Story Time with Henri Nouwen – Trust the Catcher!

Gather around for a great story today. Here is one of my favorite stories told by Henri Nouwen:

“The Flying Rodleighs are trapeze artists who perform in the German circus Simoneit-Barum. When the circus came to Freiburg two years ago, my friends Franz and Reny invited me and my father to see the show. I will never forget how enraptured I became when I first saw the Rodleighs move through the air, flying and catching as elegant dancers.

The next day, I returned to the circus to see them again and introduced myself to them as one of their great fans. They invited me to attend their practice sessions, gave me free tickets, asked me to dinner, and suggested I travel with them for a week in the near future. I did, and we became good friends.

"One day, I was sitting with Rodleigh, the leader of the troupe, in his caravan, talking about flying. He said, 'As a flyer, I must have complete trust in my catcher. The public might think that I am the great star of the trapeze, but the real star is Joe, my catcher. He has to be there for me with split-second precision and grab me out of the air as I come to him in the long jump.'

'How does it work?' I asked.

'The secret,' Rodleigh said, 'is that the flyer does nothing and the catcher does everything. When I fly to Joe, I have simply to stretch out my arms and hands and wait for him to catch me and pull me safely over the apron behind the catchbar.'

'You do nothing!' I said, surprised.

 'Nothing,' Rodleigh repeated. 'The worst thing the flyer can do is to try to catch the catcher. I am not supposed to catch Joe. It's Joe's task to catch me. If I grabbed Joe's wrists, I might break them, or he might break mine, and that would be the end for both of us. A flyer must fly, and a catcher must catch, and the flyer must trust, with outstretched arms, that his catcher will be there for him.'

"When Rodleigh said this with so much conviction, the words of Jesus flashed through my mind: 'Father into your hands I commend my Spirit.' Dying is trusting in the catcher. To care for the dying is to say, 'Don't be afraid. Remember that you are the beloved child of God. He will be there when you make your long jump. Don't try to grab him; he will grab you. Just stretch out your arms and hands and trust, trust, trust.' "

My prayer this week is to trust, trust, trust. Trust the Catcher!

Dusty Blessings

The road ahead of me disappears into a khaki cloud of dust. With dry weather, the harvest season in Ohio creates impervious dust storms that swallowed cars before spitting them out on the other side covered with a film of dirt.

Yet this dusty blessing feeds us.

With ongoing remodeling in my house, no flat surface is spared a layer of white powder from the dry walling. Every time I think I have it cleaned, I spy another surface coated. I am frustrated during a remodeling process that is at first destructive before it can be constructive.

Yet this dusty blessing will renovate and refresh my home.

Last January my son faced huge heartbreak when he found out his last step into the church ministry was postponed. Instead of beginning the call process last February, he had to wait till this September. God took his situation, full of unfairness, anger, and misunderstanding, and opened an opportunity for him to work at the churchwide headquarters of our denomination, networking with people he would not have ever met if this hadn’t happen. 

When all looked bleak, God brought forth a good thing in another dusty blessing.

All these turns from worse to better lately made me think more about how blessings happen to us. Many times the tough times do evolve into a blessing if we put them into God’s hands.

Dust – an earthly powder, often representing something that is disintegrating.

Blessing - the infusion of something with holiness.

The Lord God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being. Genesis 2:7

Find a way to be thankful for your troubles and they can become your blessings. - Author unknown.

God takes the dust and creates a blessing. 

What dusty blessings do you see?

Show Me the Best Way, Lord – Lectio Divina

So you should earnestly desire the most helpful gifts. But now let me show you a way of life that is best of all. 1 Corinthians 12:31 (New Living Translation)

 "Let me show you a way of life that is best of all."

Yes, Lord – show me the best way.

Not just the best, but the best of all.

I too soon grab for the good.

I rush into the better.

I yearn for the best.

The good, the better, and the best dazzle and distract me from You. 

I fill up on Your appetizers and never enjoy Your entrée or leave room for Your fabulous dessert.

You offer to show me the best of all.

Open my eyes to see the path You chose as the greatest way.

Open my ears to hear Your directions.

Spirit, fill my heart with the power of Your patience to wait for Your finest gifts.

