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By Sharon Swing
Related to the Life-Giving Rhythms & Reviewing My Days maps from Listen to My Life: Maps for Recognizing and Responding to God in My Story by Sibyl Towner and Sharon Swing.
What would your life be like without gratitude?
Our friend’s 16 year-old son, Will, was diagnosed with leukemia this summer. His mom, Joan Kelley, has been writing a blog entry each night on Will’s CaringBridge web site: http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/willkelley.Through her writing, Joan has given us a glimpse into a mom’s life, heart and soul as she walks with her family through this very difficult time. She’s not slapping on a ‘victory smile’ over her emotions. It is a refreshing, sometimes gut-wrenching, peek into the life of a woman who is learning new ways to recognize and respond to God in the story of her life.
Her blog entry has become a regular evening devotional for me. One reason I read it each evening is that she reminds me to ‘thank God for what is given; not allowing what is not given to spoil it.’ (Elizabeth Elliott) Although some days it is incredibly difficult and other days it is blatantly easy, she has made a decision to look for how God is showing up in her life. She has the discipline of writing it down, which is a great way to tell God she’s noticed what he’s up to and thank him for it. I think that helps her to be more aware of those things for which she is grateful the next day. As a reader of her journal, I can see that her gratefulness muscles are getting stronger. My gratefulness muscles get stronger as I listen in on her story, and then reflect on my own.
Her intentions toward gratefulness help her to recognize the beauty God is bringing forth from the pain. It’s just like God to redeem life’s toughest struggles – but do we notice?
Look for Joan Kelley’s contributions to oneLife Letters coming in December.
SCRIPTURE REFLECTION:
“Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 5:18
QUESTION:
How might you strengthen your gratefulness muscles?
Sharon Swing and Sibyl Towner are co-authors of Listen to My Life: Maps for Recognizing and Responding to God in My Story, a visual workbook for small groups, mentoring relationships, workshops, retreats, classes, between spiritual friends, or individually to re-discover the storyline of the life they are authoring with God. More information is available at www.onelifemaps.com.
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Friday, November 20, 2009
Silence by Sibyl Towner
Related to the Life-Giving Rhythms & Reviewing My Days maps from Listen To My Life: Maps for Recognizing and Responding to God in My Story by Sibyl Towner and Sharon Swing.
In this busy world have you considered silence as a life-giving rhythm?
Silence is a spiritual discipline that allows you to create a space in this busy world to encounter and hear God. One way to do this is through a silent retreat. A silent retreat is when you put yourself, alone or with others, in a place where you cease speaking in order to listen to God.
I think the first step in a silent retreat is to get in touch with your body: How fast is it going? Is your mind racing? Are you pacing? I often go to my room and sit in a chair placed near a window and gaze out at creation. I let my body slow down to the rhythm of creation. Often what happens is I suddenly realize how tired I am and I might give my physical body a rest by taking a brief nap.
By this time, I am more ready to listen to God, who has been waiting for me to be with Him. I might even say, “God I am here and I want to hear you.” I might read through some scripture – Psalms or a portion of scripture that follows the church year calendar. As I read it, I sit quietly inviting God to speak to me. I am not studying the scripture but receiving God’s word to me. I may journal, be quiet or read around the text. I may have a book that I will read which creates a listening space in me. I may take a walk and invite God to speak to me through his creation. I come back and write or draw what I have heard, prayed, read, rested or delighted in the Lord during my time in silence.
At the end of the day, I slowly ready myself to return to “life.” What has happened in this time of silence is that I have allowed God time and space to tell me that I am his beloved daughter. I have detached for a brief time from “my world” and can now come back to life more free, and more truly myself.
If you would like more information about an upcoming Advent 24-Hour Retreat of Silence, please go to www.hungrysouls.org. Karen Mains and Sibyl Towner will be leading us into and out of the silence on Dec 2/3 and Dec 4/5.
SCRIPTURE REFLECTION:
“Come near to God and he will come near to you.”
--James 4:8
QUESTION:
Why do I delay in coming near to you?
Sibyl Towner and Sharon Swing are co-authors of Listen to My Life: Maps for Recognizing and Responding to God in My Story, a visual workbook for small groups, mentoring relationships, workshops, retreats, classes, between spiritual friends, or individually to re-discover the storyline of the life they are authoring with God. More information is available at www.onelifemaps.com.
In this busy world have you considered silence as a life-giving rhythm?
Silence is a spiritual discipline that allows you to create a space in this busy world to encounter and hear God. One way to do this is through a silent retreat. A silent retreat is when you put yourself, alone or with others, in a place where you cease speaking in order to listen to God.
I think the first step in a silent retreat is to get in touch with your body: How fast is it going? Is your mind racing? Are you pacing? I often go to my room and sit in a chair placed near a window and gaze out at creation. I let my body slow down to the rhythm of creation. Often what happens is I suddenly realize how tired I am and I might give my physical body a rest by taking a brief nap.
By this time, I am more ready to listen to God, who has been waiting for me to be with Him. I might even say, “God I am here and I want to hear you.” I might read through some scripture – Psalms or a portion of scripture that follows the church year calendar. As I read it, I sit quietly inviting God to speak to me. I am not studying the scripture but receiving God’s word to me. I may journal, be quiet or read around the text. I may have a book that I will read which creates a listening space in me. I may take a walk and invite God to speak to me through his creation. I come back and write or draw what I have heard, prayed, read, rested or delighted in the Lord during my time in silence.
At the end of the day, I slowly ready myself to return to “life.” What has happened in this time of silence is that I have allowed God time and space to tell me that I am his beloved daughter. I have detached for a brief time from “my world” and can now come back to life more free, and more truly myself.
If you would like more information about an upcoming Advent 24-Hour Retreat of Silence, please go to www.hungrysouls.org. Karen Mains and Sibyl Towner will be leading us into and out of the silence on Dec 2/3 and Dec 4/5.
SCRIPTURE REFLECTION:
“Come near to God and he will come near to you.”
--James 4:8
QUESTION:
Why do I delay in coming near to you?
Sibyl Towner and Sharon Swing are co-authors of Listen to My Life: Maps for Recognizing and Responding to God in My Story, a visual workbook for small groups, mentoring relationships, workshops, retreats, classes, between spiritual friends, or individually to re-discover the storyline of the life they are authoring with God. More information is available at www.onelifemaps.com.
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