It's Perfectly Acceptable

Today began like any other day.

My alarm clock sounded and I hit snooze, twice.

Out of bed, dog out, breakfast made, coffee perking.

In the back of my mind I know today is different than I thought it would be 9 months ago.

Today I should be boarding an airplane bound for Atlanta.

I am not boarding an air plane, I am not headed to Atlanta.

Today I should be officially beginning my in person classes for Spiritual Direction Certification.

I am not meeting in person rather I am obsessively checking the zoom time so I don't miss it because of the time difference.

Today began like any other day, but today is different.

In one way or another we have all gone through significant changes since 2020 began.

In one way or another our lives are different now than we thought they would be 9 months ago.

It's perfectly acceptable to lament if things that were supposed to happen didn't, or didn't happen how you imagined.

It's perfectly acceptable to rejoice if good things have happened in ways you didn't imagine they could.

It's perfectly acceptable to be where you are and show those emotions, whatever they are, to others in your life.

I might not be getting on a plane, I might not be spending the week in Atlanta, but my journey toward spiritual direction certification is continuing on. This is one more twist in the road I've already been on. This is one more day to listen for God in the midst of the new and different.

Today began like any other day, find space to live out God's promise to you. The promise that whether you are in the darkest of valleys, on the highest of mountains, or somewhere on the road in between God's love surrounds you, Christ's peace enfolds, and the Holy Spirit guides your way.

It's perfectly acceptable to be where you are, lamenting or rejoicing, heart full of hope or overtaken with sorrow. It's perfectly acceptable to begin today, just like any other day knowing that where you are God is there too.

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A Prayer for the Week

picture from churchart.com My prayer this week is not my own but is a song entitled “The Blessing” by Celtic Woman. I spent the day at a spiritual retreat center and this is the song that kept coming to my mind. I wanted to share it with you (whoever reads this blog) In the morning when you rise I bless the sun, I bless the skies I bless your lips, I bless your eyes My blessing goes with you In the night time when you sleep Oh, I bless you while a watch I keep As you lie in slumber deep My blessing goes with you This is my prayer for you There for you, ever true Each every day for you In everything you do And when you come to me And hold me close to you I bless you And you bless me too When your weary heart is tired If the world would leave you uninspired When nothing more of love's desire My blessing goes with you When the storms of life are strong When you're wounded, when you don't belong When...

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I have a bulletin board hanging on my office wall; it has various things thumb tacked to it. At some point each of the things hanging there were important to me. I suppose since they are still hanging there even after making a 740 mile move cross country, they are still important. The things hanging on this board vary in shape, size, meaning, and appearance. A Chalice sun catcher, a map of the church, several cards from family and friends, a picture of my paternal grandparents in front of the "Arc de Triumph" during WWII, my father’s obituary, the preaching schedule, and a couple crosses…just to name a few. When I am sitting at my desk, this bulletin board is on my left; every time I glance at it the same thing catches my eye. I am always drawn to the same card. I believe I received this card at my Ordination and if memory serves I received three or four of this same card that day. The card reads; “Be who you are. Do what you love. Make a difference. Change the world.” ...

A Reflection and an Offering to Reflect

This past Thursday November 5th, was 10 years since I posted my very first blog here. I have been very sporadic in my writing. I have not gained a huge following and that is ok with me. I started this space as a space for me. A space to reflect, to share, to my own insight(often because it differs with where the congregation I am serving stands on some things). I do hope it is a space for those who follow and those who happen upon it, are able engage in some way. Even if that engagement is to say, "I don't agree". As I continue on my journey of becoming a spiritual director, I hope this space will become one where people can spend time in their own reflection, meditation and prayer. I hope to offer more opportunity for anyone who reads this to engage in an active prayer life. Here is a reflective vespers service I wrote for this year's Women's retreat for the Christian Church (DOC) in the Upper Midwest. This was a closing vespers service but could be used at an...

Braving The Waters

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