Simply Soul Searching
HOW IS GOD LOVING ME – AND WHERE IS GOD LEADING ME?
BEGIN AS BELOVED
As we reflect on 2023 and look ahead to 2024, I like to learn how others are planning to enter the new year. I have found a variety of ideas–resolutions to change, goals to pursue, things to surrender, practices to follow. Some see 2024 as a fresh start with 366 daily opportunities to live differently. Others may see the coming year simply as a continuation of regular daily living. One of my favorite practices is to choose a guiding word for the year (I will share my word later this week).
The best place to begin our new year discernments and decisions is in the loving embrace of God.
Centering ourselves first in God’s all-encompassing love, we will find that our dreams, goals, hopes, and insights can flow more readily from that perfect place. A desire to improve can flow out of gratitude rather than fear. A willingness to surrender can flow out of a sense of provision rather than scarcity. The courage to venture forth can flow from feeling securely held. A longing to perfect ourselves can flow from experiencing mercy and grace over our personal striving. Any challenges, obstacles, uncertainties, and criticisms that may come our way can be faced with the strength, trust, and peace found in God’s immense and infinite love for us.
We can begin as beloved.
We do not know what the year will bring, what journeys we will take, what joys and sorrows may come our way. But we can take our first step knowing we do not go alone. With this incredible gift, we may even find that we no longer need resolutions, plans, or goals. For as we begin each day centered in God’s loving embrace, we will also discover God’s guidance, instruction, preparation, and inspiration to live well–for each moment, each day of 2024.
New Year blessings, dear friends. May every goodness shine upon you. You are so beloved.
O God, you have called your servants to ventures of which we cannot see the ending, by paths as yet untrodden, through perils unknown. Give us faith to go out with good courage, not knowing where we go, but only that your hand is leading us and your love supporting us, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. *
* Prayer of Good Courage, Lutheran Book of Worship. Augsburg, 1978
(Written by Eric Milner-White, dean of the chapel at King’s College, Cambridge, the prayer, titled “The Call of Abraham,” was first published in 1941 in a little book titled Daily Prayer, compiled by Milner-White and G.W. Briggs.)
Photo by Karen; walking bridge–once a train trellis–in Peak, SC
NURTURE OUR HEARTS IN LOVE: REST AND REFRESH
FRIDAY, CHRISTMAS WEEK: LOVE
As we close our Preparing Room series, I thank you for your presence and for your kind words and prayers along the way. I hope that you had a blessed Christmas, and that goodness will shine upon you in the new year.
During Advent, I came upon several social media posts that either doubted or defended the nativity story, especially concerning the immaculate conception of Jesus. As I learn more about the Bible, its context, and the intention of the writers, I too, have questions–but here are my heartfelt thoughts for the season…
I treasure the nativity story for its beautiful narrative and meaning as part of my faith tradition. Whether the story is fact or folklore, I long to love God with the trust of Mary, the acceptance of Joseph, the eagerness of the shepherds, the joy of the angels, the desire of the magi. I can set aside the accuracy of the details and cling to the holy mystery and essence of the story–the wonder, humility, joy, and simplicity of the birth of Jesus. The truth I glean is that God’s Love is present with us here, expanding our own capacity for Love.
Considering the miracles of how the universe first came to be, the intricate complexity of creation, the power in particles of energy, I find it possible that Jesus was conceived immaculately, but my faith in Jesus is not contingent on this detail. I follow Jesus, not for the way he came to be, but for the way he lived. I am drawn to him–compelled by him–because he revealed God’s love for us, God’s presence with us, by living in radical love, defending the marginalized, healing and feeding those in need, teaching with wisdom and insight, extending and encouraging forgiveness, inviting us to follow him, and loving God and all people.
I love Jesus as a beloved son of God–and trust that his life was created in whatever perfect way God allowed that to happen.
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“Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?” Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’” (Matthew 22:36-39)
In all my uncertainty, I know that we are called to follow the ways of Jesus; we are to love God and one another. With all my doubts, I trust that I am understood and forgiven. Amid all my questions, I rest in the assurance that we are loved by God–for Jesus has certainly shown this to be true.
Bible verses are NRSVUE, found at https://www.biblegateway.com/
Photo by Karen
NURTURE OUR HEARTS IN LOVE: FURNISH
WEDNESDAY, CHRISTMAS WEEK: LOVE
How will we work with Jesus to furnish our heart-rooms with more Love? Will he help us find more time for serving, more patience for caring, more generosity for sharing, more awareness for acting? Do you envision an open door for welcoming, a table for nourishing, a quiet corner for listening?
