Surrendering for PEACE

It has been quite some time since I've written anything on this blog. It's not that I forget, for I have a weekly reminder set for it. What has been interesting for me is that I haven't wanted to write. It seemed as though I didn't have any words. No those of you who have been reading my blog know that I don't seem to run short of words. Yet, when it came to the blog, I just didn't have anything to say.

I mentioned this to my spiritual director last month and she said I should explore that more and see what God is saying to me. If you've been to spiritual direction before, you know that her response was a good one, but .... Don't you just want them to tell you what it means sometimes?

LOL!!!

Well I've been sitting in this non-writing space for quite some time and today, while in devotion I came across the word, surrender.

Surrender is usually connected to giving up.
Today, I'm seeing surrender as letting go.
Letting go

• of the need to be in control
• of the need to be right
• of the search for the "right" answer
• of the fear of being ME
• of other people's impressions of me
• of yesterday's misery
• of dead/dying relationships
• of my biases and prejudices
• of any limited view of GOD

Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:7

Oh, let us PRAISE!!! our God. Let us magnify God, as we SURRENDER for PEACE.

Mindfulness and Lent

I am teaching a class this semester entitled, Mindfulness and Pastoral Care. As we have delved into the subject, students and teacher alike, began to discover some great benefits. Last week we sat with a mindfulness instructor to learn even more. What a great experience.

I have learned that my biggest block to mindfulness meditation is the inability to be gracious to myself. I realized that I spend too much time chastising myself about my improper techniques instead of just being aware.

Lent is a great time to practice mindfulness, the ability to be aware of one's surroundings, to be present to now. With the practice of prayer, almsgiving, and fasting, we're called to be present in ways that typically slip by us. Mindfulness and Lent have opened me to NOW in a new way; in a way that says it's okay to BE. Being helps center me for doing.

As I continue my mindfulness practices and walk with my students through theirs, I pray that we move away from our critical nature of finding fault and sit in the peacefulness of being.

Well It's About Time

It's about time I wrote something. But what do I write? I've been working diligently on my courses that I haven't had a creative thought. That's when I decided I might as well write anyway. If I don't write here, I won't get started on that book. And many of you know, the book is long overdue. Well, I haven't started on it yet, but I will by the end of the semester.

I'm really excited to finally start the book project. It's been a long time coming. So if in the next few posts you find yourself reading material that just seems to be me mindlessly writing, that is what it will be. I'll be working to write for writings sake, so I can get the words flowing and move past this writer's block.


As I prepare for Lent, perhaps the time I'll be spending in prayer and reflection will assist me in my writing. Above all, I hope that Lent will find me offering forgiveness and extending Mercy.

Peacefulness

"Someday At Christmas"

This is an old song that has touched me in a new way this Advent Season.

We're waiting for someday. We're waiting for Christ to come again so that we are truly free. We're hoping for that better world, but what are we doing to bring that better world about?

Someday has become distant to far too many of us. We've come to accept "Maybe not in time for you and me."

Where's the HOPE of ADVENT?

Could it be that we rush through this season to Christmas, thus we're not prepared? Have we become too comfortable with the darkness?

Someday at Christmas we will be better prepared to receive the light God has freely given us.

Someday at Christmas the gifts we share will really reflect our love and compassion.

Someday, Someday, we will embrace our witness to Christ's Love in our lives. 

Hopefully, it will be in time for you and me.

Prayers for timone #15

from K. Worthen
"dr. timone, It is my prayer that the Lord will go with you and bless you in the new position. Be assured that my thoughts and prayer will be with you. Yours in Christ"

This is the last in a series of prayers that were shared with me in May. What blessings I've received from people. I am indeed grateful to have people pray for me.


So what am I doing with these blessings?

I'm stretching myself each day to fulfill God's call on me. As many of you know, this is not an easy journey. But our God is a faithful God.

But what about the violence? How is my work addressing humanity's attack on humanity?
I'm sick about this killing of innocent people. I'm sick about this killing of people caught doing wrong.

Why have we upped the amount of violence perpetrated against another?

I'm writing this entry after seeing the video of Laquan McDonald who was murdered by a Chicago Policeman October 2014. It's too much!!! Why God are we doing this to one another?

I wish I could un-see the video.

How is what I'm doing helping God's people? How am I making a difference?

O God, please help us.