Learning Along The Way

Learning to Celebrate the Daily

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I am easily distracted these days.  Interestingly, the distractions come from within; the thoughts of what needs to be accomplished mix with the memories of what was and is no longer. These distractions have hindered me from actions that I love, like writing. But I’m happy to say I’ve been coming back to center and learning to celebrate the everyday moments of life thanks to a new book.

I recently read the fantastic new book Simply Tuesday by Emily P Freeman.  It’s available today! The tagline for this book really called to me: Small-Moment Living in a Fast Moving World. I had been living the SLO life for 30 years until two years ago. Now living in the fast-paced, change-oriented, bigger, faster, better society of the Silicon Valley is like “drinking from a fire hose” as our pastor puts it.  Simply Tuesday is a call to notice, to appreciate the ordinary moments of the day and that is opposite living from this world’s expectations. What a beautiful thing because our souls are not meant for speed. A soul is meant for depth, for slow, for connection.

Emily shares her story of learning to embrace ‘small’. She puts into words what my own soul has yearned for; being okay with “right where I am” instead of pushing for more, for notice, for good, better, best. In the chapter “Effort & Outcomes” Emily’s words stopped my striving, never-good- enough heart & mind right in their Energizer Bunny tracks.  “I don’t see Jesus calling me to excellence. I do see Him calling me to Himself. And sometimes, on the kingdom of earth, moving close to Jesus looks like failure and embarrassment.”

I have pushed and resisted, fought and argued and demanded that my life be “good, better, best, never let it rest until your good is better and your better best.”  Being transplanted from the comfort and familiarity of my former life was painful to say the least.  I have not been able to gain the traction I’ve thought I’ve needed to be “successful” in this new arena. The revolutionary thought that simply being aware and available to the movement of Christ in my day truly stopped my whirling internal dialogue. It was as if someone picked up the arm of the record player and turned the swirling machine off.

Simply Tuesday is seeping down into my soul.  This book, Emily’s voice, is counter-cultural in this area where I live. But Emily lives and writes in Greensboro, NC and her words come from a place of knowing how extended beyond peace we often live. Simply Tuesday is inviting me to sit on a bench and notice where Jesus is moving in my day.  It’s inviting me to learn to celebrate the daily; the everyday moments that make up my everyday, ordinary life. Learning to celebrate that this life is a gift from God moment by moment.

Learning to be present to His abiding Presence.  Learning to be thankful for little things like a bird on a bird feeder or the smell of freshly brewed coffee is reminding me of the true beauty that makes up every day.  Learning that time is non-renewable and therefore sacred.

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This bench is at the park near our latest place of residence.  (notice I didn’t call it home? I’m not there yet.) I often see people seated here looking out at the children, the athletes, the trees. This morning I thought of the gift Simply Tuesday is to me and prayed that it would be so for many, many more. I really want to encourage you to get your own copy and gather with others who are seeking connection like I am.  They’re all around us; Tuesday people as Emily calls us.

Listen in to Emily chat briefly about her book here.  Then go to Amazon and pick up your own copy (and maybe a few for your Tuesday people?).  I’d love to know what you’re learning to celebrate!

21 Days of Rest: Finding #SpiritualWhitespace Day 1

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DesktopWallpaper_SpiritualWhitespace_BonnieGray

The first time I saw this beautiful invitation I cried.  Tears of disbelief actually.

My head knows the Truth that is written. My  heart sees glimpses of the Truth that can be lived. But to simply rest in that Truth? Without being busy justifying my existence?

This is a new way of being.  I am trying to learn.  And it’s not easy undoing a lifetime of perfectionism.  I need help. Maybe you do too.

This is the first of June.  Every day for the first 21 days, Bonnie of Faith Barista, will be serving a prompt to for us to ponder. An invitation to be with Jesus as He invites us everyday:

“Come to Me all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. All of you, take up My yoke and learn from Me, because I am gentle and humble of heart, and you will find rest for yourselves. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

Whether you blog, journal or simply write your thoughts on slips of paper the prompt will be an invitation to slow down, talk with Jesus and rest in Him.