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Jim handed me a tissue, and as I dabbed my eyes and wiped my nose, he asked, “Looking at Instagram again?” We both laughed; recently I seem to have a nightly ritual of being moved to tears by the compassionate, uplifting posts that flow into my Instagram feed. I watch videos of tender, caring acts of lovingkindness–surprise reunions, adoption announcements, animal rescues, outstanding teachers, innocent children, helpful strangers. When the world often seems harsh and cruel, these little moments have a huge impact on my hope and joy. I am deeply touched to know that everywhere, every day, individuals are coming together to make good differences for others.
This visible love of caring for others is the Love of Christ in action.
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The Love of God in Christ is meant to be shared in community. Jesus even promises that when we lovingly gather with one another, he will be with us, too. “For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them” (Matthew 18:20). Author John Pavlovitz notes that Jesus especially appreciated gathering for meals, forming relationships and community through hospitality and nourishment.
What struck me when I began to read the Gospel stories was Jesus’ table ministry, the way he so often used the act of sharing a meal, the act of breaking bread, as a way of letting people know that they were seen and heard and known and respected… The table was an altar around which he welcomed the world to experience communion with God and with one another.1
We are all invited, all welcome. This is the Love of God in Christ. How might we open a place for someone at the table of our heart-room (or dining room) today?
1Pavlovitz, John. A Bigger Table: Building Messy, Authentic, and Hopeful Spiritual Community. Westminster John Knox Press, Louisville. 2017 (page 58)
Bible verses are NRSVUE, found at https://www.biblegateway.com/
Photo by Karen
NURTURE OUR HEARTS IN LOVE: REARRANGE
MONDAY, CHRISTMAS DAY: LOVE
A blessed Christmas to you all! Jesus has been born–and born once again in our hearts! The Advent season has come to an end, but we will continue working on our heart-rooms to increase space for the Love of God revealed to us in Christ Jesus.
As you look around your room this week, how might you rearrange your spirit to receive and share more of this Love? Would you rearrange your heart to accommodate more understanding, hospitality, generosity, compassion? Would you find more time to serve, allow more space to listen?
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In his beautiful book, Living the Quaker Way, Philip Gulley shares one question that I find helpful for my rearranging. As a child, he was traveling on vacation with his family and was given a bottle of soda to enjoy. When he had finished, he tossed the empty bottle out of the car window. His mom then asked, “What if everyone threw their trash out the window? What kind of world would we have?” Philip then goes on to describe the Quaker way of making community a priority…
To be human is to bear in mind one’s connectedness and responsibility to others…
It is the language of imagination, of reflection, of always wondering what the world would be like if everyone did what you were doing, be it good or ill. To be a Quaker is to always understand yourself and your actions in terms of the world. It is an invitation to reflect, not simply react, to keep before you the question, “What would the world be like if everyone did what I am doing?”1
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So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph and the child lying in the manger. (Luke 2:16)
On this Christmas Day, we happily welcome Jesus into our heart-rooms once again, and we can ask for his help as we continue to make our hearts more like his–filled with compassion, generosity, kindness, devotion. With humility, sacrifice, service. With hope, peace, joy, and love.
With every quality that will help make the world as he would like it to be.
1Gulley, Philip. Living the Quaker Way: Discover the Hidden Happiness in the Simple Life. Convergent Books, 2013.
Bible verse is NRSVUE, found at https://www.biblegateway.com/
Photo by Karen
NURTURE OUR HEARTS IN LOVE: DECLUTTER
SUNDAY, WEEK FOUR: LOVE (CHRISTMAS EVE)
On this last day of Advent, Christmas Eve, we take another look around our heart-rooms. Have we made space for the Love of God incarnate in the infant Jesus? Or, as in the nativity story, do we have no room available? What might be cluttering your ability to love fully and freely? Do you notice any wounds that intimidate, hard feelings that isolate, prejudices that separate?
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I have this box of memories on the floor of our closet, filled with cherished cards, letters, and emails from loved ones. Interspersed among these are a few notes that were exchanged years ago in times of anger and hurt. Initially, I kept these as written confirmations that I was justified in having bitter feelings and in ending relationships. But I haven’t looked in this box for years, and I thank God that in each relationship, we eventually were able to share mutual forgiveness. To reread these now would only rekindle sadness, bitterness, or regret. Now is the time for the next step–to pull these notes and discard them.
