Our Trip To Maine
Good morning... Many of you have asked about our week long experience in the wilderness of Maine as Julie's Dream chaperones with six guys, six girls, and three chaperones from PAWkids, a non-profit agency planted in the Grove Park neighborhood of inner city Atlanta. It is hard for me to find words to describe the rich, multi-layered experience. So much to process. So much to learn. So instead of a thousand words, I [...]
Remaining In Love
Good morning... The executive director of the Ignatius House Retreat Center lives in our neighborhood. I find Maria to be a person who lives the love of Christ in such a vibrant, authentic way. So, when it came into my inbox yesterday, I was encouraged by her video reflection on the first fifteen verses of the book of John. Remember the words of Jesus? “I am the sprouting vine and you’re my branches. [...]
Invited To Exhale
Good morning... Which of these quiet quotes most attracts your soul's attention? “Alone, without distractions, we put ourselves in a place where God can reveal things to us that we might not notice in the normal preoccupations of life," encourages Adele Calhoun. "Solitude opens up a space where we can bring our empty and compulsive selves to God. And no matter how well we ‘do’ silence, God is there to accept, receive and [...]
Our Brilliant Tapestry
Good morning... "Sue - thank you for the wonderful message today," she emailed me after yesterday's post, Listen Carefully. "When I read Henri's meditation on July 6th, I was struck by the rich notes of the veil that were connected to the music you were writing to us about the Will of God. Isn't God's tapestry so brilliantly colored?" "One of two things - you have had a rough and rich experience with [...]
Listen Carefully
Good morning... We were in a very remote section in the wilderness of Maine, no cell service, no WiFi for a whole week. When we returned again to access the power of the internet, God's gentle voice was amplified in the first email I received. Enjoy revisiting this quiet wisdom with me now. ****** DAILY MEDITATION | JULY 6, 2021 - Nature Points to God’s Love by Henri Nouwen All nature conceals its [...]
No Wi-fi Or Cell Service
Good morning... We have been preparing for this morning for a very long time. Today my husband, Steve, and I fly to Maine with twelve inner city PAWkids students and six chaperones, sponsored by the non-profit formed in my friend's honor, Julie's Dream. What an unpredictable adventure! "Built on Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC) conservation land and located at the confluence of Second Roach Pond and the Roach River, Medawisla Lodge and Cabins, part [...]
Where Is Our Freedom?
Good morning... This fourth of July 2021, where is our freedom? In these early morning hours, three Scripture verses merge in my mind to reveal God's expanding truth. Our freedom is more than a flag bearing stars and stripes, more than hot dogs and hamburgers sizzling on a grill, more than fireworks lighting up the pitch black sky. True freedom is about Christ gently living on through us to free the impoverished, to [...]
Seeds of Gratitude
Good morning... "Gratitude is a seed you plant," said the minister at the celebration of Eliza's twenty-eight year old life. "This seed grows up into joy. Radiant joy comes from planting small seeds of daily gratitude." Though her body was riddled with cancer, Eliza's radiant joy was unmistakably contagious. This week Henri Nouwen also encourages us to plant seeds of gratitude in our everyday lives. ****** DAILY MEDITATION | JULY 2, 2021 - [...]
Thy Will Be Done
Good morning... Sometimes a song sings just what we feel. I am hoping this music video adds another dimension to our ongoing discussion about the will of God. Our Father who art in Heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy Kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth, as it is in Heaven (Matthew 6:9b-10, KJ21). ...Sue... Note To Sue Past Posts Donate [...]
In This Upside Down World
Good morning... As you can imagine, after our past two posts which wrestle with "the will of God," I have received many heartfelt emails from fellow followers of Christ trying to explain the philosophy of life stabilizing us during tumultuous times, like an anchor steadies a ship. I will share a heavy handful of our treasured thoughts. "These are such powerful questions to explore," writes one reader. "I remember Ken Boa coming to [...]
Meet Me On The Veranda
Good morning... "Would you like me to seat you inside or out on the veranda?" asked the hostess. "I would love to sit on the veranda," my spirit leapt. As I enjoyed a quiet meal to myself, I thought about the word "veranda." By definition, it is a large, open porch, usually roofed and partly enclosed. Rarely stumbled upon, the last time I encountered the word was in my reading of the treasured [...]
This Is Not God’s Will
Good morning... "This is not God's will," the minister said at the celebration of Eliza's vivacious, twenty-eight year old life. "This is outside the will of God, but not outside the love of God," he tried to explain the deep mystery of grief. But I had just written in our blog post, "I entrust Eliza’s life to God’s higher will and God’s impeccable timing." So which is it? Was Eliza's release from a [...]