In Retrospect, I Can See
Good morning... On Thursday around noontime, we snapped the final picture of the semester. This week, our classes finished up Parker Palmer's beloved book Let Your Life Speak. Out loud, we read these words from page 76 of the last chapter: "In retrospect, I can see in my own life what I could not see at the time - how the job I lost helped me find the work I needed to do, [...]
Loneliness Happens
Good morning... Several of you responded to yesterday's blog post, I Am Feeling Lonely. Here is some of what you said. Beautiful words. Prayers that God will show you His way for you. I can relate to your feelings of loneliness. Morning sweet friend…loved your post this morning and join you in that longing to go deeper in loneliness. 💕 When I get overwhelmed, I tend to isolate. 🫤 Call if you are [...]
I Am Feeling Lonely
Good morning... Back to back devotional messages from Henri Nouwen keep me company this week. Both writings come from Nouwen's deeply personal book The Inner Voice of Love: A Journey Through Anguish to Freedom. During my dad's 89th birthday week, it's hard to live far away from my aging parents in Ohio. All of our four grown kids have moved out of our home and onto their own thriving lives. Currently, my husband [...]
Today My Dad Is 89
Good morning... Yesterday, my dad rang the bell, indicating the end of radiation treatment for his prostate cancer. Driving himself to nine weeks of five days per week was a huge, important commitment. What joy to celebrate the end of this life-giving accomplishment. Today, my dad turns 89 years old. For his birthday week, I sent him a card with seven small cards, each card with one joke [...]
Lessons For America
Good morning... On Sunday, I scheduled my day around being home by 7:00 pm to watch 60 Minutes. I did not want to miss the interview between Scott Pelley and Ben Sasse, offering lessons for America. Now, up in the middle of the night, I revisit the transcript and share portions of the exchange which touch me most deeply. Ben Sasse would like a final word. At the age of 54, the former [...]
No Matter What Goes On
Good morning... When my friend sent me the encouragement above, I simplified it down to action words and sent it out to a few dear friends. No matter what... stay focussed. Close to You... I find strength... to accomplish whatever is before me. Right now... choose... quiet... refocus... in Jesus. Amen. Let every detail in your lives—words, actions, whatever—be done in the name of the Master, Jesus, thanking God the Father every step [...]
Fear. Faith. You Choose.
Good morning... Friend #1 recently sent me this image which brings to life the quote: "Both fear and faith ask you to believe in something you can't see. You choose." "Hi Sue!" she commented. "I’ve never heard this before! It’s so simple but it’s 🎯." I totally agree. When hard things happen, we have a choice. Will we respond in fear or respond in faith? Then friend #2 sent me a great article [...]
Lacing Cancer With Love
Good morning... "I wanted to thank all of you who supported Eliza’s Entourage," wrote Cathy Darland, Eliza's grandmother and a beloved member of our Wednesday afternoon class. "This weekend we raised over $544,000 for Childhood Cancer research! It was an amazing evening! The night was very emotional, but our sweet Eliza was certainly the star of the show. Thank you again." Then came the photos from a common friend who attended the moving [...]
Everything Bubbled Up
Good morning... "I have been wanting to respond," she emailed me from South Carolina after yesterday's post, Nuclear Bomb Of Depression. "And this morning everything bubbled up. However there are too many things, so I’ll list." Can someone really know good if they have not experienced REAL pain and hardship? - Anne Frank I just returned from Japan where I stood in awe at the skull of Hiroshima. The Peace Memorial Site. The [...]
Nuclear Bomb Of Depression
Good morning... Last week in class, we read aloud much of my favorite chapter in Parker Palmer's Let Your Life Speak. In a chapter entitled All the Way Down, Parker unpacks the most life-giving description of depression I have ever experienced. I posted some of his words yesterday in our blog Befriending Our Depression. Today, I feel drawn to share more. ******* Excerpt from page 52-53 in Let Your Life Speak by Parker [...]
Befriending Our Depression
Good morning... "After hours of careful listening, my therapist offered an image that helped me eventually reclaim my life," writes Parker Palmer on page 50 of Let Your Life Speak. "You seem to look upon depression as the hand of an enemy trying to crush you," he said. "Do you think you could see it instead as the hand of a friend, pressing you down to ground on which it is safe to [...]
Yes. Walk In The Woods
Good morning... This short poem reminds me of two things. A recent walk in the woods with a dear friend. The final line from the obituary of our friend Tom McLain: "...carry on Tom's legacy: say yes to everything!" ****** "Yes, That’s When" by Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer I like my body when I’m in the woods and I forget my body. I forget that arms, that legs, that nose. I forget that waist, [...]