Advent meditation: Love
After retiring to its new underground home, the seed adjusts to life in the Darkness. It takes some time, but after a while, it resigns …
love
preparing for the longest night
As we prepare for the longest night of the year, I’ve been reflecting Darkness and the journeys we take with her. Whether it’s related to …
This song has filled the quiet of my home this morning, filling my heart with hope and love. I am reposting this one today as …
finding my voice
On Monday this week, I marched along with thousands of others in honor and memory of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The diversity …
fill us up with Love
Every year, I seem to find a Christmas song or hymn that captures my spirit and plants a seed of the season in my heart. …
table
Several years ago, I bought my first kitchen table. My parents had given me another when I was in college which served its purpose lovingly …
lessons learned: crabgrass and intolerance
Upon arriving home from my residency, I marveled at the wonders the gardens had produced–tomatoes, eggplants, potatoes, squash, flowers, and on and on. It was …
welcoming Darkness to the table
Last weekend, I had the honor of co-facilitating a group of discerning deaconesses at a United Methodist Women’s gathering at Lake Junaluska, NC. As a …
the spirit of the season
Every year since this act of kindness occurred, I post it in my social media. I don’t cut and paste the story because retelling it …
brokenness
Recently, I have been sitting with Brokenness. For a long time, however, I was afraid to acknowledge her presence because her cracks might allow someone …
remembering this day
I’m sure many of us recall where we were when we first witnessed or heard the news about the World Trade Center or the Pentagon …
Living “In Community” ~ A Sermon
I gave this message at our contemplative Sanctuary service last Sunday, September 6. It is the 2nd in the 3-part series about the Social Principles …
our little LuLu
Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle. ~attributed to Plato but documented as being written by Ian Mclaren, pseudonym of Rev. …
Lenten meditation: when the light falls on the creeping jenny
Yesterday, my daughter, her boyfriend, and his sister helped me clean out the chicken run and coop in preparation for our chicken-raising adventure this Spring. …
Lenten reflection: the Potter
This morning as I read of the postponement of Kelly Gissendaner‘s execution, I wondered what it must be like for her as she waits in …
love letter to the world
I am a little pencil in the hand of a writing God who is sending a love letter to the world. ~Mother Teresa Shine your …
lessons learned: prayer peas and thoughts on love
I wrote this one a few years ago and return to it often. ~Cameron Many things grow in the garden that were never sown there. …
love is. . .
I was reminded this morning that Valentine’s Day is Saturday and so I thought that I might re-read some of my meditations on love and …
morning mantras
As I continue to grow in the ways of my faith, I find that I have become a collector of prayer practices. It is quite …
a milestone to celebrate
Last year, I wrote this post on this date and reread it this morning as a reminder for my soul. Five years post surgery in …
wise words from Joyce Rupp
If I wait to be perfect before I love myself I will always be unsatisfied and ungrateful if I wait until all the flaws, chips, …
one word
A few weeks ago, I went to lunch with someone who asked me this: “If you could only speak one word for the rest of …
blessings by Jan Richardson
This morning, I am delighted to find an email from Jan Richardson in my inbox with information about her new Women’s Christmas Retreat. She notes …
Anne Hillman’s We look with uncertainty
This morning, I was drawn into an article by Parker Palmer at the On Being with Krista Tippett website. This poem was included, and it …
one more sleep til Christmas
One More Sleep Til Christmas (words by Paul Williams, from The Muppet Christmas Carol) There magic in the air this evening Magic in the air …
the Spirit of the season
A couple of years ago in December, my daughter and I stood in a line 20 people deep at Target on a Friday night. We …
more love
This song came to me last night as I was preparing the stars for our Longest Night service. Seemed particularly appropriate for this time of …
what the Muppets teach us about Advent
One of my favorite holiday traditions is the annual viewing of The Muppet Christmas Carol. I have loved the Muppets since childhood, and as an …
love is. . .
I’m reposting this one not only for Advent but also because I have been reading several books that remind me of the importance of growing …
choose now
You are goodness and mercy and compassion and understanding. You are peace and joy and light. You are forgiveness and patience, strength and courage, a …
affirmation for health and healing
A friend shared this one with me recently, and I have found it to be very life affirming. I would like to add that he …
prayers and blessings of remembrance for this day
I have spent some time this morning meditating on prayers that have been written over the years with regard to 9/11. I am so grateful …
Wendell Berry’s What We Need Is Here
Geese appear high over us, pass, and the sky closes. Abandon, as in love or sleep, holds them to their way, clear in the ancient …
lessons learned: ripples on a pond
This past week, I had the honor of accompanying our youth group on their Carolina Cross Connection mission trip. It was a week that exceeded …
forgiving the past
This morning, I wanted to blog about a quote or topic related to to Maya Angelou as she has been a writer who has …
lessons learned: tomato cages and friendship
The past couple of months, I have experienced the unconditional care and support of friends. Sometimes, if you are lucky, you find people who take …
lessons shared with my daughter
Today, my sweet baby girl sheds another year and gracefully takes the next few steps on her life’s journey. There are days when I’m sure …
lessons learned: faith and fancy with a little mischief for good measure
At this time of year, I fondly remember my dear friend, Cheryl. You see, a few years ago before she passed away from her third …
quotes: meditating on love
Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that. ~Martin Luther King, Jr. Believe …