"For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be."
Luke 12:34
Well, I've spent the last nearly two weeks traveling. I went hither and yon (where is that, exactly?) celebrating the treasures of my heart--friends and family within driving or flying distance. And, now that it's all over, I can honestly say--people are my treasure. Wait! ALL people? It seems like I got impatient with the people in line in front of me at airport security...so maybe not those people...but other people! The people I traveled to see. And, maybe not the people in front of me in line at Subway who ordered each little vegetable separately on one or another specific side of their sandwich while I was in a hurry to hit the highway! Maybe not those people either. But, shouldn't ALL people be a treasure to me? Each person, no matter how irritating or frustrating, is a child of God, just as my "destination" people are! There was a homeless woman on the streets of Boulder, pushing a cart and ranting and raving at anyone who looked at her. Yes, she is a daughter of God. And she is a treasure. It's easier for me to picture daughter Jeni Rose as my main treasure in Boulder, though. But the homeless woman is God's treasure to God, just as JRose is a treasure to me. It will take me a long time to process all the gifts of my travels, but I intend to do so--to unpack all the travel souvenirs I picked up along the way and see God's gift in each one. For they are the treasures of my heart. Love, heidi
Monday, August 12, 2019
Tuesday, July 30, 2019
A meeting tent...
"The tent, which was called the meeting tent, Moses used to pitch at some distance away, outside the camp. Anyone who wished to consult the Lord would go to this meeting tent outside the camp."
Exodus 33:7
I think my treehouse is my "meeting tent." No, I KNOW it is my meeting tent! It has become a sacred space I share with the squirrels and birds and the gorgeous tree. God is so present to me there that we can carry on conversations, just as God did with Moses in the meeting tent Moses pitched outside camp. I am affirmed in my thinking when friends visit, take a seat in the treehouse and just melt into the peace of it all. There is definitely an "Ahhh" factor when sinking into my zero-gravity rocking chair! So, a question for you: Where is your meeting tent? Do you have a sacred space in your home where you can go and meet God? Where you can reliably find God, there watching for you? Maybe it's outside? Near water? In the mountains? When I can't be out in the treehouse I have a prayer chair that is surrounded by little spiritual treasures; pictures, medals, my singing bowl, a rosary from Jerusalem that Jeni Rose sent me. This space is sacred for me too. If you don't have a meeting tent, I urge you to fashion one. God is everywhere, certainly, but sometimes it's lovely to have a special space set aside for you and God to hang out. Love, heidi
Exodus 33:7
I think my treehouse is my "meeting tent." No, I KNOW it is my meeting tent! It has become a sacred space I share with the squirrels and birds and the gorgeous tree. God is so present to me there that we can carry on conversations, just as God did with Moses in the meeting tent Moses pitched outside camp. I am affirmed in my thinking when friends visit, take a seat in the treehouse and just melt into the peace of it all. There is definitely an "Ahhh" factor when sinking into my zero-gravity rocking chair! So, a question for you: Where is your meeting tent? Do you have a sacred space in your home where you can go and meet God? Where you can reliably find God, there watching for you? Maybe it's outside? Near water? In the mountains? When I can't be out in the treehouse I have a prayer chair that is surrounded by little spiritual treasures; pictures, medals, my singing bowl, a rosary from Jerusalem that Jeni Rose sent me. This space is sacred for me too. If you don't have a meeting tent, I urge you to fashion one. God is everywhere, certainly, but sometimes it's lovely to have a special space set aside for you and God to hang out. Love, heidi
Wednesday, July 24, 2019
God provides...
"The Lord spoke to Moses and said, 'I have heard the grumbling of the children of Israel. Tell them: In the evening twilight you shall eat quail, and in the morning you shall have your fill of bread, so that you may know that I, the Lord, am your God.'"
