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 [...]
Can You Believe This?
Good morning... I love being the first awake on Christmas Eve morning. I turn on our tree lights, look a moment at our nativity, and mix up the chocolate batter for my husband's fifty-ninth birthday cake. We will celebrate as a family at 1:00 pm today before I work the second shift at Northside Church, welcoming worshippers to the magic of Christmas Eve services. I put Steve's requested cake in the oven and [...]
Three Exquisite Cards
Good morning... Three exquisite 4 x 6 inch cards. What an amazing Christmas gift given by my friend. The first card depicts Mary with the Christ child developing in her womb. What do you see as you ponder the image above? I see dark skin, yellow light, lots of shining stars sprinkling the rich royal blue, inside and around. A strong baby Jesus gestates in the womb, reaching out wide to calm the [...]
Jeremiah’s Christmas Tree Removal
Good morning... One thing I love most about being a mom of four young adults is watching God-given gifts grow out of our kids. Our youngest son, Jeremiah, is a hands-on hard worker who is helping to pay his way through college. Lots of you have used his pressure washing services for the past three summers and others of you have had him care for your pets, your plants, your homes while you [...]
We Are Handed A Gift
Good morning... Resting amid a golden cloth, green branches and red berries, the baby Jesus was swaddled on the altar at the Ignatius House Retreat Center. Surrounded by Christmas ornaments, glowing candles and the winter woods, the hands of the Christ child were held open and uplifted. The moving image took my breath away. So real. Sacred. Powerful. Then my eyes looked up. Just above the altar hung our dying Savior upon the [...]