This Morning’s Funeral
Good morning... He was in my youngest daughter's high school graduating class. She's now twenty-two, he, twenty-three. This morning we will go to his funeral at the school where the kids attended and both of his parents have taught for years. As friend, colleague and school chaplain, my husband will officiate while I am quietly present, bearing witness with light-filled eyes. "...the people with light-filled eyes are not frightened by my grief," explains [...]
Sign Up For Spring Classes 2022
Good morning... Anyone who knows me knows that I love hosting classes in our home, semester by semester. Part of the fun for me is being always on the lookout for the next read God will lead us to explore. Usually a hidden gem, I am drawn like a magnet to the book of God's own choosing. This spring semester is no different. Over the years, we have loved studying other treasures written [...]
In Anxious And Fearful Times
Good morning... "Dear Sue," she emailed me yesterday. "I think today was a God moment as I read Henri Nouwen's post Know that You Are Welcome and then moved on to your message, You Are Welcome Here. As we emailed back and forth, I shared that I was also so surprised by the synchronicity of the Spirit. After discerning with God yesterday's post, the Spirit spurred me to push "send" on our message [...]
You Are Welcome Here
Good morning... "Your post about 'Welcoming Spirt' made me think of this song," she texted. "We sing it frequently at church. Anyway, many different versions but, regardless of who sings it, the words are so powerful." When I had a quiet moment I thoroughly enjoyed Kari Jobe and Cody Carnes singing live the song Holy Spirit. Then I went about my day, and I went about another. Now up in the early hours [...]
Changing Old Habits
Good morning... We are all creatures of habit. Left up to our own natural tendencies, we mindlessly repeat old patterns, again and again and again. For us to be guided by Christ's loving, living Spirit, we learn our best way to tangibly surrender ourselves to God's presence and welcome fresh power for the moment at hand. I am reminded of an option called "The Welcoming Prayer," so I google the phrase and the [...]
Welcoming Spirit
Good morning... This eighteen inch wooden Willow Tree woman is the symbol I bought for myself the day I began serving as the Women's Ministry Director at Northside Church in January of 2008. Her name is "Welcoming Spirit," and she silently sits beside me in the wee hours of the night as I craft each blog post. As I stepped into God's invitation fourteen years ago this week, I committed myself to remaining [...]
Start Close In
Good morning... This week I met the perfect poem to begin this brand new year. ****** Start Close In by David Whyte Start close in, don’t take the second step or the third, start with the first thing close in, the step you don’t want to take. Start with the ground you know, the pale ground beneath your feet, your own way of starting the conversation. Start with your own question, give up [...]
One Unique New Year’s Eve
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 on this unique New Year's Eve. Somehow I sense that the looseness of our human [...]
Dismantling December 2021
Good morning... I am taking my time dismantling December this year. I ponder meaningful memories as I quietly pack up our decorations. From December 2021, I am savoring many firsts. I cherish the photos from a gathering in Ohio with twenty-two of our extended family members the weekend before Thanksgiving (the first time we were all together since COVID began). I loved creating my first live Christmas wreathe with a friend, a wreathe [...]
LOVED, Period.
Good morning... Sorting through the junk in my purse, I came across the Henri Nouwen quote we discussed last month in our therapeutic community group at PAWkids. Reading this quote aloud together, I used colored pencils to highlight words capturing my attention. Might you slowly, quietly read these words aloud to yourself, noticing the words which intrigue you? "Every time you feel hurt, offended or rejected, you have to dare to say to [...]
The Work Of Christmas Begins
Good morning... The radiance of the Bethlehem star and the light of the living Christ now intermingle, inviting us forward. The Word became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighborhood. We saw the glory with our own eyes, the one-of-a-kind glory, like Father, like Son. Generous inside and out, true from start to finish (John 1:14, MSG). Now we become like our Father and our Brother, generous inside and out, daily living [...]
Overflowing With Life
Good morning... "Merry Christmas, my friend," I would personally text you if I knew each of your phone numbers. The Christ child is born, just like the promises of old have always predicted. This ruddy newborn's first visitors were the lowly, dirty shepherds. So they came as fast as they could and they found Mary and Joseph—and the baby lying in the manger. And when they had seen this sight, they told everybody [...]