To see thee more clearly!

"Immediately things like scales fell from his eyes and he regained his sight."
Acts 9:18

We all can relate to the story of Saul on the road to Damascus, knocked to the ground, struck blind, his "Come to Jesus" moment, right? We may be thankful that our conversion wasn't quite so dramatic or debilitating or maybe we wish it had been? Anyway, where does this reading find us on a Friday in mid-April? At the suggestion of Pray-As-You-Go, I asked myself what to I need to see better this day? What are the scales on my eyes preventing me from seeing? That is so easy! I need to lose the scales to be able to see Jesus in the people I meet.  I need to see others more clearly, to appreciate them as beloved of God, as they are.  Each person I meet today is God's beloved.  Each person has something of God to share with me. The problem is I have trouble seeing and recognizing this fact.  Lord, I'm on my way to Damascus today (not really, I'm just going to work but you know what I mean!) I need the scales to fall from my eyes so I can see you clearly in those around me--especially those with whom I struggle.  Please improve my vision to help me see and appreciate You in them! Love, heidi

Set out!

"The angel of the Lord spoke to Philip...
So he set out...
The Spirit said to Philip...
Philip ran up..."
Acts 8:26, 29, 30

I really gotta hand it to Philip! He is so open and eager to act on the prompting of the Holy Spirit! Philip doesn't seem to hesitate one little bit.  He doesn't hem and haw, look at the ground, say, "Isn't there someone else more qualified than me?" He just ACTS (oh! that's the name of the book!) Would we consider opening up a conversation with a stranger? About faith? God will surely prompt us during our day, today, to do things that may be out of our comfort zones. How will we respond? Will we set out, like Philip? Will we even listen to the prompting of the Spirit as we go about our day? Let's try! What could possibly happen?  Good things!  Lord, sometimes I miss your quiet voice amid the clamber that is my day.  Nudge me to listen more carefully and heed your word more passionately. Maybe even help me to share you with others--either in word or action.  Love, heidi

The work of our hands...

..."We should strive to see that our work is a gift. Adam was living in Paradise, yet he worked! God gave Adam work so that he might sense his harmony in the divine design."
Fr. Ed Hays, "Secular Sanctity"

Ok, after yesterday, I have 99 more Mondays until I can retire.  I know, it's a crazy thing that I've counted down Mondays, but I really struggle with Mondays and, embarrassingly, began counting them down from 500!  One time Number One Daughter said, 'Your clients deserve someone who isn't counting Mondays." So true, that.  But, it's interesting that, as I count down Mondays, I am also seeking and finding more of God in my work--not the work of counting, but the work of working.  In Fr. Ed Hays' book, "Secular Sanctity," he writes about our work being a gift from God to us.  He talks about doing it prayerfully, with focus and appreciation for what it teaches us.  If we can't find it nourishing and pleasurable, we should find other work!  I'm sinking my teeth in this today, Friends, and am realizing that God certainly has gifted me with the work I do.  Mind you, I'm usually very happy with my job Tuesday through Friday!  It's just those Mondays that are tough.  So, today being Tuesday, I say "Yee Haw!" Let's get in there and appreciate the work we do as a gift from God, who just wants us to do it with love...Love, heidi

The food that lasts forever!

"Do not work for food that perishes but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on him the Father, God, has set his seal."

John 6:27

 

It seems odd to some that I choose to spend time at Silent Retreats, at the Hermitage in silence, or in my Silent Sundays.  For one thing, it is a bit of a change from my earlier days of being much more of a social butterfly and, certainly, rarely, if ever, silent!  But, I have found through having these times of silence, that I desperately need them! Just as I need to go to the grocery store each week for the food that perishes, I need to consistently have times of silence to be nourished by the food that never perishes.  Pray-As-You-Go asked, this morning, what "food" in our lives perishes?  I would think the success, accolades, awards, recognition, even financial rewards certainly are fleeting, aren't they?  They seem so nice while they happen, but the glow wears off after a time.  The trophy gets dusty on the shelf and you begin to wonder why it was ever important.  But, the people we know, the activities we share with them, the nourishment of spiritual truths and the time spent just with God are all examples of the "food" that lasts forever.  Today may be a good time to sit and ponder what is the "food" that perishes in our lives and what nourishment lasts so much longer...Love, heidi