A few weeks back, I wrote about finding myself living in the ellipses- the ". . ." - a time in-between what was and what is to come. I struggle with the slowness of this time. I have a feeling that I am not alone. Have you found yourself in an in-between time--that space between … Continue reading Leaning into the Wait
It is time for some deep-cleaning. Last week, I was an irritable mess. My house was a mess. I felt overwhelmed. "Don't ever buy anything ever again!" I almost yelled at my husband. "No milk? No eggs?" he replied. "You know what I mean." I snapped. I threatened to throw everything in the house away. … Continue reading Beyond the Symptoms: From decluttering to mindful social media consumption
Recently, I opened up a magazine from my alma mater to peek at the section of class news. I was happy for those who are making partner and who are accomplishing great things in the world. But standing in the kitchen in my pajamas instead of in a downtown office with a twenty-mile view, I … Continue reading Living in the Ellipses ( you know, the . . . )
As I puttered around in that old flannel shirt, I thought back to who I was 20 years ago. 20 years ago, I was full of ideas and passion and ideals. The future was wide open. I had a plan and knew what I was going to be when I grew up. The plan was lost a long time ago and replaced with a new plan, which was also lost. Now I don't have a plan. The future is still wide open. This is both exhilarating and embarrassing. I'm letting go of the embarrassed. I am thankful that I am still becoming.
I stumbled across this prayer twice in the last few weeks. Once in Barbara Brown Taylor's book Learning to Walk in the Dark and the other in Ruth Haley Barton's book Sacred Rhythms. I love this. Everything about it. It seems like a good way to start out a new year. My Lord God, I … Continue reading A Prayer from Thomas Merton
What am I here for today? Sometimes I wake up with that prayer on my heart. It's a prayer I would like to wake up with every day. What am I here for today? This morning, an answer came to me: You are not here to wash the floors, to fold the laundry, or to … Continue reading What am I here for today?
Somehow, for me, the Questions were a door that ushered me into an experience of God that was real and beautiful and unexplainable--like nothing I had experienced before the Questions. The Questions were like keys springing open locks that had kept my mind from seeing what was real. Once opened, there was no turning back. There is no way to unsee. The Questions forced me to let go of Beliefs to which I had been clinging to like a life preserver. A set of Beliefs are not what save us or give us life. That Life is from God. Not from what I understand about God.
I am being invited to live the story that I am in, where I am at, right now. Isn't that what life is? An invitation. An invitation to live with eyes, heart, arms, and hands wide open.
One of my most profound "God-moments" came at a time when I wasn't in the habit of noticing God's voice. I was in church. Uncomfortable in my huge questions. A stress-ball. Feeling lost and inadequate. All of a sudden, the words of Ani DiFranco's song "As Is" came singing through my mind. And I've got … Continue reading As Is
I. The caterpillar is beautiful in its own right: vivid green, yellow, and black. Is it comfortable in its own skin as it congregates in the sunlight, consuming what is left of the garden's dill? Or is it aware of the change growing inside? The caterpillar is just who it is meant to be . … Continue reading Re-Created
Jessica Sanborn 