My Japanese Magnolia is blooming. And it is finally raining. Two of my favorite things are happening at once, and it makes my heart so happy. Here are two poems or prayers I am enjoying right now during my morning practice with a few images of my Japanese Magnolia in the rain. A Blessing for…
Category: practicing my practice
Gaudete Sunday
Today is Gaudete Sunday, the third Sunday in Advent when we celebrate the hopeful cry, “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say, rejoice.” It is an interesting proclaim as we are in the middle of Advent’s darkness, isn’t it? How many of us, while in darkness and question and pain want to proclaim joy? For…
deep breaths
On some days this world seems harsh and unloving. We have forgotten to listen to others, ourselves, and the Love that holds us all together. I have been sitting quietly with myself and reading some of the mystic mothers that wrote about our God… and writing prayers of my own. May you sit with these words…
rainbows of love
Today is Coming Out Day. And while there is more freedom to come out that there was in 1939, it still isn’t safe for many of our LGBTQ friends to simply be themselves. Here in the US, they can face discrimination and hate from their very own family and “friends”. In other parts of the world,…
hope quote
Thomas Merton has a hope quote that I love. I could remember part of it, but not the whole quote. It was driving me crazy. I knew it was in No Man Is an Island, but I could not remember where. I searched the Hope chapter again and again, without any luck. I gave up…
simple prayers
At the beginning and end of my personal prayer time, my time with directees, and when I am facilitating group spiritual direction, I pray the same two prayers. I am sure I have posted them on my blog before, but they seem to be just the prayers my heart is needing these days. They are…
underneath the mess
Cleaning out my closet is not one of my favorite things to do. It seems overwhelming and takes me days to find the gumption to do it. But, when I am done, there is nothing like the clean floor, easy to find coats and scarves, and the neat line of matched shoes. One of my…
life is hard
Does anyone else feel like the world has forgotten about each other? I suppose that inner lonely child can do that to people- she is so lonely and the thought of rejection one more time scares her so much that she pushes the whole world away. Maybe, she even goes so far as to hate…
my journey
I have started going to school in hopes of someday becoming a spiritual director. I am loving everything I am learning, and I especially love all the reading. Here are a few of my favorite quotes that I have come across in my reading. The photos are from the road trip to my school. Life…
for a friend
I have a dear friend who had to watch as her mother journeyed from this world to a world her soul calls home. I was not there, but I know this friend well and know with full confidence that she held each feeling, each thought, each moment with the grace and love they deserved. She…
begging for peace
Sickness. Disappointment. Heartache. Frustration. My week has been full of all of it and more. I go to a few places when my heart feels heavy. I go to the Spirit my soul calls Friend and Comforter. I go to the mystics that have gone before me. I go to my camera that always helps…
