Good morning... In our Friday study, we read these words aloud from Sacred Rhythms: Arranging Our Lives For Spiritual Transformation by Ruth Haley Barton. Recently I spent time with our daughter's soccer team at the beginning of a practice devoted to watching game films. We discussed the importance of game films and how it gives them an opportunity [...]
Good morning... "Hi Sue," she wrote. "I have fully experienced how close the Lord has been in my grief, and no doubt, He alone has saved me. I do feel like He is blessing me tremendously and showing me tremendous favor as I begin to live again after Dalton’s death 5 1/2 years ago. Still so fresh." "However, [...]
Good morning... "Dear Sue, I hope you are doing well," she emailed after yesterday's post, The Blessing Hidden In Grief. "I miss our walks but returning to my position at school fills my days. My students are wonderful. Teaching them fills my heart with joy, and I’m so grateful for this bridge to whatever comes next in my [...]
Good morning... "Now with the Awake To Wholeness retreat behind us, might we celebrate your birthday season?" I texted a friend. (As I reflect, I realize that "behind" is the wrong word. It is more accurate to say, "Now with the retreat inside us, might we celebrate?") "And . . . I thoroughly enjoyed retelling the Saturday experience [...]
Good morning... "Every time our ordinary life bumps up against an unavoidable loss, there are choices to be made," concluded our blog post yesterday morning, Our Passage To New Life. "Will we allow the loss we are currently facing to be a passage to something new, something wider, something deeper? Like the Israelites following God's lead out of [...]
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 [...]
