"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 October 25-29:
Monday 1
Tuesday 1
Wednesday 1
Thursday 1
Friday 1
Grace and courage to you and to me!
Friday, October 29, 2010
All That is Broken
“Prayer is the means by which we can repair all that is broken. Without prayer, it is almost impossible to make amends.” Teresa of Avila, The Book of My Life (1562)
I don’t know about you, but sometimes the brokenness of life is almost more than I can bear. This week was one of those weeks where I’ve had a hard time coping with the sorrow, loneliness and pain all around me. Everywhere I turn, people are suffering.
Early Sunday morning Kandyce Stoffel, a senior at the University of Minnesota, died after being struck from behind by a twenty-three year old drunk driver as she was walking with friends on 12th Avenue in southeast Minneapolis. There is so much sorrow in this first sentence that I'd encourage you to read it again (and hold all these young people in your heart). My daughter Emily Rose lives in the neighborhood, so when I heard the group was walking at the edge of the street because a construction site blocked the sidewalk, I knew exactly where Kandyce died.
Cecelia Zelman, ninety-five years old and in relatively good health, died in the early hours of Monday morning when most of the rest of Duluth was asleep. Celie was the mother of my friend Tom, chair of the English Department at St. Scholastica, and he was a frequent visitor to the Benedictine Health Center (BHC) where his mother lived. The BHC is attached to St. Scholastica, and Tom could walk from his office to Celie’s room in less than five minutes. When he was teaching last Friday, Tom had no reason to suspect that his mother’s room in the BHC would be vacant on Monday afternoon. It is an empty feeling to know that he will not be hearing his mother’s laugh anytime soon.
DeClan Sullivan, a junior at Notre Dame, died Wednesday after a portable lift he was standing on to film football practice blew over. The wind was gusting at 51 miles per hour, and it is reported that he left messages on Facebook that being up on the lift was “terrifying.” My nephew Charley Berno is a first-year student at Notre Dame, and my heart is heavy with grief for DeClan’s family and the Notre Dame community, especially DeClan’s friends and the friends of his younger sister who also attends Notre Dame.
When I find myself nearly immobilized by the pain around me, I remember what others I admire have said and done and sometimes that helps. In The Book of My Life, Teresa writes, “Prayer is the means by which we can repair all that is broken. Without prayer, it is almost impossible to make amends.” While a prisoner in Rome, Paul nevertheless remained steadfast and confident, writing: “Have no anxiety about anything but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests by made known to God. And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, will keep your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Today I am praying for strength and confidence during the uncertainty and sorrow life brings us. I am holding up Kandyce, Celie, DeClan and all those whose lives intersect with their lives. May we be bound together in love and may that love repair all that is broken, today and every day.
I don’t know about you, but sometimes the brokenness of life is almost more than I can bear. This week was one of those weeks where I’ve had a hard time coping with the sorrow, loneliness and pain all around me. Everywhere I turn, people are suffering.
Early Sunday morning Kandyce Stoffel, a senior at the University of Minnesota, died after being struck from behind by a twenty-three year old drunk driver as she was walking with friends on 12th Avenue in southeast Minneapolis. There is so much sorrow in this first sentence that I'd encourage you to read it again (and hold all these young people in your heart). My daughter Emily Rose lives in the neighborhood, so when I heard the group was walking at the edge of the street because a construction site blocked the sidewalk, I knew exactly where Kandyce died.
Cecelia Zelman, ninety-five years old and in relatively good health, died in the early hours of Monday morning when most of the rest of Duluth was asleep. Celie was the mother of my friend Tom, chair of the English Department at St. Scholastica, and he was a frequent visitor to the Benedictine Health Center (BHC) where his mother lived. The BHC is attached to St. Scholastica, and Tom could walk from his office to Celie’s room in less than five minutes. When he was teaching last Friday, Tom had no reason to suspect that his mother’s room in the BHC would be vacant on Monday afternoon. It is an empty feeling to know that he will not be hearing his mother’s laugh anytime soon.
DeClan Sullivan, a junior at Notre Dame, died Wednesday after a portable lift he was standing on to film football practice blew over. The wind was gusting at 51 miles per hour, and it is reported that he left messages on Facebook that being up on the lift was “terrifying.” My nephew Charley Berno is a first-year student at Notre Dame, and my heart is heavy with grief for DeClan’s family and the Notre Dame community, especially DeClan’s friends and the friends of his younger sister who also attends Notre Dame.