Exodus 16:11-12
As I was listening to this reading on Pray-As-You-Go this morning, I watched the new squirrels in the new squirrel nest in my tree. The nest is really big and when I think of all the stuff the squirrels had to schelp up the tree in their little mouths, I marveled. I also saw a parallel between God providing for the Israelites in the desert and God providing for the squirrels in Idaho, America. God had provided all the building materials that went into this nest, as well as the instinct and wherewithal of the squirrels to get the job done. I have a feeling that God cares as deeply for the squirrels in my tree as anything God has created. God loves what God creates; it's as simple as that. Going back to yesterday's post on lamenting, the Israelites were major lamenters as they wandered around the desert. They lamented, perhaps rightly so, about everything. They even lamented, wistfully thinking about the lives they left behind in slavery in Egypt! But how did God respond to their laments? God heard them and fulfilled their needs, providing food for them. Later, they even lamented about "this wretched food," but that's a lament for another day. Today, another toasty one in Boise, let's watch for all the signs of God caring for God's own creation...including us, God's beloved. Love, heidi
Exodus 16:11-12
As I was listening to this reading on Pray-As-You-Go this morning, I watched the new squirrels in the new squirrel nest in my tree. The nest is really big and when I think of all the stuff the squirrels had to schelp up the tree in their little mouths, I marveled. I also saw a parallel between God providing for the Israelites in the desert and God providing for the squirrels in Idaho, America. God had provided all the building materials that went into this nest, as well as the instinct and wherewithal of the squirrels to get the job done. I have a feeling that God cares as deeply for the squirrels in my tree as anything God has created. God loves what God creates; it's as simple as that. Going back to yesterday's post on lamenting, the Israelites were major lamenters as they wandered around the desert. They lamented, perhaps rightly so, about everything. They even lamented, wistfully thinking about the lives they left behind in slavery in Egypt! But how did God respond to their laments? God heard them and fulfilled their needs, providing food for them. Later, they even lamented about "this wretched food," but that's a lament for another day. Today, another toasty one in Boise, let's watch for all the signs of God caring for God's own creation...including us, God's beloved. Love, heidi
Tuesday, July 23, 2019
Lamenting...
"The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; God's mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness."
Lamentations 3:22-23
I was blessed to spend this past weekend up in the Sawtooth mountains at a women's retreat. It was a lovely combination of learning, quiet time, prayer, and recalling the times in our lives when we have lamented. How do we deal with the times of lament we all face? Life can be so difficult and it's inevitable that we will struggle with the storms of life. One thing I learned is that we can feel free to cry out to God, honestly and heartily. That's relationship, and God wants to be in relationship with us. It's true that God's love and mercy are always waiting for us. I also believe that when we're hurting, God hurts with us. God, certainly, hasn't caused the pain and sorrow in our lives, but God suffers with us. Read Matthew's account of Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane (Matthew 26:36-46) and see that Jesus lamented too. There's no way we can escape lament-worthy events in our lives, but there is hope in the steadfast love of God. As long as we cling to that, there is a new dawn on the horizon. Today, let's pray especially for those who are experiencing lamentful times in their lives. Can we be a comforting presence for them? Can we lift them up to God? I am again reminded of my lady on the bus last week, who got such disturbing news while en route somewhere. Prayers for all who are struggling this day. Love, heidi
Lamentations 3:22-23
I was blessed to spend this past weekend up in the Sawtooth mountains at a women's retreat. It was a lovely combination of learning, quiet time, prayer, and recalling the times in our lives when we have lamented. How do we deal with the times of lament we all face? Life can be so difficult and it's inevitable that we will struggle with the storms of life. One thing I learned is that we can feel free to cry out to God, honestly and heartily. That's relationship, and God wants to be in relationship with us. It's true that God's love and mercy are always waiting for us. I also believe that when we're hurting, God hurts with us. God, certainly, hasn't caused the pain and sorrow in our lives, but God suffers with us. Read Matthew's account of Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane (Matthew 26:36-46) and see that Jesus lamented too. There's no way we can escape lament-worthy events in our lives, but there is hope in the steadfast love of God. As long as we cling to that, there is a new dawn on the horizon. Today, let's pray especially for those who are experiencing lamentful times in their lives. Can we be a comforting presence for them? Can we lift them up to God? I am again reminded of my lady on the bus last week, who got such disturbing news while en route somewhere. Prayers for all who are struggling this day. Love, heidi
Thursday, July 18, 2019
On the bus...
"Jesus said, 'Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest.'"
