Israel Day #1: Desert
Good morning... After being dropped off at the airport around 4:00 pm in Atlanta, we arrived in Tel Aviv, Israel just as the sun was setting. With the seven hour time change, our travel evaporated an entire day. My husband Steve shared with me the sketchy notes from which he will teach each day, and I will put flesh on their bones, adding adjectives, full sentences, and punctuation. I invite you to join [...]
I Hate Leaving Home
Good morning... Does this ever happen to you? At the 11th hour, I always want to stay home. As my fears swirl wildly in the final hours, I crave my familiar comfort zone. I just want to hunker down in my own happy place. I have been waiting to go to on an adult trip to Israel with my husband Steve and a small group of cool people, for years and years and [...]
It Takes Time
Good morning... I read aloud this powerful poem as we entered into the crucible of Lent. I invite you now to savor deep wisdom. Slowing. Silently. Soulfully. Which words sparkle most in the eyes of your maturing heart? ****** It Takes Time by NOEL DAVIS FROM “HEART GONE WALKABOUT” It takes time to bake a loaf of bread, to grind, to knead, to wait…. Time for friends to break and share their lives. [...]
New Ashes This Wednesday
Good morning... Today is Ash Wednesday, marking the beginning of Lent, the 46 days before Easter Sunday. Christianity.com explains: "Lent is a 40-day season (not counting Sundays) marked by repentance, fasting, reflection, and ultimately celebration. The 40-day period represents Christ’s time of temptation in the wilderness, where he fasted and where Satan tempted him. Lent asks believers to set aside a time each year for personal forms of fasting, marking an intentional season [...]
Pondering Steve’s Message
Good morning... As a member of the chaplain team at The Lovett School, my husband Steve takes his turn writing a devotional for the community. Up in the middle of the night now, I re-read the thoughts he shared yesterday. Please join me as we ponder this wisdom together. ****** As Moses came down from the mountain with the two tablets of the covenant in his hand, Moses did not know that the [...]
Two Crucial Questions
Good morning... Olga from Ukraine continues to interact with our written word community through our friend Pam. After receiving our blog post Day Of Prayer For Ukraine, Olga sent an immediate response: "People all over the world are united. It's really impressive and supports us!" "I'm overwhelmed to know the Ukrainians are hearing the worldwide message of harmony," Pam texted me yesterday. "Yes," I responded. "God's love is shining through in brilliant, unexpected [...]
Day Of Prayer for Ukraine
Good afternoon... Never before have I felt compelled to share a second blog post on the same day. With email responses piling up from this morning's message, Praying for Olga, I offer us an intimate update from Ukraine. Throughout the day, I have heard from many of you who yearn to join our hearts in prayer on behalf of the vulnerable men, women, and children of Ukraine. I will share some of your [...]
Praying For Olga
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 Ukrainian intelligence, the Russian Federation is planning a large-scale provocation with the aim of 'dehumanizing' [...]
In This Confused World
Good morning... On Sunday morning, we were given time to read to ourselves the Unison Prayer of Confession. Slowly. Silently. Sitting still, we each read reverently. Once we had deepened down into the words privately, we read the follow prayer aloud together. Slowly. Silently. Sitting still. Might you join me now as we are touched by this wide-eyed wisdom? ****** From "I Confess" by Howard Thurman I confess my own inner confusion as [...]
When We Disagree
Good morning... Our post from last week What Is Mine To Do? has invited some very dynamic dialogue. Yesterday I shared one reader's response. Today I share with you another subscriber's perspective. ****** Dear Sue, Thank you for your thoughts today, and for your service in your community. I was anxious to read your post as soon as I saw the title, What Is Mine To Do? So many of my dear friends [...]
Drink And Serve
Good morning... One post from last week may have slipped off your radar, but What Is Mine To Do? has privately filled my week with some dynamic dialogue. Our blog was about the "depressed, exhausted, upset" experience one friend felt after her first time as a homework helper with inner city children, some who cannot read or write just ten minutes from our home. In response to the challenge of illiteracy in our [...]
Love Is Captured In Black And White
Good morning... One week ago I rested like a fly on the wall in the foyer of KIPP Woodson Park Academy, waiting for the staff from PAWkids to arrive. As I sat quietly in a light filled corner, I texted myself snippets of conversations I overheard. "He's on the run," a teacher told a grandmother who had been unexpectedly called to the school. "He put his hands on me and I told him [...]