I’m Worried About You
Good morning... "I enjoy reading your blog posts every morning," she said. "I rarely write you back, but I am grateful for your gift each day." Then came the question I often hear: "I'm worried about you, do you ever sleep?" Muddling through a polite answer, I forget exactly what I said. Later that night, in the dark early hours, a puny poem said what I wanted to say. ****** One Midnight Rendezvous [...]
Enjoy The Festive Fun
Good morning... ...Sue...
We Heal In The Dark
Good morning... As the days shorten and the nights stretch long, we are instinctively drawn into holy hibernation. During these dark winter months, we stay inside more, watching and waiting for the life of Christ to be born in us anew. We are each miraculously made, hardwired to thrive in the silent dark, like babies in the womb, like seeds in the soil, like each ember of hope amid life's ruins. This quiet [...]
Steadfast In Hard Circumstances
Good morning... Elizabeth, our friend's daughter-in-law who is battling colon cancer at age thirty-seven, writes an honest, faith-filled blog. I am grateful to regularly receive her inspiring messages. This week she wrote about the joy amid her swirling river of sorrows. ****** PostHope blog from December 3rd I had the joy and privilege to hear Sandra McCracken in concert last night. What a gift to hear her beautiful, pure voice in person and [...]
Never Stop Praying
Good morning... A gorgeous table was set for our fun feast of friendship. As we gathered together our hearts sat in solidarity with one friend who was away visiting with her son and her 37-year-old daughter-in-law, a young couple bravely battling Elizabeth's advanced colon cancer. From our book Simple Faith by Margaret Silf we learned that "Soul friends are like midwives. They help bring Christ [...]
This Is The Right Time
Good morning... This week, I took pictures of two trees in our back yard. The first photo in each set was taken on Monday. The second in each set was taken on Thursday. Will I open the wooden gate of my innermost self to notice the light of God's presence amid life's changing seasons? There is a right time for everything, [...]
A Special Thanks To You
Good morning... Reflecting on this fall, do you remember the 15 Bags Of Abundant Love we created for the overnight retreat at Ignatius House hosted for women recovering from homelessness and addiction? So many of us contributed special items to fill the bags with symbols of God's extravagant love. Well, on Tuesday I received the following note from Maria Cressler, the Executive Director of [...]
Art, Art Everywhere!
Good morning... On Friday, November 4th, I was having one of those mornings. Down on me. Beating myself up. Frustrated with a selfish choice. After lingering longer motionless in bed, I went to my phone and opened this text. "Hey Sue!" she wrote. "I am thinking I will have an art show at my home studio. I would like to donate a percentage of the proceeds to a particular charity. I have a [...]
From Miscarriage To Motherhood
Good morning... Along life's way, many women lose at least one child to miscarriage or to a full term still birth. I myself had four miscarriages before giving birth to our four great kids. This is a quiet grief with empty arms, a grief which reshapes our soul. "It is good for me to stop and feel the loss sometimes," wrote a friend yesterday who had a still birth years ago before giving [...]
When A Mom Loses A Child
Good morning... Two women in our Monday group have lost their sons this year. One young man was forty-three, the other was eighteen. For these grieving mothers, Thanksgiving was quite hard. The absence felt so loud. As I happen upon this poem, I wrap my prayers for these two moms in the communion feast of silence. ****** The Mother Stands in the Doorway by Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer Because you are gone, I will [...]
Seeing The Invisible
Good morning... Yesterday, the first Sunday in Advent, my cell phone was filled with two tender text strings from our Monday and Friday groups. As our fall classes have ended, something new is beginning. Physically separate and mysteriously together, we're texting to process new births, fresh fears, and cross country moves. We're facing first holidays with cancer and first holidays without loved ones. We're sharing family photos, verbalizing vulnerable prayers, and offering to [...]
Small Circles Support Us
Good morning... Pitching in to make a feast, our family of six relaxed around the Thanksgiving table. Small circles of family and friends support each of us every day, do our hearts savor the love? We share meals, we share stories, we share an evolving history. We share time, we share gifts, we share words of encouragement. We share heartaches, we share joys, we share hopes and possibilities. Together we live into the [...]