Matthew 11:28
Yesterday, I was on the bus headed downtown. The bus was quite full and I found a seat near a lady who was on a video call on her phone (for those of you familiar with the bus rules, she had earbuds in). She was chatting away most of the ride down, when quite suddenly, she burst into tears. She quickly pulled the I-want-off string and the minute the bus stopped and doors opened, she fled, still weeping. I watched her leave and my heart just hurt for her. What had happened in that seemingly OK call? Had someone broken her heart? Had a loved one shared bad news? I wanted to chase after her and comfort her. I had to settle for praying for her. That's not too much a "settle" though, but it seemed like it. I prayed that God would comfort her, that Jesus would give her rest--she was so obviously heavily burdened. We just don't know what is going on in the lives of the people we, either metaphorically or actually, ride the bus with. We just don't know. That's why we need to be kind to everyone. We don't know what news they may have just received that hurt them. Today, we are all passengers on this great bus of life. Let's hold each other carefully, in love, and ask God to especially bless all who are so heavily burdened. Love, heidi
Matthew 11:28
Yesterday, I was on the bus headed downtown. The bus was quite full and I found a seat near a lady who was on a video call on her phone (for those of you familiar with the bus rules, she had earbuds in). She was chatting away most of the ride down, when quite suddenly, she burst into tears. She quickly pulled the I-want-off string and the minute the bus stopped and doors opened, she fled, still weeping. I watched her leave and my heart just hurt for her. What had happened in that seemingly OK call? Had someone broken her heart? Had a loved one shared bad news? I wanted to chase after her and comfort her. I had to settle for praying for her. That's not too much a "settle" though, but it seemed like it. I prayed that God would comfort her, that Jesus would give her rest--she was so obviously heavily burdened. We just don't know what is going on in the lives of the people we, either metaphorically or actually, ride the bus with. We just don't know. That's why we need to be kind to everyone. We don't know what news they may have just received that hurt them. Today, we are all passengers on this great bus of life. Let's hold each other carefully, in love, and ask God to especially bless all who are so heavily burdened. Love, heidi
Wednesday, July 17, 2019
Who am I?
"But Moses said to God, 'Who am I?'"
Exodus 3:11
God, in the burning bush had told Moses that the people of Israel will be freed from bondage in Egypt and Moses was the guy to do it. Moses had a couple concerns and wasn't sure he was the right man for the job. But instead of saying "No, I couldn't possibly..." Moses asked for clarification (like a good Spiritual Director!) Who am I to lead the people out of Egypt? It's a question we can all ask ourselves everyday (well, not the Egypt part, maybe). But, who am I, that I have this incredible life in a treehouse? Who am I, that I get to work with adorable five-year-olds, getting ready for Kindergarten? Who am I, that I have the life I am living? If God calls us to help with something, we may not feel entirely up to the task, but we can trust that God will help us with it, just like God helped Moses. We certainly may not feel called to such a huge task as Moses (think back to the movie, "The Ten Commandments!" Oy!) But our task may be no less important in God's eyes. Our task may be tying a shoe for someone who cannot tie their own or reading to someone who cannot read for themselves, or even smiling and holding the door open for a stranger. That's no parting of the Red Sea, but may be just what needs to happen in our environment today. God is calling to us each day to make the world better for someone else. Who are we? We are God's Beloved...and we can definitely do it, with God's help! Love, heidi
Exodus 3:11
God, in the burning bush had told Moses that the people of Israel will be freed from bondage in Egypt and Moses was the guy to do it. Moses had a couple concerns and wasn't sure he was the right man for the job. But instead of saying "No, I couldn't possibly..." Moses asked for clarification (like a good Spiritual Director!) Who am I to lead the people out of Egypt? It's a question we can all ask ourselves everyday (well, not the Egypt part, maybe). But, who am I, that I have this incredible life in a treehouse? Who am I, that I get to work with adorable five-year-olds, getting ready for Kindergarten? Who am I, that I have the life I am living? If God calls us to help with something, we may not feel entirely up to the task, but we can trust that God will help us with it, just like God helped Moses. We certainly may not feel called to such a huge task as Moses (think back to the movie, "The Ten Commandments!" Oy!) But our task may be no less important in God's eyes. Our task may be tying a shoe for someone who cannot tie their own or reading to someone who cannot read for themselves, or even smiling and holding the door open for a stranger. That's no parting of the Red Sea, but may be just what needs to happen in our environment today. God is calling to us each day to make the world better for someone else. Who are we? We are God's Beloved...and we can definitely do it, with God's help! Love, heidi
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