"I love you, too!"

"Life is just a short opportunity for you during a few years to say to God, 'I love you, too.'"

Henri Nouwen, "Spiritual Direction"

 

I love this!  It really got me thinking about the ways we say to God "I love you, too."  I really believe our love and compassion for others says that to God; Jesus told us that.  Our conversational prayer with God, talking to God throughout our busy days keeps us in touch in a loving way (even if we're complaining--that's just honest conversation!).  Doing whatever we do with kindness and our best effort is like a love letter to God. In this book, Henri Nouwen speaks of the difference between prayers and being prayerful.  Prayers are our specific intentions, rote prayers; our crying out to God.  While prayerfulness is sort of staying in touch with God all the time; doing what we know God would like us to do.  Our doing what we do for the glory and love of God is prayerful, without necessarily saying a prayer. The connection then, is that our being prayerful, all through our days, is our way of saying to God, "I love you, too!"  Love, heidi 

It ain't easy being breezy!

"When he heard (the tiny whispering sound) Elijah hid his face in his cloak and went and stood at the entrance of his cave."

1 Kings 19:13

 

 I love the image of Elijah at the entrance of his cave, waiting to hear from God.  That was me yesterday, actually.  It was my Quiet Day, so I sat at the entrance of my cave (the back porch) and waited for God's tiny whisper.  I heard birds and sprinklers and my dogs drove me nuts, but, amid all that, I heard God urging me to be more breezy.  Does that sound odd? Well it was spot on advice for me! I tend to get way too wigged out about stuff...dumb stuff.  I need to be more easy going, roll with the changes, go with the flow. In everything. Jesus invited Peter to step out of the boat in yesterday's Gospel and, as long as Peter was looking into Jesus' eyes, he was fine.  The minute he looked down at his own deficiencies or vulnerabilities, he faltered.  Jesus, as long as I'm looking into your eyes, I'm fine, just like Peter.  I can be more care-free and breezy as long as I have your gaze.  Jesus, you're the key to my being breezy!  Love, heidi

Good advice!

"Well, when you spend one hour a day adoring your Lord and never do anything which you know is wrong...you will be fine!"

Mother Teresa's advice to Henri Nouwen

 

In his book, "Spiritual Direction," Henri Nouwen relates a time when he sought the advice of Mother Teresa (I know, right? Two spiritual superstars in the same room! Wouldn't you have loved to be a fly on the wall there?)

Anyway, Nouwen says in the book that he was going through a difficult time and he sat there with Mother Teresa, telling her his troubles, "trying to convince her of how complicated it all was." After he finished, she looked at him and gently gave him the advice above.  Incredible.  He said it was like a bolt of lightening.  No matter what we are going through, spending time alone with God, in silence, can give us perspective.  It all goes back to being with God, worshipping God, adoring God.  God is the only way to peace.  Love, heidi

Come down the mountain with me!

"Lord, it is good that we are here.  If you wish, I will make three tents here..."

Matthew 17:4

 

OK, I confess that the mystery of the Transfiguration for me is this:  How can we extend that spiritual experience as we come down the mountain?  How can we bring Jesus with us as we travel back to our everyday lives?  Like Peter, I tend to want to stay "up there."  I want to linger at the Hermitage on the mesa.  I want to stay with the fellowship of Cursillo.  I want to stay where Jesus is, where I have such a rich and full experience of Jesus right there with me.  It never fails that, when I return to daily life, I just don't feel that same closeness.  This morning, I am realizing that it's not up to God to keep that closeness alive, it is more up to me.  The time that I spend on retreat is time I'm more open to God being there, it's not that God is anymore "there" for me than any other time.  It's me who is paying closer attention to God in those mountain top situations.  Lord, I thank you and praise you for giving me these mountain top spiritual experiences...please help me to be more open and attentive to you all the time, so we can come down the mountain together! Love, heidi

Don't say it!

"It's not what enters one's mouth that defiles that person; but what comes out of the mouth..."

Matthew 15:11

 

This is one of those scriptures I need to have embroidered on a pillow so I can see it all the time!  It always happens so fast.  It's not that I intend to say something wrong, but suddenly--bam! there it is, in a bubble over my head...an offensive utterance.  Later, I look back and think, "Why on earth did I say that??" In Spiritual Direction training we have a motto of sorts:  "Silent, slow, stupid."  That is, appreciate the silence...God can speak in the silence and it's better to have silence than to say something you'll regret. Also, prayerfully and slowly say what God gives you to say and don't pretend to think or know everything--because you don't.  I think I need to apply that to ALL my conversations!  The fact that I eat cookies in threes isn't going to defile me, but the things I say surely can!  Lord, please help me to engage the clutch on my mouth when I'm about to say something I shouldn't!  Love, heidi

Reach out and touch...

"'Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.' Jesus said, 'Come.'"

Matthew 14:28-29

 

I was just a twenty year old college student when I got a summer job across the country in North Carolina.  I had never really traveled east before and taking on a twelve week position at a camp for blind people was just what I wanted to do, but, whoa!  As the time got closer, I got more and more scared.  The Sunday before I left was this Gospel of Peter climbing out of the boat and walking on the water to Jesus.  Even then, I could see the connection to my own life.  Jesus was beckoning me out of the boat and onto the water.  As soon as I started to falter, I remembered Jesus' hand reaching out to grasp Peter and steady him on his quest. That summer launched my whole career in blind rehabilitation.  I'm so blessed that I was able, with Jesus' help, to take that first step out of the boat!  I invite you to take some time and think about a time you were called forth into a scary situation...did you reach for Jesus' hand?  Love, heidi