Inspiration

Celebrating Motherhood

Reflections for contemplative living

As we celebrate the mothers in our life, we traditionally think of the women who have given birth or those who have adopted children. But today let’s also celebrate the mothers who have lost a child and who carry that burden, the ones who live in hope to one day have a child, and to those mothers who have given up a child for adoption.  Let’s also hold close, in prayer the women, who have made the decision to end a life.  The bonds of motherhood are never severed despite what we justify and try to normalize. 

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Inspiration

Learning to Lament

Reflections for contemplative living

Recently I was reading about Martin Luther King, Jr. and his example of lament. He was an amazing person who knew how to fight justly, with diligence, faith, and hope.  We need more of us like him in our world today and we can start by learning how to lament. 

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Inspiration

Learning to Love

Every human person consists of both a body and soul. Just as our body needs things to survive and grow, such as oxygen, water, food, etc., so our soul needs things as well, such as faith, hope, and love. These spiritual longings point to the truth that every human person has a natural desire for God. 

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Inspiration

Humility is the Way

Reflections for contemplative living

The narrow path is one of humility.  Our souls long to rest in their pure state as God designed. But the human condition is the struggle with the ego that shapes and adapts us to living on earth.  God’s mercy so greatly wants to act within us that all we need to do is open the door. 

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Inspiration

Avoiding Gossip

Reflections for contemplative living

One of the ideas in twelve step recovery is placing principle above personalities.  I find myself leaning into this practice often these days.  So much of the conversation in the United States has to do with individual truth coupled with attitudes that create division.  Over the years, I’ve struggled with keeping my side of the street clean as it is tempting to pass along things we hear about other people to make ourselves feel better than. 

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Inspiration

Grounded in Joy

Reflections for contemplative living – Art by Melanie Boutiette @ just-beloved.com

Lately, I’ve been focusing on what self-care looks like for me. It is far beyond eating right and exercising. It is treating myself with respect, tenderness, and compassion. It’s paying attention.  It is noticing what makes my heart sing, bringing forth joy and happiness in my day. I’m realizing I can easily get into scarcity mode and focus on everything else except what makes me a better person. 

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Inspiration

Bringing Life to Believers

Reflections for contemplative living

Why would God’s salvation of the human race have to include something as horrifying as crucifixion? We live in a time when the human predicament is regularly denied, explained away, or ignored. Despite the massive counter evidence from the moral disasters of the last century, we are still beguiled by the myth of progress:  with just enough technical advancement, psychological insight, and personal liberation, we will solve our problems. 

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Inspiration

The Power of Silence

Reflections for contemplative living

This morning I spent some time envisioning a world where there were no words, no noise, only silence. What we held in our heart poured out without a word. The emotions, the joy and the suffering coming alive through action without a sound. What would be revealed? 

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