Have you tried the practice of being? This may be my favorite spiritual practice ever. Find a quiet spot, sit still, and breathe. That's all. It sounds so easy. But I am quick to forget how to do nothing. There is always something to do. Someplace to go. It is easy to fall out of … Continue reading The Practice of Being
“Just Do It” is a great slogan when it comes to Nike shoes and things like: “Get off the couch and move!” “Floss your teeth!” “Eat your vegetables!” Or: “Sit down and write!” But there are times when “Just Do It” doesn’t work and when trying harder only leaves me feeling depleted and frustrated. Motivation, … Continue reading For When “Just Do It” Doesn’t Work
The kids needed a break about three miles into our family bike adventure. We found a resting spot off of the trail and climbed off of our bikes. We were chatting and drinking water when I noticed that the trail was empty in both directions. We were miles from any roads. "Hey, People. Stop talking. … Continue reading The Search for a Quiet Life
Something has been off between me and a person I love. I don't know that the feeling is mutual. It could be all me. But sometimes I feel my heart hardening, and I don't know why. The other day, I sat down to spend some time in quiet. Unease toward this loved one surfaced. "What … Continue reading Changing the Rhythm of Seeing Another
Am I selfish for staying home from church on Sunday mornings? This question hit me with force the other night. I love my Sunday mornings. I love them a lot. My reasons for leaving church behind on Sunday mornings differ from the reasons that I still am home while my husband takes our three kids … Continue reading Oxygen Mask
I'm not the best at prayer. These days I rarely use complete sentences when I pray. Prayer comes out in a word or a phrase. In a stirring from my heart. I'm learning that prayer can be so much more than articulate sentences strung together to adore or make requests known to God. My favorite … Continue reading Relearning Prayer: praying for others
“The trouble is, as soon as you sit and become quiet, you think, Oh, I forgot this. I should call my friend. Later on I’m going to see him. Your inner life is like a banana tree filled with monkeys jumping up and down.” ~ Henri Nouwen[i] It’s not just me? That makes me so … Continue reading Imperfect Silence
Have you ever had a life-changing conversation? One where somebody mentions something that hits you in your heart and you are never the same? Just over a year ago, a dear friend mentioned getting away to a cabin for two days of silence and solitude. Something in me opened up at that phrase: silence and … Continue reading Letting Go of Words
Sometimes life gets too busy and too noisy to hear the inner workings of our hearts. We don't pay attention. Maybe we have forgotten how. Lost happens when we don't know how to listen. I think my invitation to Quiet has been like a long time out. The kind I sometimes give to my children, … Continue reading Can You Hear Who Your Heart Longs to Be?
Silence and words don’t seem to go together, do they? But I imagine that words and silence are two of the most influential forces of transformation. I know that they have been in my life. Recently, I stumbled across this passage from Frederick Buechner: Words written fifty years ago, a hundred years ago, a thousand … Continue reading The Power of Words and Silence
Jessica Sanborn 