"If I can expand my images of God to include thinking of God as Father, Mother, Son, Jesus, Shepherd, and Holy Spirit at my side like a guardian angel, I will have a richer appreciation of God."
The Little White Book, May 12, 2019
One of the first things we studied in the Spiritual Direction program I took was our image or images of God. Our images of God may reflect how we are raised in faith, or they may challenge how we were raised. We may see God as a stern judge, taking note of every wrong we do. We may think of God as a Santa Claus-type, gifting us with our list of desires, based on our naughty or nice-ness. We may have had difficult authority figures in our lives who make it hard for us to picture a loving, caring God we are to call Father. Whatever our image of God growing up, it is helpful, as we grow, to expand our imaginations and let God out of the box we may have put God in. If we ever think we have God figured out we need to prepare to be surprised, for God is un-figure-outable. Can we think of God as a loving Mother-type? The book and movie, "The Shack" may have expanded us a bit that way with the beautiful portrayal of God as a woman called "Papa." Can we expand our image of God as represented in creation? Can we image God in a beautiful sunset or a field of wildflowers? If we limit our encounters with God to only a few places and images we are seriously selling God short. God is much bigger than we can imagine, and the bigger we can expand our image of God will open up many more ways we can encounter God each day. If we believe God's spirit is in every single thing, we can encounter God all day long! Love, heidi
Tuesday, May 14, 2019
Friday, May 10, 2019
Reach out...
"Saul, still breathing murderous threats against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked him for letters...that, if he should find any men or women who belonged to the Way, he might bring them back to Jerusalem in chains."
Acts 9:1-2
And there we have it. Saul, as a religious leader, thinking it's a good idea to persecute people for their beliefs. Even murdering them for believing differently than he believed. And we are still doing it today--all religions seem to have a crazy faction that thinks it's a good idea to persecute others who believe differently. We just need to read the headlines to see the attacks on churches, mosques and synagogues to see that "murderous threats" are still being carried out two thousand years later. Have we learned nothing? What can we do to break this chain of intolerance? All we have, really, is our own life. We, in our own circle of influence, can stop the negative conversation as we hear it. Showing love and companionship with those of other faiths is a small start, but it may be the only start we have. We need to broaden our circle of cohorts--get to know someone of another faith so they aren't so foreign to us. Read other scriptures to familiarize ourselves with what they believe, so we can appreciate that their scripture is similar to what we read. Read our own New Testament and the words of Jesus that we are to LOVE each other, no matter what! God weeps at the way we treat each other on this planet. What can we do, this beautifully dawning spring day, to help? Jesus stopped Saul in his tracks on the road to Damascus. Is Jesus calling out to us? Love, heidi
Acts 9:1-2
And there we have it. Saul, as a religious leader, thinking it's a good idea to persecute people for their beliefs. Even murdering them for believing differently than he believed. And we are still doing it today--all religions seem to have a crazy faction that thinks it's a good idea to persecute others who believe differently. We just need to read the headlines to see the attacks on churches, mosques and synagogues to see that "murderous threats" are still being carried out two thousand years later. Have we learned nothing? What can we do to break this chain of intolerance? All we have, really, is our own life. We, in our own circle of influence, can stop the negative conversation as we hear it. Showing love and companionship with those of other faiths is a small start, but it may be the only start we have. We need to broaden our circle of cohorts--get to know someone of another faith so they aren't so foreign to us. Read other scriptures to familiarize ourselves with what they believe, so we can appreciate that their scripture is similar to what we read. Read our own New Testament and the words of Jesus that we are to LOVE each other, no matter what! God weeps at the way we treat each other on this planet. What can we do, this beautifully dawning spring day, to help? Jesus stopped Saul in his tracks on the road to Damascus. Is Jesus calling out to us? Love, heidi
Tuesday, May 7, 2019
Keep us guessing!
"The Almighty likes to keep us guessing, that is why my devotion to him never stales!"