My eagerness to live a full life on this wonderful earth You created and gave to us, blocks my view of You. I focus more on the blessings and not the One presenting the gifts.

You say, “Let me show you.”

I say, “Yes, show me, Lord.”

Autumn Equinox – Quote of the Week

“O sacred season of autumn, be my teacher for I wish to learn the virtue of contentment. As I gaze upon your full-colored beauty, I sense about you an at-home-ness with your amber riches. You are season of retirement, of full barns and harvested fields. The cycle of growth has ceased; the busy work of giving life is now completed. I sense in you no regrets; you’ve lived a full life.

 

“I live in a society ever restless, always eager for more mountains to climb, seeking happiness through more and more possessions. As a child of my culture, I am seldom truly at peace with what I have.

“Teach me to take stock of what I’ve been given and received; may I know that is enough, that my striving can cease in the abundance of God’s grace. I know the contentment that allows the totality of my energies to come to full flower, May I know that like you, I am rich beyond measure. As you, O Autumn, take pleasure in great bounty, let me also take delight in the abundance of simple things in life that are the true source of joy. With the golden glow of peaceful contentment, may I truly appreciate his autumn day.”

Edward Hays – The Book of Wonders

Behold the Handiwork of God

I hope many of you do not have cloudy skies this week. At 11:09 p.m. Eastern Time Wednesday evening, fall began and God is outdoing Himself this week presenting a “super harvest moon.”

The "harvest moon" is the full moon that happens closest to the yearly autumnal equinox, or the time when day and night are equal in length each September. The harvest moon phenomenon was named for farmers who used to depend on the moonlight to extend the workday during the busy harvest season. With the harvest moon there is no long period of darkness between sunset and the moon rising.

But for the super harvest moon to occur, the two events must fall on the same night. When these two occurrences mix together, sky-watchers are treated to a sort of 360-degree twilight glow effect that is rarely visible. The so-called super harvest moon has not occurred for 20 years, and will likely not reappear until 2029.

When the Sun starts to set on the Western horizon, a full moon will rise opposite to it on the East, reflecting the light of our home star. Being close to the horizon, the orange Moon will be gigantic thanks to a psychological effect called the Moon illusion. The sky will be illuminated by the Sun and the Moon at the same time, creating a weird 360-degree effect that is rarely seen.

I love looking up at the sky. Watching the cloud dance, the stars flicker, meteors streak, and now the moon rise in her majesty – encourages me. 

Just think -  the One who really is in control is the God who loves to create in such grandeur, yet knows the number of hairs on our heads at any given time. He smiles at the ants getting ready for cooler weather, the antics of the dolphins delighting in His sea and enjoys the giggles of the toddler splashing in her bath water.

God loves to thrill us with His majesty and this week’s full moon is evidence of His love.
Enjoy His show!

What do you like best about looking up into the heavens?   

Just Jesus and Me Yappin’ in the Car….

Confession time.

If you ever see me driving in my car and appear to be talking to someone in the front passenger seat and there is no one there – Just smile and think, “Yep, there goes Jeanie, just a yapping away with Jesus.”

Often when I drive, I invite Jesus along to ride with me and we talk up a storm. Most of the time I do the talking – yeah, I have mentioned that ramblin’ mouth of mine before in posts – but I do try to listen too.

Last week while on a three-hour drive to Indianapolis, I reflected about several ongoing prayers that were quagmired in mud. These were items, long prayed for, but unclear what was happening.

Jesus said let’s talk about them.

So I did.

I threw a whole litany of people, difficulties, and open-ended struggles upon Him.

I placed in His welcoming hands long time concerns and distant dreams. 

His response?

“Ok, I have them. I will take care of them.”

Peace fell over my heart, as I knew He would take care of things, in His time.

We rode in silence for a while, just Jesus and me - Me, less anxious knowing the Almighty was in charge and Jesus, probably appreciative for some quiet time without my yappin’.

Just Jesus and me.

A Listening God – Lectio Divina

"I am praying to you because I know you will answer, O God. Bend down and listen as I pray." Psalm 17:6 (NLT)

Listen as I pray.

Listen.