When I find myself nearly immobilized by the pain around me, I remember what others I admire have said and done and sometimes that helps. In The Book of My Life, Teresa writes, “Prayer is the means by which we can repair all that is broken. Without prayer, it is almost impossible to make amends.” While a prisoner in Rome, Paul nevertheless remained steadfast and confident, writing: “Have no anxiety about anything but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests by made known to God. And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, will keep your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Today I am praying for strength and confidence during the uncertainty and sorrow life brings us. I am holding up Kandyce, Celie, DeClan and all those whose lives intersect with their lives. May we be bound together in love and may that love repair all that is broken, today and every day.
Friday, October 22, 2010
Friday Prayer Report 34
"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 October 18-22:
Monday 1
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 October 18-22:
Monday 1
Tuesday 0
Wednesday 1
Thursday 1
Friday 1
Grace and courage to you and to me!
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Soaking in Silent Prayer, Part 2
“Seasoned practitioners of silent prayer, particularly if they have experienced the Prayer of Quiet and the Prayer of Union, sometimes find that as soon as they sit down with the intention to pray, the One they are praying to seems to be there listening. They become aware of feelings of tender love and faith and a deepening of their most cherished resolutions.” Teresa of Avila, The Book of My Life (1562)
All week I’ve been thinking about the soaking prayer blog entry I wrote last time, and I thought you might be interested in my favorite Sunday School story about soaking in silent prayer.
Nine years ago I used to teach 4th-6th grade students about prayer during the Sunday School opening time each week. We tried lots of different kinds of prayers, but my favorite one was the soaking prayer. Sometimes we would soak up God’s love, light, and healing for ourselves and other times we would soak for people who needed to feel God’s presence. Even now Sunday School teachers tell me what a lesson it was for them that the children took so easily to prayer time and how quiet the room got when we were soaking.
On Tuesday, September 11, 2001, the United States was faced with terrible destruction and loss of life after four attacks from hijacked airplanes. Many of you will remember news footage of the World Trade Center Twin Towers being crashed into by jets and then burning down. Other news reports showed a gaping hole where a plane hit the Pentagon and the wreckage of an airplane full of passengers that crashed in rural Pennsylvania. The whole country was in mourning, and I wondered what kind of prayer would be best for the children when we came together on Sunday. I finally decided a soaking prayer would be a good choice.
“Who could use God’s love, light and healing today?” I asked as we prepared to pray about the tragic events. Hands went up around the room, and the excited children had lots of ideas. It’s been a long time since that Sunday morning, but I remember they mentioned the people who died, the family and friends of the people who died, and the helpers who were looking for people who were buried in the rubble. There were other ideas I don’t remember right now, but I do remember that I was hoping for an answer I wasn’t sure I’d get. After everyone had shared, that answer still had not been given…“Is there anyone else to pray for?” I asked.
One boy in the back of the room raised his hand, and I called on him. “I think we should pray for the people who got paid to fly the planes into the buildings,” he said.
“Yes,” I said. “I think it might be good if we included them, too.”
So we bowed our heads, closed our eyes, and sent God’s love, light and healing to the ones who needed it.
Teresa writes that during silent prayer the One we are praying to seems to be there listening. I believe very strongly that some of the children would understand her words about what prayer does for those who pray: "They become aware of feelings of tender love and faith and a deepening of their most cherished resolutions.” I am so thankful that our Sunday School classes practiced silent prayer, and I am hopeful that some of the children have used the soaking prayer since then when they have faced times of hardship and need.
All week I’ve been thinking about the soaking prayer blog entry I wrote last time, and I thought you might be interested in my favorite Sunday School story about soaking in silent prayer.
Nine years ago I used to teach 4th-6th grade students about prayer during the Sunday School opening time each week. We tried lots of different kinds of prayers, but my favorite one was the soaking prayer. Sometimes we would soak up God’s love, light, and healing for ourselves and other times we would soak for people who needed to feel God’s presence. Even now Sunday School teachers tell me what a lesson it was for them that the children took so easily to prayer time and how quiet the room got when we were soaking.
On Tuesday, September 11, 2001, the United States was faced with terrible destruction and loss of life after four attacks from hijacked airplanes. Many of you will remember news footage of the World Trade Center Twin Towers being crashed into by jets and then burning down. Other news reports showed a gaping hole where a plane hit the Pentagon and the wreckage of an airplane full of passengers that crashed in rural Pennsylvania. The whole country was in mourning, and I wondered what kind of prayer would be best for the children when we came together on Sunday. I finally decided a soaking prayer would be a good choice.
