"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 November 22-26:
Monday 1
Tuesday 1
Wednesday 1
Thursday 0
Friday 0
Grace and courage to you and to me!
Saturday, November 27, 2010
A Great Advantage
“We are like fledgling birds who may not be ready to immediately soar but, by watching the parents, little by little learn to emulate them. This kind of assistance, I know, is a great advantage.” Teresa of Avila, The Interior Castle (1577)
Two hours ago my parents drove out of our family’s driveway in Duluth and headed down the highway, leaving behind good memories of a great Thanksgiving. They will soon be in St. Michael, Minnesota, where they plan to take my youngest sister, Amy, and her husband, Joel, out for dinner to celebrate Amy’s fortieth birthday.
The nicest thing about Thanksgiving is that it is a holiday with very little in the way of expectations except for a big meal and a grateful heart. Some of you dear readers may not know that I am not by any stretch of the imagination a cook—I call myself an “assembler”—however, I am married to someone who enjoys the chemistry of cooking and is curious about ways to improve his recipes. This Thanksgiving Brad and my mother experimented with tried and true recipes (white wine in the butter for turkey basting, for example, and a new ingredient—garlic—in the stuffing) and livened up the day most wonderfully.
This morning Brad was working on his caramel roll recipe because it came from my mother and he thinks his rolls still need improving. The problem he has is more one of looks than taste, but he wants his caramel rolls to be excellent in every way. Today Brad and my mom spent time in the kitchen, working on the best rolls yet. (“Eleanor, do you think this might work?” he asked…“Why don’t you try turning up the heat?” she responded.) Watching Brad and my mother in the kitchen was a good experience for me, and it reminds me of the way we improve in anything we love to do. It takes time, patience, and a little bit of mentoring.
In prayer’s third dwelling-place inside The Interior Castle, Teresa says, “We are like fledgling birds who may not be ready to immediately soar but, by watching the parents, little by little learn to emulate them. This kind of assistance, I know, is a great advantage.” Just as Brad has a great advantage in having my mother in the kitchen with him, I enjoy a great advantage in having the sisters at the monastery helping me with becoming a better soul friend to others. The reading, the listening and the praying are all improving my ability to be a spiritual companion…and I am very grateful!
Two hours ago my parents drove out of our family’s driveway in Duluth and headed down the highway, leaving behind good memories of a great Thanksgiving. They will soon be in St. Michael, Minnesota, where they plan to take my youngest sister, Amy, and her husband, Joel, out for dinner to celebrate Amy’s fortieth birthday.
The nicest thing about Thanksgiving is that it is a holiday with very little in the way of expectations except for a big meal and a grateful heart. Some of you dear readers may not know that I am not by any stretch of the imagination a cook—I call myself an “assembler”—however, I am married to someone who enjoys the chemistry of cooking and is curious about ways to improve his recipes. This Thanksgiving Brad and my mother experimented with tried and true recipes (white wine in the butter for turkey basting, for example, and a new ingredient—garlic—in the stuffing) and livened up the day most wonderfully.
This morning Brad was working on his caramel roll recipe because it came from my mother and he thinks his rolls still need improving. The problem he has is more one of looks than taste, but he wants his caramel rolls to be excellent in every way. Today Brad and my mom spent time in the kitchen, working on the best rolls yet. (“Eleanor, do you think this might work?” he asked…“Why don’t you try turning up the heat?” she responded.) Watching Brad and my mother in the kitchen was a good experience for me, and it reminds me of the way we improve in anything we love to do. It takes time, patience, and a little bit of mentoring.
In prayer’s third dwelling-place inside The Interior Castle, Teresa says, “We are like fledgling birds who may not be ready to immediately soar but, by watching the parents, little by little learn to emulate them. This kind of assistance, I know, is a great advantage.” Just as Brad has a great advantage in having my mother in the kitchen with him, I enjoy a great advantage in having the sisters at the monastery helping me with becoming a better soul friend to others. The reading, the listening and the praying are all improving my ability to be a spiritual companion…and I am very grateful!
Friday, November 19, 2010
Friday Prayer Report 38
"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 November 15-19:
Monday 1
Tuesday 1 (+1 with Centering Prayer Group)
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 November 15-19:
Monday 1
Tuesday 1 (+1 with Centering Prayer Group)
Wednesday 1
Thursday 1
Friday 1
Grace and courage to you and to me!
