Gulp Down The Beauty
Good morning... "Our hands imbibe like roots," says St. Francis of Assisi, "so I place them on what is beautiful in this world. And I fold them in prayer, and they draw from the heaven's light." Imbibe. I love this wildly thirsty word. 1. To drink; gulp down. 2. To absorb; soak up. 3. To receive into the mind; assimilate. 4. To permeate; saturate. For one week each year, our bushes out front [...]
It’s Time To Trust
Good morning... One morning meditation draws us into intimacy with God. When we feel overwhelmed by life, it is time to deeply trust. ****** A Simple Act Of Trust by Henri Nouwen O Lord, all you ask of me is a simple “yes,” a simple act of trust, so that your choices for me can bear fruit in my life. I do not want you to pass me by. I do not want [...]
Lights Will Guide You Home
Good morning... I happened upon a unique rendition of the song "I Will Fix You" by Coldplay. Might we imagine God singing these lyrics to us, as we are lost, found, and led home by the light? ****** "Fix You" - lyrics by writers Jonathan Mark Buckland, Christopher Anthony John Martin, William Champion, Guy Rupert Berryman When you try your best, but you don't succeed When you get what you want, but not [...]
A River Running Home
Good morning... "Your life was like a river running home," sings the most moving line from Slater Nalley's original song, "Traces of You." This dynamic expression of endless love reminds me of the poem I just sent to my friend, a dear friend who buried her 23 year old son last month. "Good morning," I texted. "I think of you as I read this poem from a beautiful book entitled The Cure for [...]
Slater Traces Our Tears
Good morning... My husband Steve and I have been watching American Idol together this season, since one of his students from The Lovett School was just chosen by the judges as one of the top twenty-four contestants. These diversely talented singers will now begin vying for votes from viewers, seeking to become the next American Idol. In his audition, Slater Nalley shared an emotional performance dedicated to the son of beloved Lovett teacher, [...]
I Am Not Okay
Good morning... After yesterday's post, Okay And Not Okay, she texted right away. "I don't know if Jelly Roll meant this to be a song about faith," she said, "but that's how I hear it." Coincidentally, just the night before on the American Idol show, Jelly Roll was announced as the celebrity coach who will help the contestants navigate the stressors and pressures of the 2025 season. Just like my friend, I also [...]
Okay And Not Okay
Good morning... Out loud, we read this poem. ***** For When People Ask by Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer I want a word that means okay and not okay, a word that means devastated and stunned with joy. I want the word that says I feel it all all at once. The heart is not like a songbird singing only one note at a time, more like a Tuvan throat singer able to sing both [...]
We Learn From Loss
Good morning... "Dear Sue," a loyal friend wrote yesterday. "You have been in my heart lately; with prayers for your Mom (and Dad) and for you as you stretch your own heart full circle. Today’s post from you with that wonderful jar image, and today’s message from Bishop Wright work together beautifully to illustrate the stark reality of our flawed and precious lives. All we grieve is an integral part of the journey. [...]
We Grow Around Grief
Good morning... After yesterday's post, Untangling Our Sadness, a friend wrote: "I can't remember if I sent this to you. Your post this morning made me think of this jar image. A friend sent it to me and it really spoke to me." People tend to believe that grief shrinks over time. What really happens is that we grow around our grief. "This makes so [...]
Untangling Our Sadness
Good morning... Walking toward the excruciating pain of the cross, Jesus is described as "a man of sorrows and suffering, knowing sadness well" (Isaiah 53:3, NLV). How well do we each know our own sadness? In our therapeutic community group, we explored the experience of sadness, the different forms sad can take. Big sad. Small sad. Light sprinkling of sad. Rising sad. Sharp sad. Confusingly beautiful sad. Heavy sad. Creeping sad. Sad on [...]
Expanding Audrey’s Vision
Good morning... As shared in yesterday's blog post, Jesus came to nineteen year old Audrey DeShetler in a vision, washing clean her weary feet. "Audrey, you are well." She heard Jesus speak to her directly for the very first time. Then later in the day, another friend wrote to me: "After reading today’s blog, I had to share what showed up in my Facebook memories. (See the photo above of Jesus washing the [...]
“Audrey, You Are Well.”
Good morning... For nearly fifteen years, the members of Northside Church have been praying diligently for Audrey DeShetler, Sunday after Sunday. We have closely tracked her journey with a childhood cancer called neuroblastoma. Diagnosed at age five, Audrey has pushed through treatment after treatment, relapse after relapse, until now Audrey is a wise nineteen years old young woman. At the very same time I was writing yesterday's post, which highlighted a song about [...]