Our Friday group gathered to discuss our next chapter in Paula D'Arcy's book Sacred Threshold: Crossing the Inner Barrier to Deeper Love. To begin our time together, we shared various prayer concerns. One woman has a dear friend, Olga, who lives in Ukraine with her two daughters. Olga had sent a telegram earlier in the day: "According to [...]
Good morning... Yesterday as we pulled up to drop off donated dinner items for the men overcoming homelessness and addiction at Trinity House, I asked my husband Steve, "For how many years have we been doing this every month?" We thought back to when a student in the junior class called to ask if kids from The Lovett [...]
Good morning... The gathering at PAWkids tonight has been loosely planned. Given a brief description of the needs for the night, "snacks and drinks," an excited group of us stepped forward to provide refreshments as the police officers in Grove Park hold open the blue house to provide safety and loving care for the hungry and the homeless [...]
Good morning... If you look closely at our old weathered tree skirt, you will see that it was handmade in 2001, twenty years ago this Advent season. Red felt. Gold cording. Not sewn but glued. Glittery gold paint captured our children's names, ages, and handprints. Back then, our kids were six, four, two, and six months old. Born [...]
Good morning... My new favorite tree ornament is a transparent two inch square holding a tiny ice skater. Handmade by our wildly creative friend Corinne Adams, this symbol sums up my Advent season thus far, gliding along almost effortlessly, empowered by the Spirit of God with us. Yet today is Monday and by the time we skate through [...]
Good morning... When my inside self feels topsy-turvy, off-balance, cockeyed, truth finally dawns: "I have elbowed God out of the way." I have stopped diligently anchoring myself in Christ, who is the same yesterday, today, forever. I have started tipping toward my own selfish whims. I hate this topsy-turvy, off-balance feeling, this experience of spinning cockeyed. It's hard [...]
Good morning... While on our women's retreat the first weekend of December, I met a small, sweet book. The Art Of Pausing: Meditations for the Overworked and Overwhelmed. In a simple, inviting pattern the authors offer poems, photographs and short reflections on the names of God, the character of our Creator from whom all blessings flow. When life [...]
Good morning... After our small group Christmas gathering, I simply had to snap this photo. The image reminds me of our need to rest amid the holiday hurry. Breathe deep. Allow the Spirit to fill us full. Prepare for the peaceful presence of our living Lord to be born in and through us each night and each day. [...]
Good morning... The winds of December are already blowing wildly, and it is only day number three. Excess. Expectations. Extras galore. How much of this crazy do I bring on myself, speeding, scattering, struggling to do it all? Today is the last day of our semester's class and, for the life of me, I cannot find my book. [...]
Good morning... For the past twenty-four hours, I have been living more in my lungs. Inhale. Exhale. One breath at a time. Bedding down into my quiet center, I rest at peace with the Giver of each breath. Now up from my gut a Scripture verse dawns. “Here’s what I want you to do: Find a quiet, secluded [...]