Some Time in Nature
“A genuinely holy conversation can function as an authentic spiritual practice. Our guides might also recommend that we spend some time in nature.” Teresa of Avila, The Book of My Life (1562)
Authentic spiritual practice comes in many forms, and every once in a while it’s good to change things up a bit and add something new. I do morning centering prayer as a spiritual practice, and God meets fallible me in these moments more often than I deserve. This week, however, I was surprised by how God came to me in the form of holy conversation, snow and trees in the monastery cemetery at St. Scholastica.
At noon on Wednesdays I walk with my friend Betty Preus. Most of the time we walk around the track in the athletic center, but this week we decided to walk outside and enjoy fresh air. As we started up the hill to the monastery cemetery, Betty was sharing a story from her heart—very much what Teresa would call “a genuinely holy conversation”—and I was listening as best I could. Then something very unusual happened.
When we reached the cemetery, it felt like we entered a different world and we both noticed it immediately. The weekend’s wet, heavy snow still covered the branches of the pine trees, the grass and the gravestones. A young deer was grazing under a pine tree. The circular path around the cemetery was clear and free of snow and ice, and we felt welcome to walk and talk as we have done in the past; however, it was quiet—so quiet, a quiet I hadn’t experienced for a long time—and we immediately stopped for a moment and took in the earth’s hush. “Do you think I should keep talking?” Betty said. I thought she should—it was a special sort of conversation, after all—but we decided after she was finished we’d walk the circle a few times in silence.
Sometimes we plan our spiritual time as I do with centering prayer, but other times the Holy One makes the plans and we find ourselves quite unexpectedly in the midst of more beauty and wonder than we could imagine. Grace can be plopped upon us—just like fresh, wet snow—when we least expect it. What a wonderful surprise!
Authentic spiritual practice comes in many forms, and every once in a while it’s good to change things up a bit and add something new. I do morning centering prayer as a spiritual practice, and God meets fallible me in these moments more often than I deserve. This week, however, I was surprised by how God came to me in the form of holy conversation, snow and trees in the monastery cemetery at St. Scholastica.
At noon on Wednesdays I walk with my friend Betty Preus. Most of the time we walk around the track in the athletic center, but this week we decided to walk outside and enjoy fresh air. As we started up the hill to the monastery cemetery, Betty was sharing a story from her heart—very much what Teresa would call “a genuinely holy conversation”—and I was listening as best I could. Then something very unusual happened.
When we reached the cemetery, it felt like we entered a different world and we both noticed it immediately. The weekend’s wet, heavy snow still covered the branches of the pine trees, the grass and the gravestones. A young deer was grazing under a pine tree. The circular path around the cemetery was clear and free of snow and ice, and we felt welcome to walk and talk as we have done in the past; however, it was quiet—so quiet, a quiet I hadn’t experienced for a long time—and we immediately stopped for a moment and took in the earth’s hush. “Do you think I should keep talking?” Betty said. I thought she should—it was a special sort of conversation, after all—but we decided after she was finished we’d walk the circle a few times in silence.
Sometimes we plan our spiritual time as I do with centering prayer, but other times the Holy One makes the plans and we find ourselves quite unexpectedly in the midst of more beauty and wonder than we could imagine. Grace can be plopped upon us—just like fresh, wet snow—when we least expect it. What a wonderful surprise!
Friday, November 12, 2010
Friday Prayer Report 37
"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 November 8-12:
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 November 8-12:
Monday 1
Tuesday 1
Wednesday 1
Thursday 1
Friday 1
Grace and courage to you and to me!
Whatever Best Awakens You to Love
“Remember: if you want to make progress on the path and ascend to places you have longed for, the important thing is not to think much but to love much, and so to do whatever best awakens you to love.” Teresa of Avila, The Interior Castle (1577)
Jesus told us the most important thing to remember is “love God and love your neighbor as yourself.” In other words, our life in Christ is all about love, love, love. It sounds easy, but in reality I’ve found nothing is more difficult.
When I think back through this past week, I did a small bit of loving others but most of my time was spent judging people and offering advice they weren’t seeking. I value thinking over loving almost every time, and this habit does not help me progress on the spiritual path. So what can I do to improve? Teresa’s answer would be “Lezlie, do whatever best awakens you to love,” so I’m pondering what might help me rouse myself into better loving.
