"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 August 23-27:
Monday 1
Tuesday 1
Wednesday 1
Thursday 1
Friday 1
Grace and courage to you and to me!
Friday, August 27, 2010
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Cultivating the Soil
“Let the beginner think of herself as a gardener who is preparing to plant a garden for the delight of her Beloved. But the soil is barren and full of noxious weeds. His Majesty himself pulls up the weeds and replaces them with good seed. Bear in mind that the minute the soul sets out on the path of prayer and service, God has already begun to cultivate her soil in this way.” Teresa of Avila, The Book of My Life (1562)
We are now in the middle of summer in Duluth, a time when gardens of all types are in full bloom. I had lunch with my friend Margaret today and she told me people are stopping in front of her house these days to admire her flowers (especially the tall and beautiful gladiolus). Sometimes when we are at this point in the summer, it’s hard for me to remember how fragile the first green shoots are when they poke up through the soil. It’s also hard for me to remember how important good soil is, from the start and onward, to the health of each young plant.
Teresa likes to use gardening images when she talks about the spiritual life, and she tells us that spiritual beginners get plenty of help when they dedicate their work to the Master Gardener. What encouraging news for those of us who are working to improve our gardens, even if they have been completely neglected for a long time! Teresa’s advice is very pointed:
Do you have barren soil? Then count on the Master Gardener to use plentiful amounts of good seed to make the garden sprout.
Do you have weedy soil? Then count on the Master Gardener’s help—the Master Gardener himself, she says—to pull out the terrible weeds and cover the ground with an abundance of good seed.
Teresa says no matter what our situation, our soil will improve with the Master Gardener’s attention: “Bear in mind that the minute the soul sets out on the path of prayer and service, God has already begun to cultivate her soil in this way.”
A spiritual garden is different from a garden outside our front door because most of us do not have a professional gardener helping us with weeding and watering the flowers in our yard; however, when it comes to the spiritual life, we all have a Master Gardener more than willing to weed, water and work with us to create a fragrant garden of fruit and flowers.
Blessed be the Master Gardener.
We are now in the middle of summer in Duluth, a time when gardens of all types are in full bloom. I had lunch with my friend Margaret today and she told me people are stopping in front of her house these days to admire her flowers (especially the tall and beautiful gladiolus). Sometimes when we are at this point in the summer, it’s hard for me to remember how fragile the first green shoots are when they poke up through the soil. It’s also hard for me to remember how important good soil is, from the start and onward, to the health of each young plant.
Teresa likes to use gardening images when she talks about the spiritual life, and she tells us that spiritual beginners get plenty of help when they dedicate their work to the Master Gardener. What encouraging news for those of us who are working to improve our gardens, even if they have been completely neglected for a long time! Teresa’s advice is very pointed:
Do you have barren soil? Then count on the Master Gardener to use plentiful amounts of good seed to make the garden sprout.
Do you have weedy soil? Then count on the Master Gardener’s help—the Master Gardener himself, she says—to pull out the terrible weeds and cover the ground with an abundance of good seed.
Teresa says no matter what our situation, our soil will improve with the Master Gardener’s attention: “Bear in mind that the minute the soul sets out on the path of prayer and service, God has already begun to cultivate her soil in this way.”
A spiritual garden is different from a garden outside our front door because most of us do not have a professional gardener helping us with weeding and watering the flowers in our yard; however, when it comes to the spiritual life, we all have a Master Gardener more than willing to weed, water and work with us to create a fragrant garden of fruit and flowers.
Blessed be the Master Gardener.
Friday, August 20, 2010
Friday Prayer Report 25
"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 August 16-20:
Monday 1
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 August 16-20:
Monday 1
Tuesday 1
Wednesday 1
Thursday 1
Friday 1
Grace and courage to you and to me!
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Becoming
“I’m not telling you all this for nothing. It may seem like I am making a big deal of trivial things, but these things are of vital importance to a fledgling soul when she is first learning to fly. As they say, her feathers have not yet grown in and she needs all the help she can get. Still, I know that no one will believe what I’m saying unless he has been through it himself. It is only because I hope to God that you will help many souls that I even bother to mention it here.” Teresa of Avila, The Book of My Life (1562)
I’m thinking about the many ways we find ourselves in a state of “becoming” because:
Today my sister Bobette loaded her oldest son Charley and his many belongings into her car and started driving from Plymouth, Minnesota, to South Bend, Indiana. There Charley will join about 2,000 other newbies for his first year of college.
