Good morning... I chuckle to myself as I read Henri Nouwen's meditation for today. Was the eternal presence of Henri eavesdropping in the chapel at our Awake To Wholeness Women's Retreat with the eternal presence of Betty Skinner on Saturday? Henri's words for today sum up exactly what God was teaching us on our sacred day of retreat. [...]
Good morning... Looking back over our weekend, so many multifaceted gifts were unwrapped at our Awake To Wholeness Women's Retreat. Musical meditations. Wise "Aha!" moments. For some of us, tenderizing tears. One tiny tangible gift was tied inside each napkin given with our yummy boxed lunches. A young girl from the church had hand-painted for each participant a [...]
Good morning... I brew a twelve cup pot of coffee before our house guests stir and marvel in amazement at the gifts God stirred up in us. "Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you," says our central Scripture from yesterday's Awake To Wholeness Women's Retreat. "For God has not given [...]
Good morning... Today we are crossing the finish line of the marathon we began in 2019. Our planning for the Awake To Wholeness Women's Retreat scheduled for March 28th, 2020 ended as COVID forced us instead to shelter in place. Our rescheduled retreat day is today. Please join us in any way the Spirit might lead. ****** Awaken [...]
Good morning... "I am completely convinced that God is a fan of life's messy," I found myself texting a friend yesterday. "Think childbirth. Think artist's studio. Think crucifixion. We are the ones who crave neat, straight, controllable order." In the middle of the night my mind wanders to add to my list. Might God be in all of [...]
Good morning... In cleaning our home to welcome our guests later this afternoon, I ran across a book I had totally forgotten about. Underlined. Highlighted. Circled and starred. A few years back I devoured each page during my two year training to become a spiritual director. Guided by the Spirit, I am now drawn to dog-eared page number [...]
Good morning... I just woke from a short, silly dream. In my dream, I was driving a familiar road I travel most days. Slowly, meandering, half alert. Then a policeman pulled up behind me and pressed his siren twice, "beeeeep, beeeeep." I pulled over to the side of the road, interestingly at peace. Rolling down my window, I [...]
Good morning... I nestle into my quiet time spot, a mug of coffee beside me, to unpack my bag from last night's "Day of the Dead" party. Annually, a group of about twenty of us gather on November 1st at a mutual friend's home. In her living room we set up small altars with candles, photos, and symbols [...]
Good morning... "Makes me think of many of our conversations on Friday mornings❤️," she emailed me yesterday. She included the devotional thoughts below, shared this week by Richard Rohr. ****** Friday, October 29, 2021 Week Forty-Three: Original Goodness by Richard Rohr Being “God’s Somebody” Everybody is God’s somebody. —Bishop Michael Curry, Love Is the Way Episcopal Bishop Michael [...]
Good morning... Growing up in a Christian home, he had believed in Jesus all his life. Dutifully he went through the habits of faith. Church. Baptism. Confirmation. Prayer. Bible study. Trying to be good and do good. Yet when God's moment was exactly right, he finally heard the voice of the risen Christ knocking on the door to [...]
