Jesus, Friend of Sinners...

"Jesus, friend of sinners
The truth's become so hard to see
The world is on their way to You
But they're tripping over me..."

Casting Crowns, "Jesus Friend of Sinners," from the album Come To the Well

This is the kind of song that you pull the car over when you hear it. Whoa! Did I hear that right? "The world is on their way to You but they're tripping over me?" Trouble is, it rang true the first time I heard it and each time since, and I've played it a million times! The song is about self-righteousness and how we point our fingers at others, when, actually, we are the lepers. "A plank-eyed saint with dirty hands and a heart divided." Oh my! And yet, so true.
When will we learn that we aren't right or perfect, just forgiven? I urge you to listen and learn from this song. You can hear it on You Tube (link below). Let's ponder and pray this song this weekend...Love, heidi

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B9Kcm2OAWNA&feature=related

Stir it up!

"For this reason, I remind you to stir into flame the gift of God that you have through the imposition of my hands."

2 Timothy 1:6

This is an exciting and worthwhile challenge from Paul to Timothy (and us), but the question may be how to we do this "stirring?" Think back on the times we have felt the stirring of the Holy Spirit...at a retreat, Cursillo, daily or weekly mass, silent prayer, all-of-the-above? We need to put ourselves in places and situations that we can feel enveloped by God. So much of what I've read this morning has called me to silence--prolonged silence, like the retreat I made last summer. But, I also know that I've felt the power of the Holy Spirit in foot-stomping, hand-raising praise and worship with others, too. We need to carve out time and come with openness to God. It is all gift to us, there for the taking. We just need to make ourselves available and grasp it! Love, heidi

Meeting our heroes...

"Prayer is not only about entering into relationship with God; it is also about being changed."

Sr. Joyce Rupp, "Prayer"

 

I admit it. I had rehearsed what I was going to say to Sr. Joyce Rupp if I got the chance to meet her at the conference I attended. I wanted to thank her for her many books that have nourished my spirituality for almost fifteen years! I stepped up to the table where she was signing books and opened my mouth to begin my little speech. "Oh!" she said to me, "What a lovely scarf!" "Look!" she said to the gal sitting next to her, "It would go with pink or blue or anything!" She turned back to me, admiringly. I mumbled something about just getting it at the Fair Trade table, four booths down from hers. She smiled and took the book I offered for her to sign and asked my name. "Heidi? Oh that's a wonderful name...is that with an "i" or an "e" at the end?" I had intended to express my gratitude to her, but she was up two compliments on me before I knew it. She is such a gracious and kind person! It is good that we have heroes and heroines in our lives so they can compliment us and make us feel wonderful, isn't it? Somehow, I knew Sr. Joyce knew I appreciated her writing without me actually getting the words out. Love, heidi

Directions for growth...

"If you want the biscuits to rise, they must touch each other."

~Mary B's frozen biscuit directions

Sister Judy Gomila told a wonderful story at the North American Conference of Associates and Religious I attended this past weekend in Chicago. She told us that her community of seven sisters have a weekly ritual of preparing and sharing biscuits together every Thursday morning. Other mornings they fend for themselves, but they bake biscuits and enjoy them together every Thursday morning before heading off in different directions. For four or five years, they made the biscuits the same way...by placing them on a cookie sheet and popping them in the oven. By the time they are finished praying the Office, the biscuits are ready. One day, just a year ago, someone actually read the directions on the package! They read, "If you want the biscuits to rise, they must touch each other." In other words, bake them in a cake pan and, if they touch, they will rise twice as large! Isn't that just the way with our spiritual growth? If you want human beings to rise to their best selves, they must touch and care for each other. Can I hear an Amen? Love, heidi