“Who could use God’s love, light and healing today?” I asked as we prepared to pray about the tragic events. Hands went up around the room, and the excited children had lots of ideas. It’s been a long time since that Sunday morning, but I remember they mentioned the people who died, the family and friends of the people who died, and the helpers who were looking for people who were buried in the rubble. There were other ideas I don’t remember right now, but I do remember that I was hoping for an answer I wasn’t sure I’d get. After everyone had shared, that answer still had not been given…“Is there anyone else to pray for?” I asked.
One boy in the back of the room raised his hand, and I called on him. “I think we should pray for the people who got paid to fly the planes into the buildings,” he said.
“Yes,” I said. “I think it might be good if we included them, too.”
So we bowed our heads, closed our eyes, and sent God’s love, light and healing to the ones who needed it.
Teresa writes that during silent prayer the One we are praying to seems to be there listening. I believe very strongly that some of the children would understand her words about what prayer does for those who pray: "They become aware of feelings of tender love and faith and a deepening of their most cherished resolutions.” I am so thankful that our Sunday School classes practiced silent prayer, and I am hopeful that some of the children have used the soaking prayer since then when they have faced times of hardship and need.
Friday, October 15, 2010
Friday Prayer Report 33
"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 October 11-15:
Monday 1
Tuesday 1
Wednesday 1
Thursday 1
Friday 0
Grace and courage to you and to me!
Here is my "little by little" Friday prayer report for the week of October 11-15:
Monday 1
Tuesday 1
Wednesday 1
Thursday 1
Friday 0
Grace and courage to you and to me!
Soaking in Silent Prayer
“Seasoned practitioners of silent prayer, particularly if they have experienced the Prayer of Quiet and the Prayer of Union, sometimes find that as soon as they sit down with the intention to pray, the One they are praying to seems to be there listening. They become aware of feelings of tender love and faith and a deepening of their most cherished resolutions.” Teresa of Avila, The Book of My Life (1562)
This morning I met with my spiritual directee and we started our time together by having a cup of coffee out of Cheryl Husby’s prayer mugs. We sat side by side in the Shalom Room at the monastery with the sun shining on our faces, and for the first ten minutes of our time together we looked out the window at the lake, trees and sky while we drank our coffee, praying silently—“protect, help, heal, guide, guard, love, bless” was my prayer for the dear one beside me—and soaking in God’s love.
The soaking prayer is one of the best prayers for me because it brings me close to God. I realize that God is with us always, but I often forget in the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Sometimes I hold a cup of coffee in my hand while I soak, but how to do the soaking prayer is up to the individual and the possibilities are endless. Yesterday I was at a luncheon for Duluth’s Safe Haven Shelter for Battered Women, an organization I am fond of because it does excellent work in our community on behalf of vulnerable women and children. One of the other supporters of Safe Haven is a woman I taught Sunday School with nine years ago and admire very much. Before we sat down to eat she said, “Lezlie, do you remember the soaking prayer you taught when we were in Sunday School together? That was a long time ago! Anyway, I pray the soaking prayer when I take a bath. One day my sister called when I was praying that way, and I told her that I was just praying to God and soaking in my tub.”
Isn’t that a great story? It warms my heart, and I think that Teresa would like it too. In The Book of My Life, Teresa writes, “Seasoned practitioners of silent prayer, particularly if they have experienced the Prayer of Quiet and the Prayer of Union, sometimes find that as soon as they sit down with the intention to pray, the One they are praying to seems to be there listening. They become aware of feelings of tender love and faith and a deepening of their most cherished resolutions.”
Soaking in silent prayer is an opportunity available to us every day, and it has given me renewed strength for the difficulties I face in life. Maybe you will find it useful, too…Please consider joining me in experiencing God’s grace and a good soak!
This morning I met with my spiritual directee and we started our time together by having a cup of coffee out of Cheryl Husby’s prayer mugs. We sat side by side in the Shalom Room at the monastery with the sun shining on our faces, and for the first ten minutes of our time together we looked out the window at the lake, trees and sky while we drank our coffee, praying silently—“protect, help, heal, guide, guard, love, bless” was my prayer for the dear one beside me—and soaking in God’s love.
