We Live Through Death
Good morning... We live through death. The death of a dream. The death of a special someone. The death of a life phase we so dearly loved. After the death of her son to suicide, Rosemerry tenderly expresses how it feels to still be here. ****** Still Here by Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer After I did not die the first minute, I lived the next minute. More truly, life lived me. More truly, the [...]
We Have Been Here Before
Good morning... In the presence of God, we have been here before. In the beginning, God created everything: the heavens above and the earth below. Here’s what happened: At first the earth lacked shape and was totally empty, and a dark fog draped over the deep while God’s spirit-wind hovered over the surface of the empty waters. Then there was the voice of God. God said, "Let there be light." And light flashed into being. God saw that the light was beautiful and good, and He separated the [...]
Did I Suck As A Teacher?
Good morning... This Monday was different. I was asked to teach a three-part series on the Enneagram for the St. Clare's Guild of women at the Cathedral of St. Philips in February, March, and April. Monday was our first class, so I put the unfamiliar church address in Waze to gather with an unknown number of mostly unfamiliar people. I was out of my comfort zone. I usually teach small groups of about [...]
Valentines For Surgeons, Nurses, Donors
Good morning... I discovered a poem which means more to me this Valentine's Day than ever before. With my mom's surgeries and hospital stays, with our friend's successful heart transplant, and with the grueling medical treatments endured by so many loved ones this year, I have marveled at the gentle care given by skilled professionals. For all of those who work tirelessly to enhance our quality of life, this precious poem expresses the [...]
We Are On A Journey
Good morning... We are on a journey. "It's a journey that includes paying attention to yourself over a period of time, being curious about your reactions to situations, and reflecting on your inner world," encourages Marilyn Vancil on page 48 of Self to Lose, Self to Find; Using the Enneagram to Uncover Your True, God-Gifted Self. "It is, most importantly, listening to the inner still voice that informs you at a deep level [...]
I Need You To Breathe
Good morning... Amid a wild, windy thunderstorm in the middle of this dark night, I am drawn back to a poem I met yesterday about a different kind of hurricane. Jesus repeated his greeting: “Peace to you. Just as the Father sent me, I send you.” Then he took a deep breath and breathed into them. “Receive the Holy Spirit,” he said (John 20:21-22, MSG). As we are [...]
We Are Each Other’s Harvest
Good morning... These final words of a poem by Gwendolyn Brooks greeted us as we entered the Sonya Clark exhibit at the High Museum of Art last Saturday. "...we are each other's harvest we are each other's business we are each other's magnitude and bond." A group of us from our Sunday afternoon class went to take part in the Beaded Prayers Project, an ongoing communal art project which has engaged over five [...]
Art Builds Authentic Bonds
Good morning... I am so grateful that art is a part of my life every week. Good art, bad art, it matters not. Whether others love it or hate it, more art emerges. On Mondays from 4:00 to 6:00 pm, a group of about ten of us volunteers take turns leading art activities with the students in the PAWkids after-school enrichment program in downtown Atlanta. Joy flows. Bonds grow. [...]
A Small Seed Of Hope
Good morning... Last Monday afternoon and last Friday morning in our Self to Lose, Self to Find classes, we read the book excerpts highlighted in yesterday's post, How Our True Self Grows. In between these two discussions of a fascinating "seed" analogy, on Wednesday night I taught our young mom's class at church. As we explored the introduction of Simple Faith by Margaret Silf, look at the surround-sound sentence quietly dropped onto our [...]
How Our True Self Grows
Good morning... Our book for the semester is fascinating. Self to Lose, Self to Find: Using the Enneagram To Uncover Your True, God-Gifted Self by Marilyn Vancil offers mind-blowing wisdom, stretching us in intriguing, new ways. Join me now as we ponder an amazing "seed" analogy which tangibly describes the interaction between our Adapted Self (the self to lose) and our Authentic Self (the self to find). ******* Excerpts from Self to Lose, [...]
How Do I Get Out Of Bed?
Good morning... At 7:15 pm, her text came in with the image above and these two sentences: "Friend just shared this. I know you'll love it!!!!!!" She's right. I love it. Sometimes it hurts to open our eyes. Sometimes taking a deep breath feels impossible. Sometimes it's really hard to move our feet from the bed to the floor. Stepping out into the day, there are so many strange and delightful horrors kept [...]
Audrey Led Our Prayer
Good morning... Yesterday's student Sunday at Northside Church was quite special. Kids I have seen grow up over the years played major roles in all three services. Audrey DeShelter shared the pastoral prayer, which felt beautifully reciprocal. Ongoing prayer support is one of the best gifts, given and received, when we are deeply connected to our church family. Before leading us in prayer, Audrey [...]