Mother Mildred, "Call the Midwives"
The minute I heard this come from Mother Mildred I knew I had to write it down. Yes, it's fiction, yes, it's TV, but it is British TV and it rings so true! Every day we have new opportunities to serve God in ways that really keep us guessing. We can't imagine the interesting twists and turns God weaves through our day, but there they are. We can look back through our day by praying the nightly Examen (I'm linking my favorite below) and see where God was all through our day. I was chatting with Daughter Jeni Rose the other day and we both marveled at where we are now compared to where we were just a year ago. Last spring, both of us were in the midst of uncomfortable uncertainty. We look around now and we are in awe of how things turned out. Rather than preferring to have everything all laid out, predictable and easy, we should take Mother Mildred's approach and just enjoy God's surprises. (Easier said than done, I realize) Either way, it's a glorious spring day and there is much we can do to give God a hand today, so let's do it! Love, heidi
Examen
Mother Mildred, "Call the Midwives"
The minute I heard this come from Mother Mildred I knew I had to write it down. Yes, it's fiction, yes, it's TV, but it is British TV and it rings so true! Every day we have new opportunities to serve God in ways that really keep us guessing. We can't imagine the interesting twists and turns God weaves through our day, but there they are. We can look back through our day by praying the nightly Examen (I'm linking my favorite below) and see where God was all through our day. I was chatting with Daughter Jeni Rose the other day and we both marveled at where we are now compared to where we were just a year ago. Last spring, both of us were in the midst of uncomfortable uncertainty. We look around now and we are in awe of how things turned out. Rather than preferring to have everything all laid out, predictable and easy, we should take Mother Mildred's approach and just enjoy God's surprises. (Easier said than done, I realize) Either way, it's a glorious spring day and there is much we can do to give God a hand today, so let's do it! Love, heidi
Examen
Friday, May 3, 2019
Growing up...
"And whatever you ask in my name, I will do..."
John 14:13
When I heard today's date, I was reminded that thirty-nine years ago today, I moved from Miles City, Montana to Billings. In a Chevette and a Buick (my parents helped). All I owned fit into the two cars and I lived, very simply, in a furnished one bedroom apartment once I got to Billings. That's just what I have now except that I'm the one whose stuff furnishes it, but still. I think I've always had a yen for the simple life. On Pray-As-You-Go this morning, we were asked what would we ask of Jesus, knowing that whatever we ask for in his name, he will do. All through my life I have compiled long lists to answer this question, I'm sure. But today I could think of nothing. Not a darn thing, do I need this day. Oh, I always pray for the kids, their "others," the world, what I can do to help in the world, yada, yada, but for myself, I need absolutely nothing. I pray to accept all that happens today and to be a good sport about it. But on this gorgeous spring morning, I need only to bask in all that is, right here and now. I don't need or want more than what is in front of me today. It feels like I'm growing up...Love, heidi
John 14:13
When I heard today's date, I was reminded that thirty-nine years ago today, I moved from Miles City, Montana to Billings. In a Chevette and a Buick (my parents helped). All I owned fit into the two cars and I lived, very simply, in a furnished one bedroom apartment once I got to Billings. That's just what I have now except that I'm the one whose stuff furnishes it, but still. I think I've always had a yen for the simple life. On Pray-As-You-Go this morning, we were asked what would we ask of Jesus, knowing that whatever we ask for in his name, he will do. All through my life I have compiled long lists to answer this question, I'm sure. But today I could think of nothing. Not a darn thing, do I need this day. Oh, I always pray for the kids, their "others," the world, what I can do to help in the world, yada, yada, but for myself, I need absolutely nothing. I pray to accept all that happens today and to be a good sport about it. But on this gorgeous spring morning, I need only to bask in all that is, right here and now. I don't need or want more than what is in front of me today. It feels like I'm growing up...Love, heidi
Friday, April 26, 2019
Breakfast on the beach...
""Children, have you caught anything to eat?' They answered him, 'No.' So he said to them, 'Cast the net over the right side of the boat and you will find something.'"
