Our Days Are Numbered
Good morning... Yesterday, in the morning, my friend sent me a picture of a page from her well-worn Bible verse flip calendar. Psalm 90:12 (NIV) is brought to life. "Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom." A quote from Brennan Manning amplifies God's encouragement. "In prayer Jesus slows us down, teaches us to count how few days we have, and gifts us with wisdom. He [...]
Facing Things We Didn’t Choose
Good morning... "I don't know if you're online with Kate Bowler's messages, so I wanted to pass this along to you," wrote my dear friend. "I saw it a few weeks ago and I thought it was so poignant, especially for those of us who are struggling with very difficult situations," my friend continued. "I loved your recent writing...."In the Middle of this Mess." Seeing my [...]
Fourth. Full Moon. Freedom For All.
Good morning... Waking in the wee hours of this July 4th, I snap a photo of the full moon beaming bright above our darkened world. Fourth. Full moon. Freedom for all. My mind is drawn back to a phrase shared in our blog post a few days ago: "Trail of Tears." "The Trail of Tears was an ethnic cleansing and forced displacement of approximately 60,000 people of the "Five Civilized Tribes" between 1830 [...]
In The Middle Of This Mess
Good morning... A few nights back, I texted a friend, "I am up praying for you. Love for your precious family fills my heart. Any specific requests I can prayerfully ponder with you?" A few days later, her response filled my phone. In the middle of the night now, I revisit the text string creating a roadmap for all of us seeking to persevere with hope through very hard circumstances. Tears. Pain. Suffering. [...]
It’s Been A Trying Morning
Good morning... "Hi, Sue," she wrote. "It’s been a trying morning, so reading this gave me hope. Check out this profound paragraph below — 'My ancestors did not survive the Trail of Tears because…' I am embracing the thoughts of inclusivity instead of exclusivity today." ****** Excerpt from Steven Charleston's Ladder to the Light: An Indigenous Elder's Meditations on Hope and Courage, p. 62, 67-68 My ancestors did not survive the Trail of [...]
How To Feel Better
Good morning... I smile at this framed cross-stitch saying my mom made for me a few years back. During the pandemic pause, my mom watched from afar as our ministry to women continued to thrive, mainly through our interactive daily blog posts and through individually scheduled walk-and-talks, outside, one-on-one, social distanced. When my 58th birthday came around in March of 2021, my mom honored me with this special hand-stitched gift. I felt seen, [...]
This Is The Recipe For Life
Good morning... "What are you doing with this unreturned library book from Wellington, Florida?" my husband wisely asked as we were cleaning out our messy office. Of course, amid all the discarded used cookbooks, I had been drawn to this quirky paperback on the cluttered shelf at Goodwill. On the front, an image of a handcrafted flower. On the back cover, "This is the recipe for life..." welcomed me forward with one single [...]
Our Need To Slow Down
Good morning... "I just read a beautiful essay on the need to slow down in the face of crisis," my friend emailed me yesterday, "because it’s not possible to do 'drive-by contemplation' — or 'drive-by loving.' I will send you this message…..because I know you will resonate with that phrase 'drive-by loving.' No such thing, either, as 'drive-by prayer.'” "Drive-by contemplation." "Drive-by loving." "Drive-by prayer." There are no such things. We cannot meet [...]
“I Will Pray For You.”
Good morning... "When we say to people, 'I will pray for you,' we make a very important commitment," observes Henri Nouwen on page 86 of The Way of the Heart. "The sad thing is that this remark often remains nothing but a well-meant expression of concern. But when we learn to descend with our mind into our heart, then all those who have become a part of our lives are led into the [...]
Keep The Sauna Door Closed
Good morning... "Silence guards the inner heat," writes Nouwen on page 45 in The Way of the Heart. "This inner heat is the life of the Holy Spirit within us. Thus, silence is the discipline by which the inner fire of God is tended and kept alive." Nouwen continues: "Diadochus of Photiki offers us a concrete image: 'When the door to the steambath is continually left open, the heat inside rapidly escapes through [...]
“Come To Rest.”
Good morning... This week the Summer Zoom Study group completed our first book, Henri Nouwen's The Way of The Heart. Thoroughly enjoying this read, we discovered several fascinating, new insights. One nugget of nourishment is found on page 63: "The Desert Fathers did not think of solitude as being alone, but as being alone with God. They did not think of silence as not speaking, but as listening to God. Silence and solitude [...]
The Healing Power Of Our Pets
Good morning... My friend has a cat who companions her beautifully. Our little dog is a lot like her cat. Our precious pets teach us so much about love, about life, about God's gentle presence. I was recently nudged to email my friend: "This poem made me think of you, rocking with your cat curled on your lap, soaking in healing with the gift of silent solitude. I love watching the Spirit of [...]