At Home In My Own Skin
Good morning... "Years ago, someone told me that humility is central to the spiritual life," writes Parker Palmer on page seventy of Let Your Life Speak. "That made sense to me: I was proud to be humble! But this person did not tell me that the path to humility, for some of us at least, goes through humiliation, where we are brought low, rendered powerless, stripped of pretenses and defenses, and left feeling [...]
I Feel So Alone
Good morning... "God cares," she quietly responded after yesterday's post Does Anyone Care? "This is beautiful, Sue. I feel so alone right now and need to be reminded that I am never alone. Thank you." God's living Word carried on our conversation. "You are right," I emailed back. "God cares. God loves you relentlessly, forever and always. You have heard the truth of God’s living Word. The Spirit of God dwells in you, [...]
Does Anyone Care?
Good morning... This week I happened upon a powerful quote by Madeleine Delbrêl. "Once we have heard God’s Word, we no longer have the right not to accept it; once we have accepted it, we no longer have the right not to let it become flesh in us; once it has become flesh in us, we no longer have the right to keep it for ourselves alone. Henceforward, we belong to all those [...]
100 Valentine’s Day Gifts
Good morning... Our written word community is beautifully living out the joy of 2 Corinthians 9:7 (CEB): Everyone should give whatever they have decided in their heart. They shouldn’t give with hesitation or because of pressure. God loves a cheerful giver. We were given a fun invitation by LaTonya Gates, the founder and director of PAWkids. "Sue, everyone loved the 100 gift bags you and your friends made at Christmas. Now might you [...]
What Makes You Come Alive?
Good morning... A few Sundays back, we circled up in a dear friend's lovely living room for our monthly book discussion of Anchored In The Current. Right now in the wee hours of the night, I am drawn back to some of the words we read aloud from page forty-one, words first spoken in the baccalaureate address Howard Thurman delivered at Spelman College on May 4th, 1980. "You are the only you that [...]
Savor Twenty-Five Seconds
Good morning... "I thought of you when I wrote yesterday's blog, A Fun Tale Of Two Brains," I texted our friend Dr. Cathy Snapp, co-author of The Hidden Life Awakened. Since she works in the blossoming field of neuroscience, I figured Cathy would have some wise answers to the questions expanding in my mind. "This comedian is really funny," I referenced the five minute video in our post, "but I wanted to ask [...]
A Fun Tale Of Two Brains
Good morning... It seems I am not the only one of us experiencing a chaotic brain. In class yesterday, one woman shared an old video about the differences between the brains of men and the brains of women. Like most good humor, enough truth is touched to make us feel seen, known, accepted where we are and growing as we go. Enjoy these five funny minutes this winter morning. ...a time to weep [...]
Heavy Heart. Chaotic Brain.
Good morning... The images above, sent by a fun friend in North Carolina, help me as I try to process my heavy heart and my chaotic brain. Honestly, it feels like both are about to burst. How can I joyfully be creating with a handful of you 100 Valentine's Day gift bags for impoverished senior citizens while at the same time remain in such sorrowful solidarity with my dear friend whose daughter is [...]
Repeat The Sound Of Joy
Good morning... In December, many of you pitched in to donate items to fill 100 gift bags for the senior citizens of the impoverished Grove Park area of our city. A handful of us joyfully assembled the Christmas gifts at Corinne Adam's art studio over two magic-making work shifts. Then I drove the precious presents to PAWkids, who in turn gave them to the neighborhood police officers to deliver the gift bags to [...]
Our Happy Place
Good morning... Yesterday, spontaneously, the chorus of an old favorite song erupted in me. I unashamedly sang out loud as I drove to PAWkids for our therapeutic community group, remembering the comment made there the night before by a first time homework helper: "You can definitely feel God's presence in this place." "Surely the presence of the Lord is in this place," I sang quietly to myself. "I can feel God's mighty power [...]
Living Julie’s Dream
Good morning... "You can definitely feel God's presence in this place," said one of the new volunteers after we helped kids with their homework at PAWkids yesterday. I totally agree. God's presence feels unmistakable in such a life-giving space. Don’t you know? Haven’t you been listening? Yahweh is the one and only everlasting God, the Creator of all you can see and imagine! He never gets weary or worn out. His intelligence is [...]
One Month Ago
Good morning... One month ago today, I filled our car with generously donated items and drove the requested "snacks and drinks" to PAWkids for New Year's Eve. Homemade cupcakes, cookies, and oatmeal packets. Waters, juices, cocoa mix and milk. Chips, protein bars, and paper goods. The day before, I had also made a big batch of homemade turkey/vegetable soup to share. The policemen in the Grove Park area planned to hold open the [...]