This is not an invitation to figure out what Bible study to do next, or on what committee to serve, or whatever your doing looks like.  This is an invitation from Jesus to be.with.Him.

We can find the whitespaces inside us to rest together with Jesus. (from the introduction Finding Spiritual Whitespace; Awakening Your Soul to Rest)

I’ll be blogging here as well as journaling in this beautiful book created by my friend Holly Beals.

photo(75)Holly creates beautiful images and makes them accessible to us through cards, journals (like this beauty) through her etsy site. She also is committed to ending human trafficking so she donates a portion of every sale to this cause.

And the other book in the picture? Why that’s Bonnie’s new book that is available this week!!!! You’ll be hearing more from me about the beauty of finding spiritual whitespace in the days to come. I’ve had the privilege of spending time here

photo(76)reading, pondering and journaling my experiences in finding spiritual whitespace.

I can honestly say this is a book that epitomizes Proverbs 25:11.

Jesus will meet you in the pages of Finding Spiritual Whitespace as Bonnie tells her own journey and invites us to pull up a chair and share.

It’s almost summer. Don’t you feel a need for a different routine? 21 days of rest to take you to the official first day of summer. Now that sounds amazing to me!

Want to join?

It’s easy! Click on this image and you’ll go to her site where you can learn more.  I hope you’ll share here too!

 

21 Days of Rest: Finding Spiritual Whitespace

3 Steps to Be Ready

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I wrote this post 5 years ago before this blog was part of my website. You can check out the original post here (to see what improvements or adjustments I’ve made.)
I often feel I am not ready.

I want to be. I long to be ready at any moment, but I am easily distracted.

I’m distracted by the dishes, the laundry, the dust, the paperwork. I can’t seem to put a routine together because something or someone comes along the Way to change my plans.

Now that we live in a new location, far from friends and family, I can truly say of myself: I can distract myself in a paper bag!

Wait. Watch. Prepare. I want to be available to those in need of a good Word whenever called upon. I study. I pray. I wait. I watch. But still I don’t feel ready.

What gets in your Way of being ready?

What are you getting ready for?
Hume Road Sign

This picture is just a road sign but it struck me and I started thinking about the ways of sharing my faith.

Peter, who walked and talked with Jesus along the Way, tells us to set apart Christ as Lord in our hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence.

Step 1:
We as followers along the Way are to live full of hope as we walk in this world.

We show hope in the Way we struggle, suffer loss, live daily and transparently before others. Jesus is the Way. If we follow His Way we see our paradigm set forth.

The Way is not religion. Religious behavior can distract us from the Way. Religious behavior can get in the way of seeing Jesus. We can think we know how God will act or respond if we just do the right things. Jesus got up in the business of the Pharisees pointing out how they had lost the heart of the Law and only stuck to the Letter of the Law. Jesus shows us the Father, shows us Himself. Jesus didn’t heal the same way or pray the same way or meet people’s needs the same way throughout the gospels. If we watch carefully we’ll see how to follow Him along the Way.

Step 2:
We read His Word to know Him more.
The daily habit of reading God’s Word for even 10 minutes can be a tool that He uses to transform your mind and heart little by little as you present yourself a ‘living sacrifice’. We’re to be more like Jesus tomorrow than we are today. Process.

Step 3:
We spend time together with other Christ-followers to encourage one another to love and good deeds.
Meeting together on Sundays for corporate worship. Having lunch afterward with others. Meeting during the week to study and pray. Sharing chores. Meeting needs. Laughing together. Play dates with children. Serving the community together. So many ways!

This is faith walking. We don’t see Jesus face to face yet, but we have His Word, His promises and His Presence in the Holy Spirit to help and guide us along the Way. We have each other in challenging times, if we are living transparently in our challenges.

