In this first week of Lent, I am realizing how my heart is being purified to be undivided. It has been a challenging week where we truly entered the frigid desert here in Texas with a historic storm that crippled our infrastructure. This arctic storm took away our power and electricity, water, internet, and spotty phone service. To whom did I turn?
Continue reading “What Are You Thirsting For?”
Today’s post is written by a guest contributor Jacquelyne Rocan. Jacquelyne has been a spiritual sister to me throughout the years and I am pleased to introduce you to her!
Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent and I find myself recalling this time last year. While there were certainly reports of the new coronavirus circulating in more and more communities, I celebrated Ash Wednesday in 2020 in many of the same ways that I have always marked that day — attending Mass, receiving ashes on my forehead, fasting, and setting in place plans for experiencing a holy and spiritual Lenten season. This included plans for additional prayers, readings, and attending Stations of the Cross. I marked times for all of the Holy Week services on my calendar — the Easter Triduum of Holy Thursday Mass, Good Friday service, and Easter Vigil Mass. It was important to me to fully participate and prepare by attending these services, as much as I could (especially through many years of serving on the RCIA team in my parish). My Lenten and Easter seasons have felt incomplete when I have been unable to prepare and attend the Easter Triduum services.
Continue reading “Hope is Not Canceled”
I recently listened to organizational psychologist Adam Grant’s podcast about Givers and Takers where he breaks down three personalities and offers simple strategies to promote a culture of generosity in the workplace. It was validating to know that the givers win out in affecting positive culture and increased results. Go figure!
Continue reading “Are You A Giver Or A Taker?”
We can all unite in the goodness of prayer…..
Continue reading “Help Build A World Of Equal Dignity”
Fasting is amazingly popular in our culture today if you are seeking to shed some weight or reap the debated health benefits. A google search provides an overwhelming amount of information. On the other hand, not much is written about fasting as a tool for our spiritual growth. This time-tested practice is a proven method for shedding the weight of self-will and the evolution to our lower self. Today, I challenge us see how fasting trains our soul for goodness and the higher purpose of love. I have mentioned previously, God prunes our hearts through prayer, fasting and almsgiving, as we unite with Him.
Continue reading “Fasting For The Love Of It”
In last week’s blog, I talked about growing in good works through prayer, fasting and service and how they unite us to Christ. These are the three tools we have in our spiritual toolbox to resist sin and follow the path of true love. I find Lent is a perfect time to examine my choices and search the desert within me to evaluate my motivations. I can learn, with God’s grace, where I am flirting with darkness and then make a conscious decision to snuggle up with my Creator instead of turning to the fleeting relief the world provides. Prayer helps me see my life as God sees it and assures me I am loved.
Continue reading “Prayer is Allowing God to Love You”
I hope this post finds you settling into your word of the year as well as having a plan mapped out to get to know your Saint buddy. My prayer time this week included a plea for guidance on how to best get to know mine, St. Joseph. The next day, I was listening to the Godsplaining podcast and low and behold, they were discussing the Year of St. Joseph. This conversation gave me a good starting point for my plan. I love how God works! Do you have a plan to nourish your mind this year? Another practice I wanted to share that supports my growth is identifying twelve books that will challenge my thinking. Getting through this stack feels good when I complete in December.
Have you started thinking about Lent?
Continue reading “Growing In Good Works”
Have you ever heard the expression ready, fire, aim? It seems to me that a lot of our culture operates this way taking immediate action and reacting to something before thinking it through. If we are not careful and intentional, this behavior can transcend our life, including our spiritual life.
Continue reading “Action: Ready, Fire, Aim or Aim, Ready, Fire?”
Last year’s word of the year for me was Be. Upon reflection, Be was the perfect word that fueled my spiritual growth and cultivated my peace of mind. Flash back to last February. In my journey to understand love, the way our Creator intended, I stepped away from a 35-year career to support my husband through his lifesaving bone marrow transplant. Little did I know, we would be contending with COVID the following month to add complexity to his immune compromised state as well as facing a grueling year of multiple complications from the transplant. Hiring in my field of philanthropy slowed down as well and positions of interest were and continue to be on hold. Since much of my time prior to the transplant and COVID was focused on working, it was hard to be still and just Be. Being is an uncomfortable space to find yourself in after years of doing. Through faith and trust, I learned what it meant to Be and was blessed with many gifts through this surrender. By being still last year, I was able to see and understand God’s grace and His goodness. I started writing about this goodness which I hope inspires you in your journey. Have you taken some time to reflect on how God has worked in your life this past year and written a few key moments in your spiritual journey and identified your hopes for the new year?
Continue reading “Do You Have a Word of The Year?”