Today my daughter Rebecca had an interview for an entry-level position in Duluth. Although she has passed her licensing examination and has a Master’s in Social Work, this job would be a very good one for her because she’s high on book knowledge but low on work experience.
Today I sat in my chair for centering prayer, working toward my goal of a more regular prayer life. Things are coming together for me, but not nearly as fast as I’d like. When I get myself settled for prayer time, it’s easy to remember these words from Teresa: “As they say, her feathers have not yet grown in and she needs all the help she can get.”
When Rebecca graduated from high school six years ago, I wrote a poem called “Becoming” to mark the occasion. I hadn’t read Teresa’s memoir yet, but her bird image is the same one I used:
Becoming
First praise is not for the bird in flight,
not for her strength or grace.
It begins with the beak pecking,
pecking against shell,
the wet wing flapping against air,
the squawking that comes before song.
The feathery one flies and sings,
but she starts (so small, so quiet)
as a heart, beating inside an egg.
Throughout our lives we are constantly in a state of becoming. Charley is off to college, Rebecca is looking for work, and I am seeking God. None of us is ready to fly, but our hearts are beating, beating, beating as we peck and flap and squawk in preparation for all that is to come.
I’m thinking about the many ways we find ourselves in a state of “becoming” because:
Today my sister Bobette loaded her oldest son Charley and his many belongings into her car and started driving from Plymouth, Minnesota, to South Bend, Indiana. There Charley will join about 2,000 other newbies for his first year of college.
Today my daughter Rebecca had an interview for an entry-level position in Duluth. Although she has passed her licensing examination and has a Master’s in Social Work, this job would be a very good one for her because she’s high on book knowledge but low on work experience.
Today I sat in my chair for centering prayer, working toward my goal of a more regular prayer life. Things are coming together for me, but not nearly as fast as I’d like. When I get myself settled for prayer time, it’s easy to remember these words from Teresa: “As they say, her feathers have not yet grown in and she needs all the help she can get.”
When Rebecca graduated from high school six years ago, I wrote a poem called “Becoming” to mark the occasion. I hadn’t read Teresa’s memoir yet, but her bird image is the same one I used:
Becoming
First praise is not for the bird in flight,
not for her strength or grace.
It begins with the beak pecking,
pecking against shell,
the wet wing flapping against air,
the squawking that comes before song.
The feathery one flies and sings,
but she starts (so small, so quiet)
as a heart, beating inside an egg.
Throughout our lives we are constantly in a state of becoming. Charley is off to college, Rebecca is looking for work, and I am seeking God. None of us is ready to fly, but our hearts are beating, beating, beating as we peck and flap and squawk in preparation for all that is to come.
Friday, August 13, 2010
Friday Prayer Report 24
"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 August 9-13:
Monday 1
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 August 9-13:
Monday 1
Tuesday 1
Wednesday 1
Thursday 1
Friday 1
Grace and courage to you and to me!
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Experience, Sound Judgment and The One Who Makes All Things Possible
“This is why it’s so important to work with guides who are well informed, exhibit good judgment, and have experienced spiritual things themselves. It wouldn’t hurt if they had some formal education as well. If they cannot meet all these criteria, they should at least have experience and sound judgment.” Teresa of Avila, The Book of My Life (1562)
As you may recall from my earlier posts, I am blogging for The Wisdom Project as part of my spiritual direction training program through the St. Scholastica Monastery. The Shalom Program is a two-year formal course of study, prayer and reflection, and it is helping me deepen my faith and learn how to be a soul friend to others.
Now that we are about to begin our second year, each student in the Shalom Program needs to find a person interested in the spiritual life who is willing to work with an inexperienced advisor for the next nine months. We were asked to find someone to guide who was not a friend, co-worker or family member. I wondered how I’d ever find anyone who wasn’t one of those things; however, as you know, God makes plans for us—plans for good and not for evil—and yesterday I found out a little bit more about what The One Who Makes All Things Possible was setting up.
Yesterday afternoon I went over to see my friend Cheryl Husby, the prayer mug lady. I was at Cheryl’s house to pick up prayer mugs for my mother who is giving them as gifts to her birthday club friends at Christmastime. (My mother plans ahead.) After I walked into the kitchen and admired all the mugs, Cheryl put on some tea and asked how the summer had been going. “I’ve got something I need your help with,” I said. “Do you know anyone who would like a spiritual-advisor-in-training? I need to find someone who is not a friend, co-worker or family member to help me with my spiritual direction class.”