John 21:5-6
Sometimes Jesus calls us to change. It can be a little change or a huge change. It can be as slight as dropping our nets from the other side of the boat, or as big as moving to a whole, new place and fishing there. We can get comfortable and complacent where we are, until we feel a strong beckoning to change. Maybe it feels like a gentle nudge at first, then a needling, and finally it goes into a discontent with the status quo and we know a change must be made. I can certainly see this in my own life these last several years, but it didn't stop with the move to Boise! I'm still feeling called to something new. "Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?" (Isaiah 43:19). What about you? Are you feeling beckoned to something new? Even to fish from a different side of the boat? We need to pay attention to the nudgings and needlings we feel...they could be Jesus calling us to something new--like breakfast on the beach. Love, heidi
John 21:5-6
Sometimes Jesus calls us to change. It can be a little change or a huge change. It can be as slight as dropping our nets from the other side of the boat, or as big as moving to a whole, new place and fishing there. We can get comfortable and complacent where we are, until we feel a strong beckoning to change. Maybe it feels like a gentle nudge at first, then a needling, and finally it goes into a discontent with the status quo and we know a change must be made. I can certainly see this in my own life these last several years, but it didn't stop with the move to Boise! I'm still feeling called to something new. "Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?" (Isaiah 43:19). What about you? Are you feeling beckoned to something new? Even to fish from a different side of the boat? We need to pay attention to the nudgings and needlings we feel...they could be Jesus calling us to something new--like breakfast on the beach. Love, heidi
Wednesday, April 24, 2019
We had hoped...
"But we had hoped..."
Luke 24:21
Such sad words for an Easter Wednesday, but there they are. I think it was Fr. James Martin, in his writings, who said these were among the saddest words in scripture. And, he pointed out, they are also sad in our lives when we find ourselves saying them too. "We had hoped the cancer was gone." "We had hoped he would stay sober." "We had hoped the job would work out." Our lives are splattered with "We had hoped" moments, as we look back. But look what happens when the guys on the road to Emmaus encounter Jesus.They are able to recognize Jesus in the simple task of sharing a meal with a stranger. Their hospitality opens the door for a vivid encounter with God. Their disappointment gives way to seeing the work of God in even the most devastating of events. It wasn't that God orchestrated the devastating event, but God was at work in the healing of hearts broken by it. God can be seen in our "We had hoped" moments when we look for the helpers, as Mister Rogers used to say. When we see people reaching out to others and rolling up their sleeves. In those kind acts, we see Jesus as on the road to Emmaus. And we are on the road ourselves. Several times a day we may be nudged to help someone else. The tiniest, simplest kindness may make a huge difference in someone going through a "We had hoped" moment. So let's keep our eyes and ears open as we continue to celebrate our Easter joy! Love, heidi
Luke 24:21
Such sad words for an Easter Wednesday, but there they are. I think it was Fr. James Martin, in his writings, who said these were among the saddest words in scripture. And, he pointed out, they are also sad in our lives when we find ourselves saying them too. "We had hoped the cancer was gone." "We had hoped he would stay sober." "We had hoped the job would work out." Our lives are splattered with "We had hoped" moments, as we look back. But look what happens when the guys on the road to Emmaus encounter Jesus.They are able to recognize Jesus in the simple task of sharing a meal with a stranger. Their hospitality opens the door for a vivid encounter with God. Their disappointment gives way to seeing the work of God in even the most devastating of events. It wasn't that God orchestrated the devastating event, but God was at work in the healing of hearts broken by it. God can be seen in our "We had hoped" moments when we look for the helpers, as Mister Rogers used to say. When we see people reaching out to others and rolling up their sleeves. In those kind acts, we see Jesus as on the road to Emmaus. And we are on the road ourselves. Several times a day we may be nudged to help someone else. The tiniest, simplest kindness may make a huge difference in someone going through a "We had hoped" moment. So let's keep our eyes and ears open as we continue to celebrate our Easter joy! Love, heidi
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