When sorrow sits heavy on my soul I want to remember to go deep, stretch down to my foundations, touch the joy that lies there, waiting, holding on. It’s easy to forget, to wallow in the mud that seems pervasive, heavy, dark. But my Mentor has been nourishing my roots, plunging them yet furtherinto theContinue reading “Craving Joy”
Category Archives: spiritual formation
Poured Out
I pour out my heart before you and there it lies, a puddle in your golden bowl: scent of sorrow, undertone of angst. You swirl the mixture deftlyand I see the colors whirlto form a spiral carousel:black of blindness, counterpoint of pearlwith an interplay of scarlet(all the dreams I’ve hadnow seasoned and remadeinto a fragrantContinue reading “Poured Out”
Savoring the Moment
Time tumbles forward, water over the cliff, and my life raft is all too quickly swept downstream. January hurtles past,April, May, August . . .I cling to the edgesand try not to swallow days whole, untasted.What is life worthif not lived with purpose?What if I staytuned to winter freezewhen the sun is out?I say noContinue reading “Savoring the Moment”
Pruned by the Wind
Leafless branches litter the wet earth in the aftermath of the storm. It came suddenly out of the north with a powerful wind that whipped through the trees and cleaned them out. Cobwebs are gone.The dead weight of lifeless woodwas lifted away and the tree is free,stretching up toward sky and sun.Spirit-wind, breath of God,sometimesContinue reading “Pruned by the Wind”
Cross
cross-eyed I had no clear vision life was a cross I had to carry and I was cross at the tangled criss-cross web of weariness and crass emptiness (clouded crock) case-hardened then cross my heart it came across brand new old and rugged time-testedChrist’s cross his cross purposescrossed over from heavento clean and fill metoreContinue reading “Cross”
Love Letter in Response to Deuteronomy 33:12
The one Yahweh loves rests between his shoulders! Here I am, God, loved by you! I too often forget that you came to us as Jesus—you two are one!—who died on the cross, for everyone—yes, for the whole worldbut for me too! Insignificant me!You love me! It sinks in, softly.I rest on your chest, quiet,Continue reading “Love Letter in Response to Deuteronomy 33:12”
Gentle in the Storm
In the middle of this whirlwind may gentleness become the strong, long root that fixes me to what is true, that calls to othersto come to youto find that inner confidence,that deep ironic peace,that stands against the gale.Only you, living in me, can takemy frail impotency andempower it to healwhen all aroundinjustice rules and wipesContinue reading “Gentle in the Storm”
Wait and See
Wait, he said. When it is the right time we will see with our eyes what he has planned, wonders in answer to prayer. Ask, he said. Always be faithful in prayer,aching hearts pleading for mercy,allowing him to do his good work.Amazed, we will yet see his wisdom.Intercede, he said.Invite him to intervenein the heartsContinue reading “Wait and See”
Light Reveals
It is only when shafts of light sent from the rising sun strike the long lean leaf of grass that you see how finely striped it is: perfectly paralleled veins tracing from stem to bowed leaf tips. Life stripes! You shine on us, Son, Lightthat brings life to your waiting world.You shine on us andContinue reading “Light Reveals”
To Shine with Power!
This gargantuan ball we call Earth twirls on its axis, never stopping. I’m glued to my point on its surface, watching as we leave the dark outer universe and swing slowly, gently into sunlight. Granulated gray cloud masses suddenly have rose underbellies—no! Now they’ve turned to neon gold!There was a star riding tangentto the crescentContinue reading “To Shine with Power!”
Linnea's Lines 