Our Source Of Life
Good morning... I just happened upon a Scripture verse that sums up our Source of eros, life-giving energy. 1 John 5:6-8 in The Message translation says: Jesus—the Divine Christ! He experienced a life-giving birth and a death-killing death. Not only birth from the womb, but baptismal birth of his ministry and sacrificial death. And all the while the Spirit is confirming the truth, the reality of God’s presence at Jesus’ baptism and crucifixion, bringing those [...]
Savor Sabbath: Sit At God’s Table
Good morning... Last Sunday after church, my overactive mind began to wonder, "What different types of tables exist in our world?" I know, quirky question, but stick in here with me. I began to brainstorm a comprehensive list. Billiards table. Changing table. Breakfast table. Conference table. Coffee table. Folding table. Picnic table. Dinner table. Poker table. Negotiating table. Thanksgiving table. Freakishly obsessed, I asked my family members to join my fun. Head table. Kids [...]
The Art Of Giving
Good morning... Our home is filled with artwork created by people I know and love. Margo Boden. Our children. Steve Penley. Gina MacFarland. Sally Mitchell. The one artist who graces our home most often with her beautiful creations is painter, photographer, and philantropist Corrine Adams. One-of-a-kind photographs. Funky seed creations. Transparent bottles filled with cool sayings. Unique jewelry, rings, bracelets, and necklaces. Handmade clothing, scarves, jackets, and t-shirts embroidered by talented women in [...]
Enjoy Life-Giving Energy
Good morning... "We all try to do what seems like the task that life first hands us," writes Richard Rohr, "establishing an identity, a home, relationships, community, security, and building a proper platform for our only life." This is a good place for all of us to begin. Rohr continues: "But it takes us much longer to discover 'the task within the task,' as I like to call it: what are we really [...]
Uncanny Strength, Inside Out
Good morning... When I look at ordinary people of faith, I marvel at God growing uncanny strength, from inside out. In the past 24-hours I witnessed the resilience of a down-to-earth family who has endured a lot of heartache over the years. Certainly, their cancer journey has taken an exhausting toll, but more than weathering them weak, I have seen them grow unexplainable strong. The shock of Tuesday's scan results first brought unstoppable tears [...]
Wait Or Work?
Good morning... "I don’t feel terribly convicted about anything right now," a reader from South Carolina admitted after yesterday's post, Waiting Without Words. "I don’t feel 'on fire' or on a mountaintop. Thank goodness I’m not in a dark valley, but I do feel as though I am merely existing. Yesterday I was a bit sad that I couldn’t hear God so clearly, and your comments today have lifted my spirit. I will [...]
Waiting Without Words
Good morning... "The quieter you become, the more you are able to hear," say the words on a framed treasure from Goodwill. I stare at the wisdom, thinking to myself, "That sounds really nice, but I have been quiet now for an uncomfortably long time, and I cannot seem to hear one darn, divine thing." Possibilities perks up before dying down. Writer's block is a real thing. Hearer's block is real too. Might there also [...]
Take A Breath
Good morning... In lingering silence, I am drawn back to an email. "I will miss our Monday visit to your living room this week, but thought you might enjoy this blessing as much as I do," she wrote. "Hope all is well in your busy world." ****** Blessing from Bishop Rob Wright May God bless you with discomfort at easy answers, half-truths, and superficial relationships. May God bless you with anger at injustice, oppression [...]
Savor Sabbath: What Is Dawning?
Good morning... "Nice message," she wrote following yesterday's post. "We were watching the sunrise this morning in Santa Rosa beach and read today’s message. Chills. Love to you. Xo." This cooler fall morn, what do we sense dawning? "God's perfect timing ❤️," whispers our reader. As we nestle into God's perfect timing wherever we are, let's touch the "past blog posts" button below to witness God's harmonious light dawning within and among us this unique [...]
Love With God
Good morning... "By doing the work of honoring, balancing, and integrating your inner life and your outer life," says wisdom from yesterday's post, "you will be able to more purely love God by offering your whole self to the work of love." Honor. Balance. Integrate. Inner life and outer life. Love God more purely. Offer whole self completely. Surrender to the work of love. God’s love and kindness will shine upon us like [...]
Our Hidden Power
Good morning... I was captivated by yesterday's post on The Hidden Life Awakened website, a website beautifully created by the co-author of a book with the same name, my dear friend Kitty Crenshaw. The blog post reminded me of the life-giving wisdom I soaked in from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm last Friday at the University of Georgia Medical School in Athens as I went to support the book's other author, my fun [...]
Turn Inward For Strength
Good morning... As I read these words aloud to our class yesterday, I wished I could whisper them into the ear of the reader struggling with a sense of uselessness, the many strangers who have lost everything in fire or flood, and my sleepless loved ones worrying, "Has our daughter's cancer returned?" "What authentic work is mine to do?" and "When will Alzheimers free my loved one to heaven?" Written in 1955, nearly sixty-five [...]