This life I claim as mine, hold onto and defend, is a gift, entrusted for a time, given, breath-by-breath by you. It is a vessel carved rough and beautiful for you to pour yourself into and overflow from, for your joy and mine and others. It is a gift I cannot truly receive, you whisper repeatedly, until I release my grip and let it go to you. Help me as I open … [Read more...] about This Life

You ask to wash my feet, as you disrobe and kneel before me. You wait, looking up at me. Joy dances in your eyes. I cannot breathe. Everything in me threatens to break loose, melt, flow, in the warmth of such tenderness. Your kindness undoes me. Your naked love disarms me, inviting me to bare all, too. If I say yes, the great flood of my longing, my need, my pure joy will break … [Read more...] about Washed Up

It is so excruciating and messy, so sacred and wondrous, this peeling away of all we hold onto, all we hide behind, until the naked, beautiful soul we are is exposed and your light and life in us shines through. ------ “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.  Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put … [Read more...] about Naked

You made me. I am yours. I came from you. Your life and light are in me. Free every cell of my body, every part of my being to know this, to celebrate this, to live this, to dance in joy. ------ It is he who made us, and we are his. Psalm 100:3 From Heaven at my Door by Juanita Ryan … [Read more...] about I Am Yours

We are your children. May we know you as our true and loving Father, Merciful One, Compassionate One. Thank you that you are here with us and in us, actively working to heal and free and bless us. May we receive you. May we say “Yes” to you and to your loving will for us. May we participate with you in your healing, restoring work, in our lives, in our families, in our communities, … [Read more...] about Our Father

Like a slight breeze stirring a lace curtain at an open window, like a blue winged dragonfly setting off a single ripple across a still lake, like a first snow fall descending soft, hushing all, so you are with us, achingly gentle in your touch, your voice, your presence moving in us, awakening us to you. ------ Because of the tender mercies of our God… the rising sun will … [Read more...] about How Silently

We sit together, near the water’s edge. Your arm of protection around me, my head resting near your heart. When the waters lap lazy, I am able, at times, to quiet my mind and relax into your steady embrace. But when waves of fear rise up like threatening armies and explode at our feet, I too often loose all bearings and forget that you are there. I practice being … [Read more...] about Sweet Comfort