I shake my head in disbelief that the God of the Universe, the One who created all things, controls all circumstances and is Above All – listens to little ol’ me.

Important people, Lord, much more significant, speak to you. Why the Pope, the Bishops, and many walking a purer spiritual life need You to hear them.

Yet You listen to me.

Aren’t my prayers drowned out in the ocean of chatter from the world?

Yet You listen to me.

When I whine and complain, You listen with love.

When I praise and burst with thankfulness, You listen with joy.

When I shout in anger and frustration, You listen with patience.

When I can’t find the words, You listen to my heart.

Thank for listening Lord. May I be a better listener to You.

Who Are You? - Quote of the Week - Henri Nouwen

"As long as we continue to live as if we are what we do, what we have, and what other people think about us, we will remain filled with judgments, opinions, evaluations, and condemnations. We will remain addicted to putting people and things in their 'right' place."  Henri Nouwen

Catching God’s Vision with Hildegard of Bingen (1098-1179) and a 21st Century Man

I interview a young man this week who moved back to this rural area after living in New York for six years. He sought ‘home’ and ‘community’ and a safe place to raise his family.

Perhaps what impressed me the most was how he looked at his hometown. I saw closed and empty storefronts, high unemployment, and a struggling school district. He saw historic architecture, a town full of potential, and rich in history.

  He has vision.

As I entered my car to come home, I looked up at the buildings admiring their style and saw with new eyes and appreciation this place he calls home.

Today is the commemoration of Hildegard of Bingen, a remarkable visionary, and a woman ahead of her time from the Middle Ages.  I wrote about her in a post last March, but will repeat a little of her story today as we remember and honor her.

   Hildegard of Bingen was born in 1098. The tenth child of a noble family, she was dedicated at birth to the church as was the custom of the day.

    At age eight she was sent to live with Jutta, an anchoress so she could get her religious education. An anchoress is like a religious recluse who spent most of her days in prayer in her tiny private cell.

    When Jutta died years later, Hildegard became prioress of the Benedictine convent.

     In 1141 Hildegard began to have vivid visions of God that blessed her with an understanding of the meaning of religious texts.

     Her most famous writing is Scivias or Know the Ways of the Lord. It is a visionary guide to Christian doctrine covering everything from creation to marriage and is written not in ordinary language but in extraordinary images.

      Not only did she write down her visions and attend to the administration of the convent, she wrote plays, two biographies on saints, and composed music. She travelled to Paris to study medicine and completed a medical encyclopedia and handbook. She also delved into the use of plants and was an expert in pharmaceuticals. She even conducted four preaching tours throughout Europe.

   Hildegard of Bingen, through her many letters, took to task the German Emperor Frederick Barbarossa, but also the archbishop of Main. She wrote to such luminaries as King Henry II of England and his wife, Eleanor of Aquitaine. She also corresponded with many individuals of low and high estate who wanted her advice or prayers. Many abbots and abbesses asked her for prayers and opinions on various matters even though she would also scold them.

     When Hildegard died in 1179, her sisters claimed that two streams of light appeared in the skies and crossed over the room in which she was dying. Her whole life was characterized by light. 

A few years ago I had the opportunity to visit Germany and several locations where Hildegard lived and served. Several moments I knew she walked with me as I explored the ruins of her first monastery. What a woman of achievement!

I walked with two visionaries this week: one younger from the 21^st century and a fascinating woman from the Middle Ages.  People with vision fill the world with hope, possibilities, and encouragement. I feel energized around people who are not afraid to dream dreams and step out into the unknown to see just what might happen. They are the architects of our future – they see tomorrow and make it work.

Hildegard said, “A human being is a vessel that God has built for himself and filled with his inspiration so that his works are perfected in it.”  If this is so, we are all capable of being visionaries wherever God calls us.

We need more visionaries in our world today, don’t we?

Simple Instructions from God

God has quite a sense of humor. 

I had been yapping at God all morning. How come I don’t understand Your ways? What is my next step? Why can’t I hear You?  Why do You make everything so complex and difficult? I need an operating manual for life, Lord!

