best part is yet to come," whisper the seed and the egg, the cocoon and the storm. "The best part is yet to [...]
Good morning... Last Wednesday, I spent quality time with a new friend from Northside Church. She’s been a very active member for a long, long time, but, as she has taught art to kids during the day for over twenty years, she’s never been able to take one of the daytime classes I teach each semester. Now in [...]
Good morning... From all sides we are bombarded. Wars and worries. Death and depression. Anxiety and addiction. Conflict and confusion. Pain and problems. Into life's cacophony, my neighbor sent a centering image. Slow down. Notice blessings. Love the people on your path. “Eternal Lord, [...]
Good morning... In addition to my weekday work as Women's Ministry Director at Northside Church, I have joined my husband Steve on many Sundays as he has helped out a little Presbyterian church nearby. With their beloved pastor leaving, the small church family needed an ordained pastor to step into temporary gaps. As needed, he would pray and [...]
Good morning... As I stroll into our summer reading of Henri Nouwen's Here and Now, I meet these words on page 43. "Joy and hope are never separate. I have never met a hopeful person who was depressed or a joyful person who has lost hope." I think to myself, "Actually, I think I am a hopeful person [...]
Good morning... This weekend's full moon passed quietly. With cloudy skies and thick overgrowth, inside me and around us, the power of God felt muted, present but subdued. This weekend, no one sent me gorgeous, glowing full moon photos, which people so often do. Grieving friends have lost loved [...]
Good morning... Several of you responded to yesterday's blog post, I Am Feeling Lonely. Here is some of what you said. Beautiful words. Prayers that God will show you His way for you. I can relate to your feelings of loneliness. Morning sweet friend…loved your post this morning and join you in that longing to go deeper in [...]
