"Whenever God gives a person the grace and courage to strive for this blessing with all her heart and soul, he is bestowing the greatest mercy. God does not deny himself to anyone who perseveres. Little by little, he increases her courage, ensuring that she will reach her goal." Teresa of Avila, The Book of My Life (1562)
Here is my "little by little" Friday prayer report for the week of June 21-25:
Monday 0
Tuesday 0
Wednesday 0
Thursday 1 (+1)
Friday 1
Grace and courage to you and to me!
Friday, June 25, 2010
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Living Water
“Oh, how many times have I remembered the living water that Christ told the Samaritan woman about! I have always been very fond of the Gospel passage. From the time I was a little girl, I often begged the Lord to give me that living water, long before I understood how good the water is. I kept a picture with me of the Lord coming to that well with these words inscribed beneath it: ‘Sir, give me this water.’” Teresa of Avila, The Book of My Life (1562)
For the last two weeks I have been keeping an unusual schedule—summertime brings its own unique challenges—and the number of times I’ve been able to accomplish morning prayer has greatly been diminished. (If you want proof, check my prayer reports.)
What a difference morning prayer makes! I certainly can tell my life is not as centered without centering prayer. I’m someone who needs lots of sleep, but it’s getting to the point where I may need to begin getting up extra early to get my prayer time in because I need that time with the Holy Presence to live my life the way it’s meant to be lived.
Teresa knew the value of regular prayer, and she also knew it was the living water which quenches thirst forever, the water Jesus spoke of in the Bible. In John’s gospel,the Samaritan woman asked Jesus for that water; in The Book of My Life, Teresa tells us she longed for it, too. May I be the third to request it, and may your request be added to mine...All of us who know the value of this living water can call upon Christ to come to the well and help us draw it day after day after day.
Praise be to Christ and the mystery of the living water.
For the last two weeks I have been keeping an unusual schedule—summertime brings its own unique challenges—and the number of times I’ve been able to accomplish morning prayer has greatly been diminished. (If you want proof, check my prayer reports.)
What a difference morning prayer makes! I certainly can tell my life is not as centered without centering prayer. I’m someone who needs lots of sleep, but it’s getting to the point where I may need to begin getting up extra early to get my prayer time in because I need that time with the Holy Presence to live my life the way it’s meant to be lived.
Teresa knew the value of regular prayer, and she also knew it was the living water which quenches thirst forever, the water Jesus spoke of in the Bible. In John’s gospel,the Samaritan woman asked Jesus for that water; in The Book of My Life, Teresa tells us she longed for it, too. May I be the third to request it, and may your request be added to mine...All of us who know the value of this living water can call upon Christ to come to the well and help us draw it day after day after day.
Praise be to Christ and the mystery of the living water.
Friday, June 18, 2010
Friday Prayer Report 16
"Whenever God gives a person the grace and courage to strive for this blessing with all her heart and soul, he is bestowing the greatest mercy. God does not deny himself to anyone who perseveres. Little by little, he increases her courage, ensuring that she will reach her goal." Teresa of Avila, The Book of My Life (1562)
Here is my "little by little" Friday prayer report for the week of June 14-18:
Monday 0
Tuesday 0
Wednesday 1
Thursday 0
Friday 0
Grace and courage to you and to me!
Here is my "little by little" Friday prayer report for the week of June 14-18:
Monday 0
Tuesday 0
Wednesday 1
Thursday 0
Friday 0
Grace and courage to you and to me!
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
The Gift of Freedom
“If the beginner on the path to prayer is not a monastic but a person who lives in the world, she should take advantage of the gift of freedom to choose her own spiritual director and praise God for it.” Teresa of Avila, The Book of My Life (1562)
This afternoon I met with my spiritual director, Sister Kathie McLaughlin, for a refreshing conversation on God’s grace which is ever-present and moving throughout the universe in ways we see and cannot see, and quantum physics with its many scientific principles like relativity, uncertainty, probability and nonlocality. Sister Kathie had recommended a book on quantum physics called Paradoxology written by Miriam Therese Winter, so we spent a good portion of our time considering various ideas from the book. It seems to me that many of the ideas of quantum physics are ones I have been attracted to as spiritual principles and I find it heartening and somewhat amusing that these principles are linked to science. It’s been a pleasure to learn of the connection between “the natural and supernatural” as Sister Kathie says, and it is just one example of the many joys I’ve found in spiritual direction.
Teresa frequently mentions her experiences in spiritual direction, but more often than not she finds herself at odds with her spiritual directors. No doubt she would have liked choosing her own spiritual director; however, as a monastic she was not at liberty to do so. Teresa writes, “If the beginner on the path to prayer is not a monastic but a person who lives in the world, she should take advantage of the gift of freedom to choose her own spiritual director and praise God for it.”
