When Clouds Cover Everything
Good morning... I love unique days when I get to experience both the sunrise and the sunset. The sunset on the Saturday night of our Advent women's retreat was absolutely spectacular, so I went to bed so excited to see the sun gloriously rise on Sunday morning. As usual, I woke early without an alarm and walked up the hillside to get a front row seat for the fresh appearance of our dependable [...]
How Might I Worship?
Good morning... In our women's Advent retreat schedule, at 5:00 pm Saturday night there was a communion mass to which we were all invited. Privately, my spirit wondered, "What time is sunset?" I love to do a photo shoot with the setting sun whenever I am at Ignatius House Retreat Center, so I googled "When is sunset in Atlanta?" The answer came back: "5:21 pm." So I hit a dilemma. God and I [...]
P.A.U.S.E.
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 for me to tolerate instability for very long. "I give up," eventually my inner voice [...]
Overworked And Overwhelmed
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 spins out of our control, we stop, we surrender, we savor stability. Jesus Christ is [...]
101 Gifts
Good morning... The joy was palpable as we created one hundred Christmas gift bags for police officers to deliver to senior citizens in the impoverished Grove Park area of our community. Before we began the PAWkids' project, I had no idea how we would actually accomplish the festive feat. After two fun-filled work sessions, everything came together almost effortlessly. Amazed, I felt like I had witnessed a modern day miracle, a few fish [...]
One Soft Green Heart
Good morning... Before we gathered to create one hundred Christmas gift bags for the police officers to deliver to the senior citizens in the Grove Park neighborhood of our city, LaTonya Gates, founder and director of PAWkids, said, "Sue, I would love for you to include Bible verses in every bag." So I was gifted with the joy of discerning four verses, running them off on card stock and slicing them into strips. [...]
Do What Dogs Do
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. If we could learn to rest as the Spirit invites us, like sleepy dogs rest [...]
Steve’s Thoughts For Today
Good morning... Luke 3:4 whispers, “Prepare the way of the Lord.” In his chaplain's devotional message this week, my husband Steve remembers with us the focus of this Advent season. May we practice the presence of the living Christ born in and through us today. ****** "Prepare the Way of the Lord" by Rev. Steve Allen - December 6, 2021 My earliest memories of Advent have to do with the advent calendar. Each [...]
Hilarious Generosity
Good morning... When the founder and director of PAWkids asked me and the women connected to our church family to create one hundred Christmas gift bags for the seniors in the poverty-stricken Grove Park neighborhood of our city, my heart leapt! What a sweet hands-on way to give, to create, to joyfully join hearts with our expanding community. I absolutely love the fact that the policemen in the area will personally deliver these [...]
Magic In Unlikely Places
Good morning... "And above all," says the Roald Dahl quote tucked in a beautiful thank you card, "watch with glittering eyes the whole world around you because the greatest secrets are always hidden in the most unlikely places. Those who don't believe in magic will never find it." Watching with glittering eyes, I have seen the magic of our Maker grow strong in unexpected places this week. "How was your day?" asked the [...]
One Sagging Santa
Good morning... I was driving around in December's hustle, rushing to here before dashing to there. "Of course, there's a train," I texted the photo above to the person forced to wait as I was running late. A line of red taillights. Stopped by a standstill. Traffic mounting along with my anxiety, my frustration, my anger at myself. If I had been in my peaceful mind, I may have enjoyed the slow down, [...]
Finding Calm In The Crazy
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. I intended to share with you a final quote from Haley Ruth Barton's Sacred Rhythms: [...]