Monet This Morning
Good morning... "Hi Sue," a longtime church friend wrote several days ago. "Thought you might enjoy these pictures. I took them at Monet’s garden outside of Paris. It was such a hopeful place with all the dreariness in the world. Hope you are well and peaceful." "Oh, how gorgeous," I replied. "Such exquisite beauty. Life-giving. Breath-taking. Fingerprints of our Creator expanding over every inch. Thank you for sharing. Might I post [...]
The Song Marching Through My Mind
Good morning... This week a song is gently marching through my mind. God personalizes the chorus. "I will send out an army to find you in the middle of the darkest night. Sue, it's true, I will rescue you." Lauren Daigle's voice repeats over and over again. As I rest. As I wake. As I drive. As I cook. As I clean. "Sue, it's true, I will rescue you." Then a blossoming occurs. [...]
Cancer Is Life-Consuming
Good morning... I hold my heart wide open in prayer as I ponder with God the needs of many. I am held together through veins of prayer with loved ones throughout the world, a limitless gift with eternal benefits. "Sue, your prayers are invaluable to me," texted my friend's mom who is turning 90 this week. "I am so grateful for the loving care and appreciate having you in my life. This cancer [...]
Steve Was Pulled Into A Conflict
Good morning... Heading into yesterday, I read the monthly devotional message written by my husband Steve, the Upper School chaplain at The Lovett School. Through Steve's keen wisdom God spoke in surround sound as I prepared my heart for a two day training with our talented Northside Church staff. ****** Chaplain's Devotional by Rev. Steve Allen, October 17, 2022 When I was in seminary I served as an intern in a church where [...]
I Wanted To Live To Be 101
Good morning... I got news this weekend of a cancer diagnosis in the families of two friends - one, a brave 36 year old daughter, and the other, a nearly 90 year old mother who is so dearly loved. Pondering the precarious balance between life and death, I am drawn to a poem I met a while back. In this quiet moment, I revisit the words with my friends and their loved ones [...]
The Cross On Her Wrist
Good morning... "Every time I see this cross on my wrist, I am reminded we are not perfect people," she wrote after yesterday's post. "Even with our imperfect selves we strive to get it right, to shine through darkness, and to live behind the smiles with a generous spirit. My cross is not perfect and it reminds me to let go and strip myself of trying to be perfect for God. That's not [...]
Conflict At The Altar
Good morning... "We cannot come to the altar in conflict," said yesterday's Betty Skinner quote. "But, God, hadn't we just written the opposite?" I thought to myself. Our post, Quiet The Voice Of Despair, had just revealed our honest truth: The voice of despair and the voice of "I love you" play tug-o-war in us sometimes. This common inner battle feels like conflict to me. So, God, does this mean I am not [...]
Quiet The Voice Of Despair
Good morning... She shared this reading out loud with us. By the end, her eyes were wet with tears. ****** The voice of despair says, “I sin over and over again. After endless promises to myself and others to do better next time, I find myself back again in the old dark places. Forget about trying to change. I have tried for years. It didn’t work and it never will work. It is [...]
I Didn’t Like It
Good morning... I love the healing rituals we do while on retreat. Usually, that is. Usually, I love each wise healing ritual. But yesterday, as instructed, I blindly picked out a rock from a soft bags of stones, and I didn't like it. I didn't like the engraved stone randomly resting in my hand. Other people picked rocks with great words. Hope. Pray. Breathe. Imagine. But I didn't like the small stone staring [...]
15 Bags Of Abundant Love
Good morning... In response to our recent blog post Helping Homeless Women, our written word community joyfully created 15 bags of abundant love. The bags will be placed in private rooms to welcome the women recovering from homelessness and addiction as they arrive this morning for our overnight retreat at Ignatius House Retreat Center. The blossoming of these bags has been quite a sight to see. The woman who volunteered to donate the [...]
A Gentle Bend In Our Road
Good morning... My friend hosted a stay-at-home sleepover party for the three of us last night. One of us has just turned seventy, the hostess and myself are turning sixty in the coming months. We each are negotiating a gentle bend in the road beneath our feet, shifting from one decade to another. In the middle of the night I woke, but since I had forgotten to ask for the internet password, I [...]
Sign Up For PAWkids Opportunities
Good evening... For those who live in Atlanta, I don't want you to miss signing up for our PAWkids opportunities this fall. I realize that yesterday's post ended with the sign up links, but the blog title didn't indication the invitation. I'm including the links again, under a more direct title. If you have an interest in PAWkids, please text me any questions at 404-401-8317 or sign up directly for these volunteer opportunities. [...]