Tonight I am reflecting on “the gift of freedom” I have in being able to choose a spiritual director with whom I work well, and I am praising God for the time I spend with my dear spiritual friend. May you, too, take advantage of your freedom and choose a friend with whom you can share all the joys and sorrows of the spiritual life. You will be glad you did!
This afternoon I met with my spiritual director, Sister Kathie McLaughlin, for a refreshing conversation on God’s grace which is ever-present and moving throughout the universe in ways we see and cannot see, and quantum physics with its many scientific principles like relativity, uncertainty, probability and nonlocality. Sister Kathie had recommended a book on quantum physics called Paradoxology written by Miriam Therese Winter, so we spent a good portion of our time considering various ideas from the book. It seems to me that many of the ideas of quantum physics are ones I have been attracted to as spiritual principles and I find it heartening and somewhat amusing that these principles are linked to science. It’s been a pleasure to learn of the connection between “the natural and supernatural” as Sister Kathie says, and it is just one example of the many joys I’ve found in spiritual direction.
Teresa frequently mentions her experiences in spiritual direction, but more often than not she finds herself at odds with her spiritual directors. No doubt she would have liked choosing her own spiritual director; however, as a monastic she was not at liberty to do so. Teresa writes, “If the beginner on the path to prayer is not a monastic but a person who lives in the world, she should take advantage of the gift of freedom to choose her own spiritual director and praise God for it.”
Tonight I am reflecting on “the gift of freedom” I have in being able to choose a spiritual director with whom I work well, and I am praising God for the time I spend with my dear spiritual friend. May you, too, take advantage of your freedom and choose a friend with whom you can share all the joys and sorrows of the spiritual life. You will be glad you did!
Friday, June 11, 2010
Friday Prayer Report 15
"Whenever God gives a person the grace and courage to strive for this blessing with all her heart and soul, he is bestowing the greatest mercy. God does not deny himself to anyone who perseveres. Little by little, he increases her courage, ensuring that she will reach her goal." Teresa of Avila, The Book of My Life (1562)
Here is my "little by little" Friday prayer report for the week of June 7-11:
Monday 0
Tuesday 1
Wednesday 1
Thursday 1
Friday 1
Grace and courage to you and to me!
Here is my "little by little" Friday prayer report for the week of June 7-11:
Monday 0
Tuesday 1
Wednesday 1
Thursday 1
Friday 1
Grace and courage to you and to me!
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Have No Fear
“As I sat in the oratory, weary to my core, I suddenly heard a voice say, ‘Have no fear, my daughter, for I AM, and I will never leave you. Have no fear.’” Teresa of Avila, The Book of My Life (1562)
Today during my prayers I was weary to the core.
Yesterday morning I had energy to do my daily work. God’s hands and my hands were one, and I started the day with a good amount of pep and a light-hearted spirit. During centering prayer I was settled and focused, thankful to the Holy One for the on-going assistance we have received in the midst of a variety of struggles—job and housing questions for our new graduate Rebecca, medical issues for my sister Bobette’s elbow, and a leaky oil well on the Gulf coast which is upsetting the lives of millions of living beings. All of these situations are difficult, and the suffering has been laid out before God who can do all things.
The Holy One is gracious, kind and very much present in these struggles, and I continue to be grateful for the many ways we are being supported; however, by yesterday afternoon we were handed yet again another difficulty in the form of heartbreak, the unexpected death of a well-respected, vibrant leader, the president of Concordia College, sixty-five year old Pamela Jolicoeur.
The world as I knew it tipped with the news of Dr. Jolicoeur’s stroke and turned upside down upon news of her death. So much pain and uncertainty is present in this sudden loss, and the mourning is as deep and wide as the admiration, love and respect Dr. Jolicoeur has inspired throughout the Concordia community and national higher education. Facing such a significant loss, many of us in mourning today are bone, bone tired.
Teresa tells us she, too, has been bone, bone tired, but in those terrible moments she was not alone. While praying in the oratory, she hears a voice which says—“Have no fear, for I AM.” This story echoes across the ages, and we have heard it time and time again: God sees the suffering of the people, and God sends help. Just like Moses heard the voice emanating from the burning bush, the bush which could not be consumed although the fire was fierce, Teresa hears a voice which says “Have no fear, for I AM.” It is a voice that calls to us whenever we are in distress, whenever we are lonely, whenever we are bone, bone tired.
This morning in my deep weariness, I am remembering the voice of comfort and action Teresa heard so long ago and it is helpful to me in this present moment: “Have no fear, my daughter, for I AM, and I will never leave you. Have no fear.” May we listen for that same voice today—the voice Moses heard, the voice Teresa heard—and may we find the strength we need for daily life and God’s work, today and every day.
Today during my prayers I was weary to the core.
