Good morning... December hosts a plethora of pop-up possibilities. On top of our regular commitments, we add gift buying, Christmas cards, and holiday visits. We pile on parties, special foods, and annual traditions. We struggle with people-pleasing, perfectionist tendencies, and performing our priorities with the greatest of ease. But December is not easy, December can be hard. Yet [...]
Good morning... Last March, we hosted the first "Awake To Wellness Women's Retreat" here in Atlanta, Georgia. Remember those two special, sacred days? Today in Orlando, Florida, we will host the second "Awake To Wellness Retreat," as I join mesmerizing pianist Dana Cunningham and talented authors Kitty Crenshaw and Dr. Cathy Snapp. Together we will to bring to [...]
Good morning... Usually I do not read the dedication page of a new book. I skim right over those obligatory words, craving the meat of the author's wisdom. But for some unknown reason this time is different. "Dedicated to the indwelling Divine Guest whose Voice is heard in the Silence." Wow. With these words, God gets my attention. [...]
Good morning... "Most days I eat breakfast and/or lunch on my back porch. Our dogs sit at my feet or play in the yard. The big sky opens wide to offer art lessons. Trees and leaves slow-dance with the breeze. Birds and butterflies, squirrels and chipmunks, all God's creatures frolic in freedom. Fresh air fills my lungs and rejuvenates [...]
Good morning... Georgia O'Keefe once said astutely, "In a way, nobody sees a flower really, it is so small, we haven't time --- and to see takes time, like to have a friend takes time." It takes time to see, to befriend, and to discern the voice of God. Scripture says it this way: “Let me set this before [...]
Good morning... As she nestled into the monastery for a weekend retreat, my friend read these framed words on the wall. Forget safety. Live where you fear to live. Destroy your reputation and be notorious. - Rumi By nature, she plays it safe. She heeds the warning signs of her fears. Her reputation has taken a long time to [...]
Good morning... As many of you know, I am in the middle of a Spiritual Direction training program and the dense, intense reading is very hard for me. With my dyslexic, ADD brain, I read slowly and I struggle with comprehension. Unlike many of you avid readers, I cannot read for thirty minutes, do another task, then return to [...]
Good morning... Instinctively, we know, "It's time to slow down." For me, tangible indicators begin to pile up. 1) Often we get sick. Itchy ears. Scratchy throat. Fever and cough precede complete congestion. A full blown fall cold invaded my body last week. 2) Loved ones notice our need. As I scurried around last weekend, my husband said, "You [...]
Good morning... Emailing about the importance of our morning devotionals, she discovered a typo. Writing "mooring" instead of "morning" and she marveled at her mistake. "Wow - this is an accidental typo - but mooring is a good word. Choosing to cut from my regular schedule to make sure I had time to keep things in order at home [...]
Good morning... We wait in solitude and silence, beginning to feel God's answers emerging. Dallas Willard recommends, "Stay there long enough for the inner being to be different. Muddy water becomes clear if you only let it be still for a while." (The Divine Conspiracy, p 359) Dallas reveals an interesting phenomenon. I google: "How does still water become [...]