Cheryl thought of someone right away and said she couldn’t believe the timing because it was her friend’s birthday party that night. (Sometimes God shows off. Have you noticed this before? If not, start paying attention because it happens frequently.) Then Cheryl asked if it would be okay to give the spiritual-advisor-in-training time to her friend as a birthday present. Of course I said—“Yes, yes, yes!” And before I went to sleep last night, Cheryl called to say that her friend loved the present. And I do, too.
Teresa says the best spiritual guides are “well informed, exhibit good judgment, and have experienced spiritual things themselves.” I really don’t know how good I’ll be as a spiritual guide, but we’ll get some clues as the year goes on. At least I’m off to a good start with help from my friend Cheryl and a little showing off from You Know Who.
In the week to come, may we look for the many ways in which God shows off and may we send thanks for the blessings we find strewn upon our paths.
As you may recall from my earlier posts, I am blogging for The Wisdom Project as part of my spiritual direction training program through the St. Scholastica Monastery. The Shalom Program is a two-year formal course of study, prayer and reflection, and it is helping me deepen my faith and learn how to be a soul friend to others.
Now that we are about to begin our second year, each student in the Shalom Program needs to find a person interested in the spiritual life who is willing to work with an inexperienced advisor for the next nine months. We were asked to find someone to guide who was not a friend, co-worker or family member. I wondered how I’d ever find anyone who wasn’t one of those things; however, as you know, God makes plans for us—plans for good and not for evil—and yesterday I found out a little bit more about what The One Who Makes All Things Possible was setting up.
Yesterday afternoon I went over to see my friend Cheryl Husby, the prayer mug lady. I was at Cheryl’s house to pick up prayer mugs for my mother who is giving them as gifts to her birthday club friends at Christmastime. (My mother plans ahead.) After I walked into the kitchen and admired all the mugs, Cheryl put on some tea and asked how the summer had been going. “I’ve got something I need your help with,” I said. “Do you know anyone who would like a spiritual-advisor-in-training? I need to find someone who is not a friend, co-worker or family member to help me with my spiritual direction class.”
Cheryl thought of someone right away and said she couldn’t believe the timing because it was her friend’s birthday party that night. (Sometimes God shows off. Have you noticed this before? If not, start paying attention because it happens frequently.) Then Cheryl asked if it would be okay to give the spiritual-advisor-in-training time to her friend as a birthday present. Of course I said—“Yes, yes, yes!” And before I went to sleep last night, Cheryl called to say that her friend loved the present. And I do, too.
Teresa says the best spiritual guides are “well informed, exhibit good judgment, and have experienced spiritual things themselves.” I really don’t know how good I’ll be as a spiritual guide, but we’ll get some clues as the year goes on. At least I’m off to a good start with help from my friend Cheryl and a little showing off from You Know Who.
In the week to come, may we look for the many ways in which God shows off and may we send thanks for the blessings we find strewn upon our paths.
Friday, August 6, 2010
Friday Prayer Report 23
"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 August 2-6:
Monday 0
Tuesday 0
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 August 2-6:
Monday 0
Tuesday 0
Wednesday 1
Thursday 1
Friday 1
Grace and courage to you and to me!
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Trust in God for Something
“‘Your resources may be limited,’ Father Ibañez said, ‘but you have to trust in God for something.’” Teresa of Avila, The Book of My Life (1562)
Every week Teresa’s story speaks to me and gives me courage to keep doing the work God asks me to do.
In The Book of My Life, Teresa writes about founding St. Joseph’s, a monastery for cloistered women. She believed God gave her the vision to start the monastery; however, she did not have the funding to make it happen. Teresa’s advisor, Father Ibañez, encouraged her to follow her instincts by saying—“Your resources may be limited, but you have to trust in God for something.”
You have to trust in God for something. Those words resonate with me. Do they resonate with you? What are you trusting in God for today?
There are many things on my list, but the one most like Teresa’s monastery is a building project happening in Duluth for children who suffer from mental illness. Just like Teresa, I do not have the funding to make the project happen but I do have belief that God is in charge and wants me to work for the project’s completion.
In 1997 when our daughter Rebecca was only eleven years old, she was diagnosed with depression. Those dark February days were made even darker when Brad and I learned that the waiting list to see a child psychiatrist was three months long. At the time, Rebecca was unable to sleep and she was so full of anxiety caused by her suicidal thoughts that she could not eat. Through no fault of her own—bad genetic history was the culprit—our little girl was intensely suffering, and we found ourselves in a medical system that was too overburdened to offer immediate support.
