To read more, click here!Through praying with the various Scriptures suggested for the First Week of the Spiritual Exercises, we come to understand that even though we are sinful people God still loves us and offers us forgiveness. We are invited to view sin as God sees sin. The lens we look through, though, is one of love, which is why we spend time before the First Week of the Exercises praying with the First Principle and Foundation and Scriptures that accompany it.The First Week of my 19th annotation retreat was challenging at times, because my eyes were significantly opened to see my own sinfulness. The words, “Re-situate your life” were a repeated phrase that gently crossed my thoughts.
Friday, March 9, 2012
Re-situate your life
My latest post is up on dotMagis, titled "Re-situate your life"!
Spring Break
I am going to take a week off from blogging March 12-16, 2012! It is Spring Break, and I am giving myself permission to fully embrace the time to play and rest.
I'll be back writing March 19th!
I'll be back writing March 19th!
Thursday, March 8, 2012
Prayer during Transition
Several weeks ago, a friend shared the following prayer to help Chris and I walk through this period of unknown for our future. It brings me great comfort in the moments I am flipping out about the future.
Holy Spirit, strengthen me ....(what do we need strength for?)
Holy Spirit, guide me.... (What do we need guidance on?
Holy Spirit, comfort me...(What do we need comfort in?)
Holy Spirit, enlighten me...(What do we seek enlightenment on?)
Praying with these four simple phrases has brought me strength, comfort, guidance, and enlightenment. While the "big answer" still has not come, praying with this has helped me see prayers answered in small pieces.
I offer this prayer to you and to our loved ones who are experiencing transition.
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
Sandy Towel: What clings? What flings?
I want you to imagine that you are on a beach laying on a bright beach towel soaking in the "sun" of God's love. After spending some time appreciating the light, you stand up and you lean over to pick up the bright beach towel out of the sand. The towel is covered with sand, and you begin to shake the towel hoping that you will be able to shake the sand from the towel in order to fold it and return it to your beach bag.
Imagine, that the towel was your life, and the sand represented all of the pieces of your life-- the various roles you have, the numerous jobs and activities in your life, all of the people and relationships in your life, all of the things you do, watch, see, participate in. As you shake the towel, ask yourself, "What pieces of sand do you want to cling to your towel?" and "What pieces do you hope would fly off??"
If God were shaking your towel, what pieces of your life would God want to continue to stick to your towel or remain in your life? What pieces would God hope would fling off?
As you reflect on this, ask yourself one more question: What, if anything, would you and/or God want to add to your life?
Imagine, that the towel was your life, and the sand represented all of the pieces of your life-- the various roles you have, the numerous jobs and activities in your life, all of the people and relationships in your life, all of the things you do, watch, see, participate in. As you shake the towel, ask yourself, "What pieces of sand do you want to cling to your towel?" and "What pieces do you hope would fly off??"
If God were shaking your towel, what pieces of your life would God want to continue to stick to your towel or remain in your life? What pieces would God hope would fling off?
As you reflect on this, ask yourself one more question: What, if anything, would you and/or God want to add to your life?
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
Holy Grounds Talk Part I: Jesus, Our Foundation
At Chris' prompting, I am sharing a short video from a talk I gave at Holy Grounds in Atlanta last week. The talk was titled, "Jesus, Our Foundation". Not quite sure how I feel about being out there on video, but I am giving it a test run. Let me know what you think!
I set-up a youtube channel to share videos occasionally.
Monday, March 5, 2012
Thirst
Another great poem by Mary Oliver. I really like the line that says, "I wake with thirst for the goodness I do not have". It is very fitting as I wait for the "goodness" that is ahead of us that we do not yet know as we ponder the end of our time in Athens, GA.
Thirst
Another morning and I wake with thirst
for the goodness I do not have. I walk
out to the pond and all the way God has
given us such beautiful lessons. Oh Lord,
I was never a quick scholar but sulked
and hunched over my books past the hour
and the bell; grant me, in your mercy,
a little more time. Love for the earth
and love for you are having such a long
conversation in my heart. Who knows what
will finally happen or where I will be sent,
yet already I have given a great many things
away, expecting to be told to pack nothing,
except the prayers which, with this thirst,
I am slowy learning.
— Mary Oliver, Thirst,
Beacon Press, Boston, 2006, p. 69
for the goodness I do not have. I walk
out to the pond and all the way God has
given us such beautiful lessons. Oh Lord,
I was never a quick scholar but sulked
and hunched over my books past the hour
and the bell; grant me, in your mercy,
a little more time. Love for the earth
and love for you are having such a long
conversation in my heart. Who knows what
will finally happen or where I will be sent,
yet already I have given a great many things
away, expecting to be told to pack nothing,
except the prayers which, with this thirst,
I am slowy learning.
— Mary Oliver, Thirst,
Beacon Press, Boston, 2006, p. 69
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