The Advent season is a perfect time to remove these remnants from my heart and make space for more Love.
Put away from you all bitterness and wrath and anger and wrangling and slander, together with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ has forgiven you.
(Ephesians 4:31-32)
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On this Christmas Eve, as we hear the stories and reimagine that holy night, may we come to the manger with open hearts to fully embrace this Christ Child, Jesus–and all the gifts of Love that he brings.
(The Advent season has been shorter this year; my reflections on Love will continue through this week as Christmas thoughts.)
Bible verse is NRSVUE, found at https://www.biblegateway.com/
Photo by Karen
DELIGHT OUR HEARTS WITH JOY: REST AND REFRESH
FRIDAY, WEEK THREE: JOY
As we now rest and refresh ourselves in the Joy of God in Christ, I share a post from my blogger friends, Don and Jo. When I read the post, I was profoundly touched by their beautiful example of the Joy we can find when we let God lead us. Jo’s painting of Jesus really uplifts my spirit–she seems to capture the Joy of Christ so well! I had commented on their inspirational post and painting, and in his reply, Don said,
“I read your comment to Jo, and she teared up. She is practicing painting portraits in case the Lord gives her another assignment. Jo and I are trying to learn to overcome our human desire to do things for the Lord and replace it with doing things with the Lord. Thank you for your kind comment.”
Their words open up another path to Joy! We can rest and refresh in Joy as we “learn to overcome our human desire to do things for the Lord and replace it with doing things with the Lord.”
Thank you, Don and Jo, for allowing me to share your post–and your Joy.
DELIGHT OUR HEARTS WITH JOY: FURNISH
WEDNESDAY, WEEK THREE: JOY
What inspires your Joy? Many of our homes are now furnished with joyful decorations of the season; what “furnishings” might be added to your heart-room as reminders of God’s presence with us, our Joy in Christ? Do you envision festive celebrations, quiet moments, seasonal gifts, happy memories, inner gratitude? Are there any tangible reminders of Joy to carry with you this week?
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We adopted this little bench when Jim’s mom moved to a smaller place, and now we sit here to remove our shoes when entering our home. In those moments, I often think of God’s words to Moses at the burning bush, “Remove the sandals from your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground,” for I like to envision our home as a spiritual sanctuary for us and our guests to abide (Exodus 3:5).
Even as God gave Moses a very difficult role–one in which he felt inadequate–Moses knew that he was on holy ground in the incredible presence of God. The awe and wonder of that moment before the burning bush must have been a source of courage, inspiration–and Joy–for his purpose and journey ahead.
Truly, all of life is a holy experience beyond our understanding, filled with the creativity and mystery of God’s infinite love. A deep sense of Joy fills my soul when I behold this “ordinary” life with reverence, awe, and wonder; when I, like Moses, sense God’s presence and feel the Joy of the amazing miracle of my existence, the rich purpose of simply being alive and loving God.
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Every generous act of giving, with every perfect gift, is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change (James 1:17).
Glimmers of our Joy in Christ are here with us in our everyday lives. As we begin furnishing our rooms with greater Joy, may we remember that we always begin on holy ground–and may we expect to be surprised.
Each day holds a surprise. But only if we expect it can we see, hear, or feel it when it comes to us. Let’s not be afraid to receive each day’s surprise, whether it comes to us as sorrow or as joy. It will open a new place in our hearts, a place where we can welcome new friends and celebrate more fully our shared humanity.
~ Henri Nouwen
Bible verses are NRSVUE, found at https://www.biblegateway.com/
Photo by Karen
DELIGHT OUR HEARTS WITH JOY: REARRANGE
MONDAY, WEEK THREE: JOY
How will we rearrange our heart-rooms with space, our priorities with time, for the Joy of God in Christ? With a few schedule changes, how might we find time for practices that add meaning, delight, and creativity to life, that draw us closer to God and bring Joy to our spirits? Can we trade some of our usual time fillers with other choices that add Joy and inspiration? There are also ways to add moments of Joy to our everyday (and often busy) routines, such as listening to music as we prepare meals, lighting a candle on our work desk, being mindful to the beauty of creation on our morning commute.