Then I saw the answer – a simple, clear response - while I filled my tank up with gas:

1.     Know the payment plan – God has already paid the price with His Son, Jesus. My heart melted as I realized once again the cost of His sacrifice in light of my shameful, minor whining and complaints. Daily, even moment-by-moment – I offer my heart up to the Lord with gratitude for His gifts, grace, and forgiveness.

2.     Follow instructions. My job is just to follow His instructions. I am reminded about the story of Joshua and the walls of Jericho. God commanded Joshua, not to tear the wall down – that was His job. Joshua’s job was just to obey God’s simple instruction to march around the walls each day.  My job is to listen to God and follow His instructions – that is to love Him with my whole heart, mind and might.  Putting one foot ahead of the other, like Joshua did, walls of discontent, discord, and distrust will eventually collapse.

As I pumped gas into my empty tank, God’s grace filled my empty heart. Once again I was reminded He is in charge and has already paid the price. If I “follow instructions,” all the rest will fall into place. 

Now every time I look at the writing on a gas pump, I will remember God's simple instructions.

Where has God surprised you lately?

Yielding to You, Lord – Lectio Divina

Do not now be stiff-necked, but yield yourselves to the Lord and come to his sanctuary.

2 Chronicles 30:8

Yield

Let me yield myself to you Lord.

Take my whole being - every inch of me – my heart, my hands, my breath, my mind, my will – my every cell

Strange to give back to you the gifts You’ve given me.  

Yield

Let me melt into your being.

May others see You in me.

Less of me, more of You.

Yield

You know me better than I know myself, so why do I hesitate?

Take me now before my ego snatches my intention and tosses me back into the chaotic world.

Every day I approach Your throne and yield.

Daily, minute by minute – I am Yours.

Yield

What a lovely word and ideal way to live.

Like the soft, pliable clay in the skilled artist hands, shape my life as You design, Lord.

Knead my heart, Lord, to stretch and grow with the yeast from heaven.

I rest in Your strong grip.

Yield

Basic Human Needs – Quote of the Week

“Many people are hungry not for bread only, but they are hungry for love.

Many people are not only naked for want of a piece of cloth, but they are naked for human dignity .

Homelessness is not only not having a home made of bricks, but

homelessness is being rejected, unwanted, unloved, uncared for.

People have forgotten what the human touch is, what it is to smile, for somebody to smile at them, somebody to recognize them, somebody to wish them well.”- Mother Teresa

Nourishment for a Healthy Spiritual Life

“So, the paradox of prayer is that it asks for a serious effort while it can only be received as a gift. We cannot plan, organize or manipulate God; but without a careful discipline, we cannot receive him either.” (Henri J. M. Nouwen. Reaching Out: The Three Movements of the Spiritual Life)

     Just as Nouwen describes prayer as a paradox of gift and self-discipline, nurturing our spiritual health is also a contradiction of terms. No matter how we work, struggle, and strive to be closer to God, it is His movement to embrace us that draws us into His heart.

      I read a new resource this week that is helpful in creating space in our lives for God. The book is called Soulistry – Artistry of the Soul – Creative Ways to Nurture Your Spirituality by June Mack Maffin.

       Using one of my favorite practices – journaling, Maffin provides 80 inspirational quotes and spiritual reflection questions to explore. She writes, “Journal writings are meant to be personal conversations - with yourself; with yourself and God. Writing your responses to the Soul-Questions can clarify what you believe/think about certain relationships, issues, life, yourself. This is your opportunity to know yourself more deeply and to make time to listen, to think, to pray, to meditate about what you believe – really believe. You may find that your responses to the Soul-Questions raise additional questions and if so, record those questions in your Soulistry Journal for consideration at a later time.”

      As I read this beautifully written and encouraging book, a sense of peace fell over my heart. Her questions following the quotes are some of the best thought-provoking ones I have seen. She introduces topics not always explored like the spirituality of play, doing what you think you cannot do, and risking frustration. Often when we dig deeper into new words, we see God with fresh new eyes.

    June Mack Maffin presently lives on Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada and “delights in facilitating Soulistry retreats and workshops, working on her next book, and nurturing others on their journey as Creative Spirituality Artists.”

