There is a time for everything, and a season for everything under heaven, a time to weep and a time to laugh. Ecclesiastes 3:1,4 Many years ago when I was first dating my husband, he made the comment that it might be good for me to learn to laugh more. At the time I was so serious about everything that I didn’t really know what he was talking about. I have learned to lighten up over the … [Read more...] about Make Room for Laughter
Stay Open to Joy
You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy. Psalm 30:11 I learned that I had cancer on a Thursday afternoon. The next morning I was planning to meet with a friend for breakfast. We have been meeting regularly for more than twenty three years. This particular Friday morning was to be our Christmas celebration. I had called her the night before to let … [Read more...] about Stay Open to Joy
Learn Vulnerability
I will remove from them their hearts of stone and give them a heart of flesh. Ezekiel 11:19 When I was diagnosed with cancer I felt fear, but I was not clear about what frightened me. So I prayed for clarity: “God, I know that I am afraid. But what am I most afraid of? Please show me.” Vulnerability was the word that came as a response to this prayer. Being vulnerable was what frightened … [Read more...] about Learn Vulnerability
Show Up
Let us not become weary in doing good. Galatians 6:9 Sometimes life is mostly about showing up. And sometimes that is not easy to do. My experience with cancer, much like my experience of healing from childhood trauma, was a long series of needing to show up. Showing up to take care of cancer means showing up for doctor’s appointments, tests and surgeries. In addition to these events, I was … [Read more...] about Show Up
Soaring
We soared through grand canyons of clouds, thirty thousand feet above tobacco fields profiteering in death, above the capitol’s hostile divides, above wall street’s gambling greed. We soared between billowing boulders of cloud cliffs, forming rocky mountains in the sky, weaving deep chasms of dazzling white, through which to tilt great wings and fly. A group practice … [Read more...] about Soaring
Small
I love being small tucked into your vastness, a speck on a larger spinning speck, one of billions upon billions of your dancing diamonds, all held in the largeness of your heart. I love being hidden, safe, under the wing of your great love aware how infinitesimal is my knowing, resting in the thought that you, the One who knows all, knows me. I love being creature of your … [Read more...] about Small
Brilliant Dying
Lord, they say the leaves are dying. But how can this be what dying looks like? Glorious brilliance pixelating the deep green forests with shimmering sunshine? Is it dying that causes them to sing out such beauty? Or is it a life time, however brief, of bathing in light? Can our dying be this blessed? Our living such pure gift? ------ The Lord is God, and he … [Read more...] about Brilliant Dying