Getting ready is a life long pursuit. I think being ready is a process that just means being real with where we are along the Way. Keep setting apart Jesus Christ as Lord in your heart by moving yourself off the throne. Keep faith walking. Keep getting ready and you will be ready.

Join me?

Why is Good Friday Good?

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Four years ago I wrote a post with this title.  You might be interested to look back at it here.

This is still a question that resonates within me; a question that you may wonder about as well. There is so much more to say than what I shared before.

Why is Good Friday Good?  How is the excruciating, violent, prolonged suffering of One man good?  Isn’t it morbid to focus on the blood and gore that Jesus of Nazareth went through?  Isn’t this annual tradition just a little out dated in the era? I am no theologian, or Bible scholar or historian.  I know people who are.  I have listened to them, read their writings and mulled over all the implications on my life, on your life, on all our lives.  I have come to one conclusion.

mattandalliweddingAug2012 138Before Christ got to the Cross there was Love.  Love poured out to His followers in many ways: teaching, compassionate acts, healing, bread and wine, washing filthy feet, and most of all: prayer.

So much love demonstrated to them. For us. To us.

The lyrics from Stuart Townend’s song that I posted four years ago still bring me to tears. How deep the Father’s Love for us, how vast beyond all measure…

Why is Good Friday Good?

Because of Love.

Of willing sacrifice.

Of suffering that I, that you, that we, will never have to endure in eternity future.

We are not without suffering here; the momentary “light affliction” that we go through in this very real 24/7 life we are living presently does have physical, emotional and sometimes spiritual suffering.  But our eternity future has been secured by the extreme suffering Christ endured for us.  We deserve separation from God because we broken, imperfect humans fall short of His holiness and perfection and miss the mark completely. But God…

Because of Love. Because of the willing sacrifice that Jesus Christ offered for our sin payment. Because of all the brutality He endured, His excruciating physical, emotional and spiritual pain.

We are free.

That’s why Good Friday is Good.

No matter how hard it is right this minute to deal with the pain your body is experiencing, Christ knows your pain and loves you in it.

No matter how dark the emotional fog of depression is right this minute, Christ knows your deep emotional pain and loves you in it.

No matter the wayward husband, the wayward child, the addiction, the shame, no matter.

He loves you right in it.

His death on the Cross over 2000 years ago wasn’t just a point in history to be remembered by theologians, Bible scholars and historians.  His death makes all the difference for me. And it can make all the difference for you, too.

It’s still foolishness to those who don’t believe. To those who claim His sacrificial payment by faith in Jesus Christ, there is somber reflection on Good Friday and rejoicing and celebration at the remembrance of His resurrection this Sunday.

The question isn’t why.  The question is Will you let the Love that motivated Good Friday be Good for you too?

Today I am linking up with Faith Barista over here.

 

Learning to Hear

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Telling a story once may bring laughter, tears or insight. Who doesn’t love a good story? One that engages your head and your heart; causes you to think about life differently; appreciate what you have even more. Telling a story, the same story in the same way many times, can become part of your story.

Pieces of my story have been collected on these pages for almost 5 years now.  I don’t tell my story just to be heard. I tell my story to process its elements and try to make sense in Light of a Greater Story.  My desire is that through my story I am pointing to the One True Story and helping you see and hear how you can connect your story with the greatest story ever told.

For a few years I have been practicing listening skills.  My ears work fine. But listening is a different thing altogether.

Listening requires focus. (internal as well as external) Freedom from distraction. Patience. Silence. Humility. (letting others talk instead of me) Listening to the heart requires wisdom as well.

After my Dad died I spent a lot of time alone allowing deep grief to be my daily silent companion. It was a form of depression for sure but not the black cloud that swallows many for various reasons. This was the result of the shock; the sudden tragic loss. And I knew I needed to be in the grief and not push it away, pretending everything was ok. It wasn’t. I was learning to recognize wisdom when I heard it.