    She has her Masters in Divinity, a doctorate in Pastoral Care, and is ordained in the Anglican Church of Canada. Her experience is vast in such areas as a radio and television personality and writer; book author, provincial information officer, high school educator, wife, mother, group facilitator, counselor, book and magazine editor, spiritual director, retreat leader, Anglican priest, school chaplain, and Creative Spirituality Artist.

      Soulistry will be available as an e-book from Amazon in November and then in book format by March also on Amazon and local bookstores. Pre-orders hopefully will begin available by January.

    If you are hungry to grow deeper with God, I encourage you to explore Soulistry to help nourish your spiritual life.

What have you read lately that provide nourishment for your soul?

Pondering Prayer

Jane Vennard wrote a paper, “Exploring a Life of Prayer” in December 1990.  I reread this article the other day and still continue to unearth treasures from her writing. One of my deepest desires to is live a life of prayer and Vennard’s words helped me grow deeper.  

Vennard describes various types of prayers, including thought provoking questions.  Her final questions lingered with me this week:

* What is the easiest and most natural form of prayer for you?

* What would be a realistic rhythm of prayer for you? Daily? Weekly? Monthly? Would it be possible to schedule a yearly retreat?

* Remember times you have wandered from your practice of prayer. What was the experience of being lost and then finding your way again?

The easiest and most natural form of prayer for me is simple talking with God. I chat with Him all day – yes naturally I do all the talking and have had to intentionally work on the listening side. Paying attention to what God is saying to me is a lifelong lesson.

I have experimented with different patterns of prayer but find starting my day in prayer is one of the keys to seeing God in all my day.  Even though the schedule demands busyness, attending at least one retreat each year is one of the most nourishing things I do to reconnect spiritually.

I have learned in times of consolation, times I felt near to God, trying new forms of prayer stimulated new awareness and growth. Time of desolation or feeling apart from God, I cling to my comforting patterns of prayers to find my way again.

How do you answer Vennard’s three questions? How do experience prayer?

Focus – Lectio Divina

“Let your eyes look directly ahead and let your gaze be fixed straight in front of you.” (Proverbs 4:25, NAS)

Let your eyes look directly ahead

Lord, my eyes wander.

They look longingly to places that appear greener and more appealing than where You have planted me.

They lust after the successes and riches of others.

They roam looking for distracting paths and easy streets.

I focus on the negative, the crisis and the urgent. I strive to keep mopping the water spilling all over the floor instead of looking up and simply turning off the faucet. 

My attention drifts from focusing only on You and what You have set before me.

Proverbs corrects my vision by bringing the spotlight back onto You.

You direct me to fix my gaze straight ahead where You lead.

You lead. I follow.

When I keep my eyes only on You, I don’t stray off your given path.

You are the way.  The only way.

You alone.

You.

When you don’t have the words to pray – Quote of the Week

“A grandfather was walking through his yard when he heard his granddaughter repeating the alphabet in a tone of voice that sounded like a prayer.

He asked her what she was doing.

The little girl explained, ‘I am praying, but I can’t think of exactly the right words, so I ‘m just saying all the letters and God will put them together for me, because He know what I’m thinking.’”

Charles B. Vaughan

Organizing your Prayers - Prayer Calendars

I am an organized person.  In fact some people think I am hyper-organized. Call us Type A personalities, high strung, or detail crazy – we are the planners, system thinkers, and get it done people.  So it should be no surprise an idea called a “Prayer Calendar” excites me.

I found this great concept the other day on the blog, Scripture Dig. The post was called  “The Type A Person Prays” by Teri Lynne Underwood.  Immediately I knew I found a soul sister. (By the way, Scripture Dig is a great web site too)

Teri defines a prayer calendar as a “a prayer calendar is a tool for organizing the major areas of prayer in your life.”  She uses both a weekly and monthly format and in the post lists the categories. Her suggestions are great and will give you many ideas on how to model this for your prayer life.

I keep a list of people and ministries to pray for daily, but haven’t designated days or months like Teri has. I googled prayer calendars and found many organizations and churches share them each month. But I do like the idea of making my own – more personal that way.

I am traveling this week so plan to bring with me a September calendar to work up some ideas.  I think I will also write out monthly themes as Teri does.

How do you organize your prayers?