Rebecca’s story has a happy ending because she was eventually—sooner than three months, thanks to some helpful friends—able to access specialized medical care of the highest quality. In the last thirteen years, Rebecca has learned to live with her illness and move herself toward greater independence, health and happiness. Now twenty-four years old, she studies hard, works hard, travels internationally and cooks better than I do. On May 22 of this year she graduated with a master’s degree in social work from St. Catherine’s University, and she is now looking for full time employment. Her father and I are so proud of her!
Brad and I believe strongly that more mental health facilities and services are needed for families. It probably goes without saying, but I’ll say it anyway: Three months is too long to wait with a suffering child for specialized medical attention. These days the child psychiatrist waiting list is still three months long or longer in Duluth because our community does not have enough physical resources and personnel to provide immediate care as needed.
The Duluth building project will put an end to the three-month waiting list for the mentally ill children, adolescents and young adults of the area. Brad and I are working to fund one of the family kitchen/lounges. It is a $75,000 undertaking, and we are 43% of the way to our goal with 50 gifts totaling $32,296. I am looking forward to the day when the mental health building is a reality and all of our kitchen helpers are eating cookies in that beautiful place. I plan to sprinkle a few cookie crumbs on the floor to bless the building! I’ll also look up to the ceiling and say a silent prayer to the One We Trust who makes all things possible.
Teresa writes, “So although I was aware that we had almost no money, I believed the Lord would help us and arrange other ways for us to thrive.” God helps us thrive no matter what our weakness, and we can trust in God’s love and kindness every day of our lives.
Every week Teresa’s story speaks to me and gives me courage to keep doing the work God asks me to do.
In The Book of My Life, Teresa writes about founding St. Joseph’s, a monastery for cloistered women. She believed God gave her the vision to start the monastery; however, she did not have the funding to make it happen. Teresa’s advisor, Father Ibañez, encouraged her to follow her instincts by saying—“Your resources may be limited, but you have to trust in God for something.”
You have to trust in God for something. Those words resonate with me. Do they resonate with you? What are you trusting in God for today?
There are many things on my list, but the one most like Teresa’s monastery is a building project happening in Duluth for children who suffer from mental illness. Just like Teresa, I do not have the funding to make the project happen but I do have belief that God is in charge and wants me to work for the project’s completion.
In 1997 when our daughter Rebecca was only eleven years old, she was diagnosed with depression. Those dark February days were made even darker when Brad and I learned that the waiting list to see a child psychiatrist was three months long. At the time, Rebecca was unable to sleep and she was so full of anxiety caused by her suicidal thoughts that she could not eat. Through no fault of her own—bad genetic history was the culprit—our little girl was intensely suffering, and we found ourselves in a medical system that was too overburdened to offer immediate support.
Rebecca’s story has a happy ending because she was eventually—sooner than three months, thanks to some helpful friends—able to access specialized medical care of the highest quality. In the last thirteen years, Rebecca has learned to live with her illness and move herself toward greater independence, health and happiness. Now twenty-four years old, she studies hard, works hard, travels internationally and cooks better than I do. On May 22 of this year she graduated with a master’s degree in social work from St. Catherine’s University, and she is now looking for full time employment. Her father and I are so proud of her!
Brad and I believe strongly that more mental health facilities and services are needed for families. It probably goes without saying, but I’ll say it anyway: Three months is too long to wait with a suffering child for specialized medical attention. These days the child psychiatrist waiting list is still three months long or longer in Duluth because our community does not have enough physical resources and personnel to provide immediate care as needed.
The Duluth building project will put an end to the three-month waiting list for the mentally ill children, adolescents and young adults of the area. Brad and I are working to fund one of the family kitchen/lounges. It is a $75,000 undertaking, and we are 43% of the way to our goal with 50 gifts totaling $32,296. I am looking forward to the day when the mental health building is a reality and all of our kitchen helpers are eating cookies in that beautiful place. I plan to sprinkle a few cookie crumbs on the floor to bless the building! I’ll also look up to the ceiling and say a silent prayer to the One We Trust who makes all things possible.
Teresa writes, “So although I was aware that we had almost no money, I believed the Lord would help us and arrange other ways for us to thrive.” God helps us thrive no matter what our weakness, and we can trust in God’s love and kindness every day of our lives.
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