Getting somewhere by being still...

"All spiritual growth is fraught with mystery. No matter how hard we try, we cannot push and shove our way into union with the Holy One."

Sr. Joyce Rupp, "Prayer"

I'm learning that there is so much waiting patiently as I grow closer to God! I have such an urge to control the process, to hasten it along, to make it all about ME...and that is so not it. Growing spiritually is about being ready to receive and being awed by the process, not so much the end result. What is the end result, anyway? How do we know we have "arrived" at the end? What does spiritual success look like? We all know spiritual people who seem to be so close to God and have what we want to have. But do they really? After Mother Teresa died, it was discovered that she struggled in her faith, just like the rest of us, and yet, she is one of our spiritual powerhouses. Our spiritual journey never comes to completion here on this planet. And, it is sometimes only in looking backward we can see growth. We need to "be still and know that I am God" and have our hands open to receive. Love, heidi

Prayer

"In prayer, we bring ourselves to the entryway of our relationship with the Holy One, but it is God, 'who is able to accomplish far more than we can ask or imagine.' (Ephesians 3:20)"

Sr. Joyce Rupp, "Prayer"

Growing up as a cradle Catholic, I cut my teeth on the words "prayer" and "grace." I knew the Baltimore Catechism definitions for both, but they sure seemed mysterious and vague to me. I knew what they were, but had no idea what they WERE, if you know what I mean. I'm learning, gradually on my journey, what they mean, and it is extremely enlightening! Prayer forms have passed through my life in waves. For a while, I did this type of prayer, for another period of time I did that type of prayer. But, always, as long as I can remember, I have talked to God. I can remember specific times, as a kid, talking to God. I remember feeling a Presence, too; I wasn't just talking to thin air! There was Someone there I felt I could just spill my heart to, and I did! Such a gift, that. Now, as a grown up, I am growing back to that time when I talked to God as a child. Prayer is a relationship, not just a conversation. Prayer is being open and welcoming, not always coming with an agenda. Prayer is being willing to accept any answer, not just what I think I want or need. Prayer is not about what I do, but what God does with me. Love, heidi

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