In Her Rose Garden
Good morning... Our family is caring for a friend's home and dog while their family is away. I have thoroughly enjoyed visiting her roses, snapping pictures, marveling at God's intricate beauty. What life lessons have I learned while meandering through her rose garden, and which Bible verses whisper God's truth in my ears, my eyes, and my heart? Different skin colors, on roses and on people, grow together peacefully as [...]
Peace Quietly Blooms
Good morning... Pictured above, I saved this "peace lily plant" years ago when the previous owner was throwing her in the trash. After I tenderly nursed her back to life, she now rests just over the threshold of our front door, bathed in sunlight, welcoming in guests. She has lived in our home for years and years, but never before have I noticed this plant blossoming three white blooms. Until today. So I [...]
Tired Of Waiting?
Good morning... It seems to me, grey is the color of waiting. Not old, not new. Not now, not yet. No agenda, no time frame. No end of the tunnel, no finish line in sight. I think back to my most fertile times of waiting, when new life was gestating inside my womb, out of my sight, expanding me uncomfortably. At least during pregnancy, we are given a tentative due date and books [...]
One Soulful Sketch
Good morning... Her short text included one soulful sketch created by Atlanta artist Danielle Coke. Postive. Powerful. Process-oriented, right? And I will give them one heart [a new heart], and put a new spirit within them. I will take from them the heart of stone, and will give them a heart of flesh [that is responsive to My touch] (Ezekiel 11:19, AMP). In this transformational time in our human history, I sense God [...]
Draw Closer
Good morning... Walking our dog, I noticed this conglomerate rock resting in the grass. I picked it up, held it in the palm of my hand, and thought, "This feels like a symbol of me right now. So much new is rising up from the depths of me, moving steadily from unconscious unknowing into conscious awareness." I brought the rock home, placed it on its own perch, and surrounded it by three open, [...]
Our Only Caring Cure
Good morning... "Our tendency is to run away from the painful realities or to try to change them as soon as possible," Henri Nouwen's morning meditation from yesterday joins our life-giving conversation. "But cure without care makes us into rulers, controllers, manipulators, and prevents a real community from taking shape. Cure without care makes us preoccupied with quick changes, impatient and unwilling to share each other’s burden. And so cure can often become [...]
Three Great Questions
Good morning... Her email was short and direct. "Sue, what is happening around us? What do we do? Is God listening? Afraid for our world." My response was long and drawn out. "Great questions. I am learning not to just slough off important opportunities to communicate. You are asking so I will answer and these are my prayerful responses." 1) What is happening around us? Because of technology (cell phones, body cameras, televisions) we [...]
Raising Our Sails
Good morning... "Love our daily dose of love vitamin!" Short and sweet came her encouraging email after yesterday's blog post, The Wind And The Sailor. "Love, God's love, this is the nutrient we need in these challenging times. Thank you for the infusions. My favorite quote from anonymous: 'The winds of grace are always blowing. But, we must raise our sails.'" My response returned short and sweet, "Thank you, dear friend, for raising your [...]
The Wind And The Sailor
Good morning... "Loving can be a difficult business," writes Roberta Bondi on page 35 in To Love As God Loves. "It is impossible to grit the teeth and love, no matter how much we want to. That is because human effort is only one of the two basic elements necessary for the fulfillment of all Christian goals and desires, but particularly for love. The other is God's grace. Without grace, nothing is possible." [...]
Our Peaceful Place
Good morning... "I don't think I have hated anyone like this before," she said. "I can't stand being around her. I just feel so unsafe, like she might attack me with her words at any time, belittling me in front of everyone, making me feel horrible. I know we are supposed to love our enemies, but I don't know how to do that. I have never tried to love someone I really hate. [...]
Walking Our Streets
Good morning... A longtime friend sent me a moving music video, and I asked if I might share it with our online community. Her permission came with this reply: "Please share! It reminds me of the group of moms who would walk the Lovett School grounds and fervently pray for every inch of that place - every person, athletic field, classroom, lunch room, etc. It was very powerful to me then. The needs [...]
Learning By Listening
Good morning... Many of us had strong reactions to the opinions expressed in a polarizing post from this week, A Mother's Perspective. Some were very "for" the expression of this mother's truth, agreeing wholeheartedly with the thoughts bravely shared. Some were very "against" the powerful post, appalled by the judgement that an "inebriated 'lost soul'" father with black skin might somehow have a life that mattered less to God than a policeman father [...]