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Along with rearranging our spaces and schedules for these practices, today I also think of the Joy that arises when I rearrange my attitude or perspective. When I can approach an unpleasant task or act of kindness with the sole intention of blessing another, I often come away surprised by Joy, blessed by the spirit in which it was completed. During trying times, Joy can spring up if I keep my attention on God’s near and caring presence. When Jim and I are going through trials, we like to remind ourselves of the Joy found in our partnership, that we are grateful to journey together with God.
The Joy of God in Christ is here with us, ready to uplift our souls each time our perspective is centered in childlike wonder, in faithful servanthood, or in infinite mystery.
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I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete (John 15:11).
What are “these things” that Jesus said? Jesus instructed his disciples (and us) that Joy comes through abiding in him, abiding in love, abiding in his commandments. When we live our days with this sacred perspective, Joy will arise–and may even surprise.
(In one of Emily P. Freeman’s recent podcasts, Emily Ley shares a few nightly rituals that bring her joy and peace. You may enjoy listening to The Next Right Thing, Episode 305: Creating an Evening Routine with Emily Ley; https://emilypfreeman.com/podcast/305/)
Bible verse is NRSVUE found at https://www.biblegateway.com/
Photo by Karen (our handbell director gave us these pins years ago–I miss the joy of ringing!)
DELIGHT OUR HEARTS WITH JOY: DECLUTTER
SUNDAY, WEEK THREE: JOY
How will we make space for more of God’s Joy in Christ this week? What clutter obstructs our Joy? As you clear your heart-room, would you find a burden of responsibility, the monotony of a daily routine, a cloud of sorrow? Could the ever-present Joy in Christ remain unseen by inattention or lack of expectation?
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An old memory came to mind when I began decluttering. I was a young service representative in the billing department, asking my supervisor to stop having me fill in as an extra cashier during the busiest times of each month. I felt frustrated and stressed by my constant busyness–enduring several days with long lines of paying customers, then returning to my unattended desk to find unfiled records and delinquent accounts. My supervisor shrugged, informing me that I was needed there. Indignantly, I asked her who would fill in “if I happened to be absent.” She paused and then replied, “No one is indispensable here.” Ouch. My arrogance was called out and my spirit was humbled.
Now I find Joy in the freedom of this insight: I am needed–but I am not indispensable.
My self-induced pressure to do well was a Joy-cluttering form of egotism. Instead of being distraught about my paperwork, I could have calmly handled one file at a time; my supervisor understood why my desk was in disarray. Instead of being stressed about the long lines at the cashier window, I could have joyfully served the one person before me. Being present to the task at hand would have made my days and my spirit more joyful.
In the same way, I can love and serve with greater Joy when I keep in mind that I am only one person–finite, limited, human. Yes, I am needed; I am an integral part of God’s holy purposes. But I am not indispensable; where I lack time or talent, others are serving with theirs. I believe God does not ask for perfection or completion, but rather that I serve with a glad and generous heart–a heart filled with Joy–for each present moment.
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And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. (Colossians 3:17, emphasis mine)
The Joy of God in Christ does abide in our heart-rooms. As we remove our joy-inhibiting clutter, may we find, savor, and share this Joy–in whatever we do.
Bible verse is NRSVUE, found at https://www.biblegateway.com/
Photo by Karen
COMFORT OUR HEARTS WITH PEACE: REST AND REFRESH
FRIDAY, WEEK TWO: PEACE
Today we take a moment to rest and refresh with an excerpt from the book, Uncommon Gratitude, in which Joan Chittester writes of the Peace that can fill our souls and then be shared with others:
And how does peace come? Simple. By accepting who we are and what we have as enough for us. By recognizing and respecting who the other is and what they have as theirs. By finding within ourselves “the pearl of great price,” the richest thing there is in life, the sense of the presence of the God who loves and companions us through all the pressures of life.
She goes on to write our invitation for today:
Then we find we have changed. We have become peaceful. We have come to realize that we have all we need. We begin to see that our own role in life is only to spread the peace we have… Then we begin to dedicate ourselves to that highest possible level of humanity that not only does good, but most of all, does no harm. To do no harm… requires real care, genuine compassion, true realization that the glow of the other diminishes no glow of my own. Then my own life begins to shine even more.1
Today may we rest in genuine peace–and let it fill our rooms to overflowing.
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid. (John 14:27)
1Chittester, Joan and Williams, Rowan. Uncommon Gratitude: Alleluia for All That Is. Liturgical Press, 2010.
Bible verse is NRSVUE, found at https://www.biblegateway.com/
Photo by Karen
Simply Soul Searching 