I sat in the garden one day in May for I don’t know how long. I watched the flowers sway in the spring breeze. I heard birds chirping and cars driving by. But I sat unmoving, deep in self-pity; the kind that leads to despair.

Suddenly to my right a hummingbird started working the lipstick salvia plant that I had purchased on a trip to the nursery; a trip that was meant as a distraction for me. While there I saw a hummingbird approach a small 4 inch potted plant that had 2 flowers on it. I stood mesmerized remembering how much my Dad loved to feed hummingbirds in his backyard.  I bought the plant and put it in the ground in our front yard. That plant was attracting another hummingbird and I just watched in awed silence. Tears welled up and spilled over as I thought of my Dad. I said out loud to God, “don’t you even care how hard this is for me? Do you even see how much I am hurting?”

I turned away from watching the hummingbird and looked at my hands in my lap. I had clenched both hands into fists. Staring at my anger in view of my hands I heard a faint whirring noise.  I looked up and there, right in front of me not 2 feet away, a hummingbird hovered, staring at me.

At the risk of something precious being ridiculed, I will share: I knew at that moment God heard me in my grief.

He has gone to greater lengths than causing a hummingbird to pause in its flight to demonstrate His love for me. But do I listen?

He told us “Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?”  He showed us “Greater love has no one than this; that he lay down his life for his friends.” He promised us a Helper “When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.”

He also said “he who has ears to hear, let him hear.” Six times this is recorded in the gospels and always in the context of Jesus teaching something.  The word we see translated ‘to hear’ has meaning beyond the ears functioning.  English simply leaves out so much intent and is much too general. The Greek word used here ‘akouo’ means ‘I hear, I comprehend through hearing’.

Do we comprehend what manner of love and provision God has for us?  Are we gleaning wisdom from His Word? Are we in the process of learning to hear?

cultivate walk

 

 

Change it Up

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il_570xN.328961664This is lovely sketch was made by artist Rebekah Leigh Marshall.  I am found her work online. I’m fond of tandem bicycling…

I’m four months into my 57th trip around the sun. That is a sobering statement. Oddly it is also an invigorating challenge.

What new things can I learn to do? What old things can I make better? What about my character needs refining? What about my character needs sharing? Where are my gifts, talents and skills needed?

Those are some of questions I have pondered prior to the beginning of the New Year, 2014. And like most people I have lists: lists for groceries, projects, tasks, reading, writing to people; you name it. I probably have written a list. But this year isn’t about lists.

I’ve learned some things about myself in these many annual trips: I like some things to stay the same and I like to change some things.  Unfortunately the things I’d like to stay the same are completely out of my influence to remain the same. (think children growing up and moving away). The things that I’d like to change and are completely within the realm of my influence to accomplish I have often not accomplished. blegh.

As I have pondered my lists and recognized my one very-within-reason-to-change character flaw, I chose the word for my change-it-up efforts for the year: Resolve. I explained my choice more fully here.

My firm commitment is not just to complete my lists. Or change a character trait. Although those are both great things to commit to accomplishing. No my firm commitment is to live out the words of Paul to the church at Corinth. Near the end of his letter he wrote this: “Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.”

Now a casual reading might give the impression this about being stodgy and stiff; that you’re supposed to never change and never rest. And like most times when we take a verse of Scripture out of its context we can run the risk of misinterpreting what is there for us. So a brief interlude for a valuable point of history:

Paul wrote to the church at Corinth because they had started to live their lives like everyone else around them rather than following the teachings of Jesus as they had been shared by Paul. The church had the same values as the culture.  Paul spent a lot of specific writing reminding the Christ followers what it means to actually follow Christ. And near the end of his letter he encourages them to “be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.”

Knowing the context helps me to try to make sense for my own life of following along the Way. I need to break things down into little pieces that I can somewhat wrap my head around.  So here’s what I’ve learned in looking at this verse and why I’ve ended up with the one word Resolve for my focus this year.

