Come and sit...

"Jesus said, 'Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest...'"

Matthew 11:28

My most powerful and amazing experience of this reading is when I, well...experienced it for myself. I was getting a massage one Saturday, and I always just zoned out during a massage--no talking or anything, I just got lost in my own world. My mind went to a log downed over a lovely stream. There was Jesus, sitting on the log. He beckoned me and held out his hand to steady me as I sat down beside him. Me, being human, and ever so practical, said, "I don't want to keep you from anything..." Jesus responded, "I've got nowhere else to be...I'm here completely for you." So it wasn't just that Jesus called me, like this reading today, but Jesus had ALL the time in the world for me! It was such an awesome time for me and I think of it so often, but especially when I read this reading. I'm so much better at carving out time for sitting on the log with Jesus now. It used to be the only time I was still and silent was during a massage! But now, Jesus beckons me from the log constantly and I go. And, always, always, Jesus has all the time in the world for me! Love, heidi

Change your mind!

"Concretely, abandonment to the will of God consists of finding (God's) purpose for you in all the people, events, and circumstances you encounter."

Brennan Manning, "Reflections for Ragamuffins"

God can change my mind in an instant. Seriously. Ask the girls in my prayer group. I can be all set to not do something worthwhile and, suddenly, I do it like it was my idea in the first place. It fascinates me when God does this, because it means God influences me. It means I can be somewhat pliable and flexible to what God wants; not just steadfast in my own agenda. But, does it happen enough? Probably not. I still really like my own agenda! I like to think that spending time in silence and prayer allows me to be more open to God's will in my life. I like to think that time is what is making me a bit more bendable to God's will in all my circumstances. I have read that the more time we spend with God, the more we understand God's will and think more readily what God's will would be in any given situation. And it may help us to change our minds occasionally if God wants us to! Blessings on your mid-summer Wednesday! Love, heidi

Love better!

"The way we see other people is usually the way we see ourselves. If we have made our peace with our flawed humanity and have embraced our ragamuffin identity, we are able to tolerate in others what was previously unacceptable in ourselves."

Brennan Manning, "Reflections for Ragamuffins"

This really rang true for me this morning as I contemplated it. When I think of something hurtful done to me years ago, thus justifying my still being hurt by it all this many years later, I realize I did the same thing to someone else long before that! The things we are so quick to point out wrong with others, are so often the flaws we dislike in ourselves! Eureka, that! But if we can come to peace with our poorness of spirit, the fact that we are the wounded lepers at Jesus' feet, we can allow Jesus to heal us, too. And then, maybe, instead of being overly critical of others we can see in them the beauty that Jesus sees in us, faults and all! Today, if we find ourselves judging and criticizing others, let us quickly bring that same trait in ourselves to Jesus. Let us choose this beautiful summer day to change our hearts to love better! Love, heidi

Morning conversation

I had a conversation with God this morning...this is what God said.