Yesterday morning I had energy to do my daily work. God’s hands and my hands were one, and I started the day with a good amount of pep and a light-hearted spirit. During centering prayer I was settled and focused, thankful to the Holy One for the on-going assistance we have received in the midst of a variety of struggles—job and housing questions for our new graduate Rebecca, medical issues for my sister Bobette’s elbow, and a leaky oil well on the Gulf coast which is upsetting the lives of millions of living beings. All of these situations are difficult, and the suffering has been laid out before God who can do all things.
The Holy One is gracious, kind and very much present in these struggles, and I continue to be grateful for the many ways we are being supported; however, by yesterday afternoon we were handed yet again another difficulty in the form of heartbreak, the unexpected death of a well-respected, vibrant leader, the president of Concordia College, sixty-five year old Pamela Jolicoeur.
The world as I knew it tipped with the news of Dr. Jolicoeur’s stroke and turned upside down upon news of her death. So much pain and uncertainty is present in this sudden loss, and the mourning is as deep and wide as the admiration, love and respect Dr. Jolicoeur has inspired throughout the Concordia community and national higher education. Facing such a significant loss, many of us in mourning today are bone, bone tired.
Teresa tells us she, too, has been bone, bone tired, but in those terrible moments she was not alone. While praying in the oratory, she hears a voice which says—“Have no fear, for I AM.” This story echoes across the ages, and we have heard it time and time again: God sees the suffering of the people, and God sends help. Just like Moses heard the voice emanating from the burning bush, the bush which could not be consumed although the fire was fierce, Teresa hears a voice which says “Have no fear, for I AM.” It is a voice that calls to us whenever we are in distress, whenever we are lonely, whenever we are bone, bone tired.
This morning in my deep weariness, I am remembering the voice of comfort and action Teresa heard so long ago and it is helpful to me in this present moment: “Have no fear, my daughter, for I AM, and I will never leave you. Have no fear.” May we listen for that same voice today—the voice Moses heard, the voice Teresa heard—and may we find the strength we need for daily life and God’s work, today and every day.
Friday, June 4, 2010
Friday Prayer Report 14
"Whenever God gives a person the grace and courage to strive for this blessing with all her heart and soul, he is bestowing the greatest mercy. God does not deny himself to anyone who perseveres. Little by little, he increases her courage, ensuring that she will reach her goal." Teresa of Avila, The Book of My Life (1562)
Here is my "little by little" Friday prayer report for the week of May 31- June 4:
Monday 0
Tuesday 1
Wednesday 1
Thursday 1
Friday 1
Grace and courage to you and to me!
Here is my "little by little" Friday prayer report for the week of May 31- June 4:
Monday 0
Tuesday 1
Wednesday 1
Thursday 1
Friday 1
Grace and courage to you and to me!
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
A Thousand Thanks
“May this writing be an offering of praise and glory to my Lord. May it help my spiritual guides to know me better and so to better support my spiritual development. May I find the strength now to give back even a fraction of the great gifts I have received from God.” Teresa of Avila, The Book of My Life (1562)
The words Teresa writes in The Book of My Life are words that live in my heart, too: “May this writing be an offering of praise and glory to my Lord. May it help my spiritual guides to know me better and so to better support my spiritual development. May I find the strength now to give back even a fraction of the great gifts I have received from God.” Teresa wants to give back to God, and many of us respond in the same fashion. Her words resonate with us—the blessings vibrate across the ages—and we find encouragement through the reading.
While all this writing comes from Teresa’s original work, the translations of Life and The Interior Castle I am using come from Mirabai Starr. Starr has done an excellent job of giving voice to Teresa and writing in such a way that Teresa’s quickly written sixteenth-century Spanish becomes open and spontaneous twenty-first century English. Starr is true to the spirit of Teresa, and as we read Teresa’s words—or, more accurately, Starr’s words of Teresa’s words—we have much for which to be grateful...
A thousand thanks to these dear women and their words!
The words Teresa writes in The Book of My Life are words that live in my heart, too: “May this writing be an offering of praise and glory to my Lord. May it help my spiritual guides to know me better and so to better support my spiritual development. May I find the strength now to give back even a fraction of the great gifts I have received from God.” Teresa wants to give back to God, and many of us respond in the same fashion. Her words resonate with us—the blessings vibrate across the ages—and we find encouragement through the reading.
While all this writing comes from Teresa’s original work, the translations of Life and The Interior Castle I am using come from Mirabai Starr. Starr has done an excellent job of giving voice to Teresa and writing in such a way that Teresa’s quickly written sixteenth-century Spanish becomes open and spontaneous twenty-first century English. Starr is true to the spirit of Teresa, and as we read Teresa’s words—or, more accurately, Starr’s words of Teresa’s words—we have much for which to be grateful...
A thousand thanks to these dear women and their words!
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