Sister Timothy Kirby, one of the members of the book club I attend, comes to mind right away because this week our group met over lunch to discuss The Elegance of the Hedgehog. Sister Tim has lived in the monastery for seventy years, and she is one of the most loving, generous people I’ve ever met. When I’m with her, I find myself filled with patience and loving kindness which spills over into the rest of the day. My family probably wishes book club day could be every day…Tim’s love is contagious, and we are all better for it. She definitely wakes me up to what’s most important in life, and she and I plan to be together again—just the two of us—very soon.
I don’t know how other people keep love alive inside them, but I’d be interested in hearing how you do it. In the days and weeks to come, my hope is that we will follow Teresa’s advice and find ourselves doing more and more of whatever best awakens us to lovelovelove!
Jesus told us the most important thing to remember is “love God and love your neighbor as yourself.” In other words, our life in Christ is all about love, love, love. It sounds easy, but in reality I’ve found nothing is more difficult.
When I think back through this past week, I did a small bit of loving others but most of my time was spent judging people and offering advice they weren’t seeking. I value thinking over loving almost every time, and this habit does not help me progress on the spiritual path. So what can I do to improve? Teresa’s answer would be “Lezlie, do whatever best awakens you to love,” so I’m pondering what might help me rouse myself into better loving.
Sister Timothy Kirby, one of the members of the book club I attend, comes to mind right away because this week our group met over lunch to discuss The Elegance of the Hedgehog. Sister Tim has lived in the monastery for seventy years, and she is one of the most loving, generous people I’ve ever met. When I’m with her, I find myself filled with patience and loving kindness which spills over into the rest of the day. My family probably wishes book club day could be every day…Tim’s love is contagious, and we are all better for it. She definitely wakes me up to what’s most important in life, and she and I plan to be together again—just the two of us—very soon.
I don’t know how other people keep love alive inside them, but I’d be interested in hearing how you do it. In the days and weeks to come, my hope is that we will follow Teresa’s advice and find ourselves doing more and more of whatever best awakens us to lovelovelove!
Sunday, November 7, 2010
Friday Prayer Report 36
"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 November 1-5:
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 November 1-5:
Monday 0
Tuesday 1
Wednesday 1
Thursday 1
Friday 1
Grace and courage to you and to me!
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
In Harmony
“As I see it, contemplative prayer is simply an intimate sharing between friends. It’s about frequently taking time to be alone with the One who loves us. If the friendship is to endure, the love must be honored and tended. The will of the two friends needs to be in harmony.” Teresa of Avila, The Book of My Life (1562)
This past weekend my husband, Brad, and I went to Little McDonald Lake near Perham, Minnesota, to help my parents close their lake place for the winter. I have been looking forward to our time with them because it’s always good to be together. Mom and Dad had almost everything “buttoned up,” so instead of frantically working we spent most of our time doing fun things—walking, talking, watching football and sharing meals. What I liked best is that Brad and I had the whole weekend to enjoy the company of my parents.
In the reading for today, Teresa explains what prayer is all about. “It’s about frequently taking time to be alone with the One who loves us,” she writes. “If the friendship is to endure, the love must be honored and tended. The will of the two friends needs to be in harmony.”
My favorite prayer times are very much like a wonderful weekend with my parents. I am with the One who loves me, just enjoying time together. The love we share is honored and tended through those precious minutes, and I find myself in harmony with the One Who Made Me. To pray is to place myself in God’s presence—kind of like driving to Little McDonald Lake to see my parents—and then experiencing God’s grace, wisdom, and companionship.
This past weekend my husband, Brad, and I went to Little McDonald Lake near Perham, Minnesota, to help my parents close their lake place for the winter. I have been looking forward to our time with them because it’s always good to be together. Mom and Dad had almost everything “buttoned up,” so instead of frantically working we spent most of our time doing fun things—walking, talking, watching football and sharing meals. What I liked best is that Brad and I had the whole weekend to enjoy the company of my parents.
In the reading for today, Teresa explains what prayer is all about. “It’s about frequently taking time to be alone with the One who loves us,” she writes. “If the friendship is to endure, the love must be honored and tended. The will of the two friends needs to be in harmony.”
My favorite prayer times are very much like a wonderful weekend with my parents. I am with the One who loves me, just enjoying time together. The love we share is honored and tended through those precious minutes, and I find myself in harmony with the One Who Made Me. To pray is to place myself in God’s presence—kind of like driving to Little McDonald Lake to see my parents—and then experiencing God’s grace, wisdom, and companionship.
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