The soaking prayer is one of the best prayers for me because it brings me close to God. I realize that God is with us always, but I often forget in the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Sometimes I hold a cup of coffee in my hand while I soak, but how to do the soaking prayer is up to the individual and the possibilities are endless. Yesterday I was at a luncheon for Duluth’s Safe Haven Shelter for Battered Women, an organization I am fond of because it does excellent work in our community on behalf of vulnerable women and children. One of the other supporters of Safe Haven is a woman I taught Sunday School with nine years ago and admire very much. Before we sat down to eat she said, “Lezlie, do you remember the soaking prayer you taught when we were in Sunday School together? That was a long time ago! Anyway, I pray the soaking prayer when I take a bath. One day my sister called when I was praying that way, and I told her that I was just praying to God and soaking in my tub.”
Isn’t that a great story? It warms my heart, and I think that Teresa would like it too. In The Book of My Life, Teresa writes, “Seasoned practitioners of silent prayer, particularly if they have experienced the Prayer of Quiet and the Prayer of Union, sometimes find that as soon as they sit down with the intention to pray, the One they are praying to seems to be there listening. They become aware of feelings of tender love and faith and a deepening of their most cherished resolutions.”
Soaking in silent prayer is an opportunity available to us every day, and it has given me renewed strength for the difficulties I face in life. Maybe you will find it useful, too…Please consider joining me in experiencing God’s grace and a good soak!
Friday, October 8, 2010
Friday Prayer Report 32
"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 October 4-8:
Monday 1
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 October 4-8:
Monday 1
Tuesday 0
Wednesday 1
Thursday 1
Friday 1
Grace and courage to you and to me!
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Don’t Forget to Observe a Sabbath
“Again, for those of you who are intellectually inclined, I would recommend that you not spend all your time thinking. Even though discursive reason has its place, and it can actually enhance the delight of prayer, intellectuals forget to observe a Sabbath once in a while and give their minds a rest from all that labor. They think it would be a waste of time. But I consider such waste a tremendous boon.” Teresa of Avila, The Book of My Life (1562)
This afternoon I was zipping through St. Scholastica’s cloister walk between the school and the monastery, thinking about a presentation I was about to give while I was shutting off the sound on my mobile phone. In the process I nearly bumped into one of my favorite people, Sister Monica McLaughlin, Professor Emeritus and former chair of the music department.
“Oh, Sister Monica, I’m sorry!” I said as I stopped short of crashing into her. “I’m trying to do too many things at once.”
“Yes, I can see that” was her gracious reply.
My life lately has been the opposite of what Teresa advises, and it almost caused a collision in the cloister walk. Teresa reminds those of us who rush around, thinking and doing, that we should give ourselves a rest. “There is a time for thinking,” she writes, “and a time for being.” I’ve been focusing on getting many things accomplished in a small amount of time instead of on creating breathing room in my schedule for a much-needed break. This afternoon’s almost-collision woke me up to what was happening, so when I got home from school I sat in the sunshine for awhile quietly listening to music and looking at the lake.
How refreshing those sunshine moments were—just exactly what I needed—and I’m very glad I listened to Teresa today.
This afternoon I was zipping through St. Scholastica’s cloister walk between the school and the monastery, thinking about a presentation I was about to give while I was shutting off the sound on my mobile phone. In the process I nearly bumped into one of my favorite people, Sister Monica McLaughlin, Professor Emeritus and former chair of the music department.
“Oh, Sister Monica, I’m sorry!” I said as I stopped short of crashing into her. “I’m trying to do too many things at once.”
“Yes, I can see that” was her gracious reply.
My life lately has been the opposite of what Teresa advises, and it almost caused a collision in the cloister walk. Teresa reminds those of us who rush around, thinking and doing, that we should give ourselves a rest. “There is a time for thinking,” she writes, “and a time for being.” I’ve been focusing on getting many things accomplished in a small amount of time instead of on creating breathing room in my schedule for a much-needed break. This afternoon’s almost-collision woke me up to what was happening, so when I got home from school I sat in the sunshine for awhile quietly listening to music and looking at the lake.
How refreshing those sunshine moments were—just exactly what I needed—and I’m very glad I listened to Teresa today.
Friday, October 1, 2010
Friday Prayer Report 31
"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 September 27–October 1:
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 September 27–October 1:
Monday 0
Tuesday 1
Wednesday 1
Thursday 1
Friday 1
Grace and courage to you and to me!
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