Steadfast is not a word we use in daily conversations. Why not? Maybe our culture doesn’t support a word like this; listen to the definitions: fixed in direction; a steadfast gaze. firm in purpose, resolution, faith; a steadfast friend. unwavering. What is steadfast in our culture?

Abounding is also another word lost to our regular speech. Too bad. It’s a cool word. It originates from Latin and means overflow, or run over.

So stitching these word meanings into this verse helps me see that as a Christ follower what I do in my life with the Lord (which is everything because He lives in me, in you if you name His name) isn’t wasted. It’s not in vain. I can be fixing my gaze on Christ, getting to know Him more and more, and overflow with what He shows me in His Word. So, how I live my life, how I speak to others, how I spend my time, how I show grace to those who hurt me, how I forgive and forgive and forgive again, is not just me going through the motions. It is God at work. Changing it up in me, making me look more like Jesus every day. WOW!

I need to get on His two seater bike and be in tandem with Him. And what a ride it has been so far; He promises the adventure of a lifetime!

He has promised many good things but most of all His abiding Presence. Life here does not get any better than living daily with the awareness of His very real Presence.

I resolve to be on the bike in Tandem with Jesus.

What are you changing up this year?

Please also visit Rebekah

Sunday Celebrations: Honoring the Work of St. Patrick on This Day

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Ibind unto myself today
The strong Name of the Trinity,
By invocation of the same,
The Three in One and One in Three.

Top o’ the mornin’ to ya!

You may be of Irish decent and already know the true history of Patrick of Ireland.

Like many things at the hands of revisionist historians, the original work of Patrick has been assaulted by today’s cultural whims.

Who was this Patrick? Why does he have a day attributed to him?  Why all the green beer?  How do they relate?

The words above are attributed to the Breastplate Prayer of St. Patrick which later became and song which later became a hymn.

I am not going to tell you the history of Patrick of Ireland but if you’re curious, you can find it here.

I will tell you some of the things I have learned about him over the years.

He was kidnapped and sold into slavery in Ireland.

He loved Jesus and wanted others to know Him truly.

He spent his adult years learning the Scriptures and then took it to the people who had been his masters.

God used Patrick mightily to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ to all of Ireland.

How did we go from telling people of Jesus Christ to drinking copious amounts of green beer to “celebrate” St Patrick?

Ironically like most of cultural elements in America, this became an exploited holiday that was once only a religious remembrance.

The first St Patrick’s Day parade was On March 17, 1762; Irish soldiers serving in the English military marched through New York City.

Now annually, the St Patrick’s Day parade in NYC is the largest parade of its kind in the world.

If you are interested in learning more of the cultural progression from sharing Christ with the lost to drinking at the break of dawn check out this site.

The work and words of Patrick of Ireland are worth celebrating today, this Sunday in Lent.

He made personal sacrifices so that others could have food and shelter.

He demonstrated his love for Jesus through actions as well as words.

He helped those he served among.

That is a character worth copying.

Christ be with me, Christ within me,
Christ behind me, Christ before me,
Christ beside me, Christ to win me,
Christ to comfort and restore me.
Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ in quiet, Christ in danger,
Christ in hearts of all that love me,
Christ in mouth of friend and stranger.

(photo credit M. Dahl)

Cycling By

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This week of Lent has been hard; further confirming how I need a Savior.

I am lazy.  I look for ways out of doing what is hard.  I rationalize.  I excuse.  I want what is easy and comfortable.

This photo above was taken in 2011 when my dear husband (DH) and I took a two week trip to France for our 20th wedding anniversary.  Looks fun doesn’t it?

It was and is fun to ride a bicycle.

I reminded myself of that this week as I made myself ride my bike to work and back each day.  6 miles round trip.  Mostly flat and about 22 minutes (slow cycling!)

I pushed myself both for the exercise and for the practice of frugality which has been the theme this week of Lent.  Spend less/ give generously.

I love giving!  But I also love my comforts.  Driving 3 miles to work takes 7 minutes.  Do the math: it takes 3 times as long for me to ride as to drive.  But what is time except a non-renewable resource given to us to steward?

