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Posts from the ‘Easter’ Category

Feb 9

Divine Transformation

“Prayer is the means by which we transform our lives by adding that divine dimension to it.” – Marianne Dorman, Living Lent

If we allow, if we dare to be open enough to make prayer an ongoing conversation rather than an occasional obligatory monologue, we find a peace and calming quiet that transcends the noise. It is in our struggles that we are being changed, made new. If we are willing to release our own expectations and to be held in the merciful grace that only God can offer, a divine and lasting transformation begins. Never easy, but we will never be the same again.

“God is offering an invitation. A call to waiting. A call to the mysteries of the cocoon. I discovered in the spiritual life, the long way around is the saving way. It isn’t the quick and easy religion we’re accustomed to. It’s deep and difficult –  a way that leads into the vortex of the soul where we touch God’s transformative powers. But we have to be patient. We have to let go and tap into our creative stillness. Most of all, we have to trust that our scarred hearts really do have wings.” – Sue Monk Kidd, When the Heart Waits

Accept the invitation.

Apr 5

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Partake

“A man who was completely innocent, offered himself as a sacrifice for the good of others, including his enemies, and became the ransom of the world. It was a perfect act.” – Mahatma Gandhi

May the hope, love, mercy, forgiveness, redemption and resurrection of Easter permeate your soul and free your spirit today and every day. Partake in the awe and wonder freely given. Each day offers a new beginning, a fresh start, a second, third and fourth chance.

“The True Self is not our creation, but God's. It is the self we are in our depths. It is our capacity for divinity and transcendence.” – Sue Monk Kidd

“The True Self is not our creation, but God’s. It is the self we are in our depths. It is our capacity for divinity and transcendence.” – Sue Monk Kidd

Say YES! to that still, soft, persistent voice calling you to your True Self. Let your light shine brightly, breaking the darkness.

Grace, joy and light – Happy Easter.

Mar 31

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Passes All Understanding

“I have become sure that if all I know about God is that my God is the fullness of life and the consummation of hope, the light on the way and the light at the end, then I will live my life in the consciousness of God and goodness everywhere, obscure at times, perhaps, but never wholly lacking.” – Joan Chittister

If left to our own understanding, many days, some people and the crosses that we each bear don’t make any sense. This Holy Week that starts with palms and celebration moves rapidly to betrayal, desertion, denial and unimaginable suffering. Three days later, despair transforms through resurrection. Light overcomes dark. Always.

And through all of our trials, should we dare to have the faith to believe, we discover and capture a peace that passes all understanding.

This week is ultimately about love, without condition in its highest form, showing us the way through the valleys and the mountains. On the cusp of Easter, go deeper, stay longer and find that peace.

Mar 21

3 Comments

By the Collar

“The smallest gesture can mean so much to those who may need a little lift in their lives.” – Gordon B. Hinckley

On our daily walk or run when we are about four houses away from home, Lily turns to Molly with that look in her eye and grabs onto Molly’s collar and leads almost carries her home. Molly gets a bit irritated but goes along with it.

That’s what friends and family do. They come along our side and pick us up by the collar to carry us home. And that’s what we also need to do at times for ourselves. Get out of the funk, pick ourselves up and move on with new eyes and a grateful heart.

Sometimes it’s the accumulation of the daily grind and others are life changing events like divorce or cancer. Life is a mix of transitions, endings, beginnings and through it all growth and transformation if we are open and allow it.

When we get stuck too long in why me, we need to be grabbed by the collar and moved to what’s next carried gently and confidently by faith, family and friends. And, when we are moved out of our own rut, we can be a blessing to others and do some lifting as well. We are not on this journey alone and it’s not about me but rather we. Grab someone by the collar today.

Mar 17

5 Comments

The Letting Goes

“Sometimes I go about with pity for myself and all the while Great Winds are carrying me across the sky.” – Ojibway saying

On the days that don’t make sense, the ones that chip away at our core, rather our ego, we are being broken and remolded for something new. A slow releasing of what’s not important anymore, the arm wrestle of growth, a series of letting goes.