So I challenged myself to get on my own bike and get going.

I am happy to say I followed through.  Not a huge financial savings fuel wise but a big step in the right direction for me to use this bike for my transportation as I was doing in the fall before the time change and colder, wetter weather.

No excuses left but laziness and poor time management.

And you?  What have you been learning about yourself as you are going through this season of Lent?

Sitting with an Empty Chair

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Nearing the end of the first full week of Lent, I am blessed and challenged by this thought:

In the practice of Solitude is God’s invitation to “come sit with Me”.

Solitude does take practice.  It is noisy in the world.  I make it noisy by adding commitments and tasks that take up my time for solitude.  I excuse away the call to “Come away by yourself and rest” because I am busy doing things…for Jesus right?

He doesn’t need me to do anything.  He wants me to be with Him.  Simply be.

Alone with Him. In Solitude. *sigh* The Creator and Sustainer of Life wants me to be with Him.  That is all.  Just be.

I am blessed and challenged.

The challenge comes in the letting go of my routine, my to do list, my false source and sense of value.  The challenge is to accept that time alone with God, just hanging out with Him, is of primary value.

That Solitude is valuable.  That Solitude, time apart from the world, is valuable to God.

Solitude takes practice.  For me, years of practice. (I am a slow learner).  I first came in contact with the idea of spending time alone with God without an agenda, without my never ending prayer request list, 5 years after I began walking with Christ.  In 1986.  This idea of just meeting with Jesus came through the form of a tiny booklet, My Heart Christ’s Home, by Robert Boyd Munger.  It is an allegory using the illustration of your life and heart as Christ’s new home based on the Truth that Christ lives in us when we have accepted Him as Savior and Lord.

If you’ve never read it, I highly recommend it!

This empty chair is symbolic for me.  There is another one, to the right of it, where I sit.  Every morning when I am home, I get up, get my coffee and sit in my chair to have coffee with Jesus.  My google calendar says that “Coffee with Jesus” as a marked off hour at the beginning of each day.  I love my time sitting with an empty chair.  Just hanging out with Jesus is getting easier; not always asking “please fix this broken relationship” or “please change me in this attitude” but simply enjoying the silence and focusing on the reality of His Presence.

Solitude takes practice.  This season of Lent is the perfect time to practice slowing down, making space in your day, your mind, your heart, to be alone with Jesus.

Are you avoiding this?  What is keeping you from sitting?

Hush.  Listen well. The Chair is not Empty.

 

Learning in Lent

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This is the cover of the book I am reading during this season of Lent.  I bought it because I love the title.  I love the concept.  I loved it so much I ordered multiple copies with specific “Formation Friends” in mind; women who I know to be on the path desiring a closer, deeper walk with Jesus.

It’s short.  It’s simple.  But it’s deep and piercing.

On Day 4 of Lent and the first Saturday in Lent a pattern is established: reflect on what I have learned and experienced in the previous week.  One of today’s questions: ‘How has your connection with yourself, with others, deepened because of your intentional work with this discipline?’

Hmmm. This isn’t an easy answer.  I sit quietly considering my response.  Then it bubbles up: this book deepened my connection with others.  I have heard from several of the women to whom I gave a copy, that this little book is the answer to their prayer asking God for what they should do this Lent.

Now that is humbling.  To have prayed for the names of who to give the book to, ‘who Lord would be blessed to receive this?’ And then to have them say, this is an answer to their prayers!  That’s humbling.

But also confirming.  Having them tell me the book was an answer to their prayer means that I actually listened to the Holy Spirit and obeyed. Now that’s encouraging.

This first few days of Lent the discipline of Confession, of less guilt and more grace, has been the focus.

My internal repeated lie of not doing enough is being replaced. With Truth.  Be still and know that I AM God.

Less is More.

By the way, Renovare just made this book available digitally here.  So if you want your own copy but you think it’s too late, it’s not!

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