And in those moments of the mundane, we can let feelings and moods rise to the top and move through them to finish what’s been started. And in the midst of the dry days, the hollow is transforming into the hallowed. Faith holds our hand to the other side and gratitude shines the light of what is ours here and now.

Flowers bloom. The sun rises. Easter always comes.

Mar 10

2 Comments

Yearning

“Delight, plumps and widens our joy. She lives in all of us. She’s a precious gift to the soul that connects us back to God as our original playmate. She tickles our frozen places and frees us to laughter, exuberance, simplicity, and spontaneous moments that extract the essence of the True Self from deep inside.” – Sue Monk Kidd, When the Heart Waits

That yearning deep inside is the self that we have resigned ourselves to accept through others expectations, our own disappointments, unanswered whys and unexpected paths trying to align with our True Self, the one we are called to become, sooner rather than later. And instead of prying it out or worse yet ignoring it, we can gently release our True Self through simple delight in each day.

Our days are meant to be so much deeper, lighter, and expansive than we allow ourselves to expect or imagine. We get distracted and frozen with indecision and excuses to remain for at least it’s predictable and seemingly safe. Yet the yearning continues, not to be quieted until alignment is achieved.

Take the first step into the water and discover the ocean. Move and flow with your own current, not others. Love first and be loved. Go last and be first. Wait and grow. And amidst all of the chaos, with certain clarity and a trusting heart, invite your True Self out to play.

Apr 20

2 Comments

New Beginnings

“Almost every hour of every day, we’ll find ourselves in a situation where we can be now who we weren’t before, because we know now what we didn’t know before. And from this newness in our being springs fresh opportunities we could never have imagined. God specializes in new beginnings.” – Marianne Williamson

“Love makes the world less worldly, less dense, more transparent to the divine dimension, the light of consciousness itself.” – Eckhart Tolle

“Love makes the world less worldly, less dense, more transparent to the divine dimension, the light of consciousness itself.” – Eckhart Tolle

Easter shouts for joy and proclaims the promise of new beginnings and everlasting life. As the sun burns off the fog, there’s a new clarity and vision. We do not walk alone and road ahead need not be defined by miles gone by. Forge ahead confident, open to receiving the gift of awesome possibilities beyond your imagination.

Apr 18

4 Comments

Open Arms

Yesterday was one of those frustrating days when I wanted to throw my hands up in the air, give up and walk away. Tired of the battle to bend, accommodate, cave, give in. Games, politics, egos. This morning with some rest and much needed perspective, throwing my hands up is exactly what I should do. Give up and let go of my expectations and demands of the way I think it should be. Opening my arms to trust God’s plan rather than my own and release the rest of it. Following the path of unknowing, knowing that I will not be lead astray.

On Good Friday, we have a tremendous model of open arms, stretched out on a cross suffering unbearable anguish and humiliation all in sacrifice and service for others, for us. And while we have our share of crosses in this life, none compare to the depth and all encompassing weight of the cross borne today.

Good Friday is an ever comforting reminder that we are never alone on our journey and that we are loved and understood deeply. And when we let go, those things we think that will break us actually are put in their proper place and we are broken free from the unimportant. Our limited view expands to one of awesome peace, saving grace and gratitude. Easter always comes. Arms wide open.

Apr 15

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Love Always Wins

“Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love.” – Francis of Assisi

The one year anniversary of the Boston Marathon terrorist bombings; a former KKK member and racist kills three people outside two Jewish facilities in Kansas City the night before Passover; Judas betrays Jesus for thirty pieces of silver.

As darkness shows itself through unfathomable acts of hatred and evil, the story always has the same ending. Love wins the day. Healing comes with time. Hearts soften to start to beat again. Heroes rise and show us how to live stronger, filled with hope despite it all.

Sow love.

Apr 13

3 Comments

Do

“It is not only for what we do that we are held responsible, but also for what we do not do.” – Moliere

Words unsaid. Deeds undone. Forgiveness held back. Talents buried. Regret is most often found in the midst of what we choose not to do. As this week leads to Easter, to redemption and the gift of grace, we can be jolted out of our complacency to live better, more deeply and with great joy.

Say more, do more, forgive more and become who you are meant to be.

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