Beautiful breezes on this first day of September

I am sitting outside on the deck enjoying these incredible breezes this mid-morning. It was 63 degrees when I first came this morning for coffee time with Cliff. I decided I needed some more fresh air, so I cam back outside.

I'm reading Parker Palmer's The Active Life: A Spirituality of Work, Creativity, and Caring in preparation for the next and final cohort for our Spiritual Direction program. I am finding the information on contemplation and action insightful. 

I am reading about contemplative action and active contemplation, being fully alive, how action is risky, etc. I am only up to page 30 so far, so I don't have lots to share yet. Parker Palmer has influenced my life since my teaching days at Bryan College when I attended a language seminar at then Lee College where he led our workshop and shared from his book The Courage to Teach. That changed how I taught. I have read other books of his throughout the years and followed him on Facebook.

I can see, hear, and feel the effects of the wind as the breeze blows through the trees rustling the leaves and the wind chimes. Somehow, there is peace and calm in this experience. I watch leaves fall in a dance-like state to the ground, joining the other leaves that have been there for about a week now. There is one tree that turned red early, at the end of August (28th) and dropped some of its beautiful leaves on the grass. Brown and green leaves are joining those leaves. 

It isn't really possible to capture the breeze in a photo, so I won't try. It's not something we can see, only the effects of it. We can hear it, we can feel it, we can see the leaves and branches move. 

I wonder what in my life can not be seen right now. What is not visible, yet still offers movement and/or sound? Something for reflection and contemplation. Just because it isn't seen, doesn't mean it isn't there. 

Today, with its clear blue sky and great breezes, is looking to be a great hammock time day. I think I will make some time for that later. To be under the tree canopy and to hear and see the leaves blowing above me will be a good time. We will see.

My energy level is fairly low, so I may not be able to put up the hammock today.  For now, the deck and the breezes is good enough. Good enough. Sometimes we can rest in the 'good enough', be content with what we have and are experiencing.... or we can learn to be.

These are my reflections for this morning.

Peace on this first day of September, 

Rev. Debra

Making a moment to write

I haven't posted since last month's Bamboo Encounter post.  I had great intentions of posting my sermons like I did in my first appointment, but that hasn't happened yet.  I seem to only be able to get a Bamboo Encounter post done and that is only once a month. I have missed my spiritual practice of writing.

So, what does one write about when it has been so long and so much has happened?  Should one note that they have missed their blogging anniversary for a 2nd year in a row?  No, that's not necessary to note.   For the first 7 years, I kept up with that, with the countries, the statistics, and wrote a summary post near or on the anniversary.  But I missed last year and it has already slipped by this year.  But, maybe I will be more intentional for next year, as that will be year 10.

Do I post 2 and a half months of sermons in one blog?  I don't think so.  YIKES. That would be way too much reading and listening for even the most dedicated disciple. I may try to post a sermon here and there in the future.

I think what I will share in this post are the 7 books I posted during a book challenge to post spiritual directions books that influenced me.

Though I am not (yet) a spiritual director (officially), I have been in spiritual direction for 10 years and have read books on the practice.  I have been surrounded by spiritual directors and knew that one day the time would come to do a certificate program in spiritual direction so that I could grow in my listening skills and learn more officially about the practice.

Last month I applied to the fall 2020 Columbia Theological Seminary's Spiritual Direction program.  I learned this past week that I have been accepted.  I'm looking forward to this time of learning.

I've met one of the faculty members in person-- Jane Vennard.  She was the speaker at the last FUMSDRL/HOF retreat we had in  summer 2018.  It was there that I learned about their program having some openings for the fall 2018 cohort, but the timing wasn't right for me.

I also am familiar with Jim Dant.  I've read his book and we've corresponded via email.

I look forward to learning from both of them and from the other faculty.

I imagine I'll be reading quite a bit of new material starting in September 2020.  I've noted the books that friends say were meaningful and helpful to them in their spiritual direction.

Here are the books that I posted during the challenge:

Mulholland's Invitation to a Journey also impacted me, but I decided to share this one. My conversations with him and his wife at the 2 Year Academy also played a role in my formation.

I have other books on my shelves and seeing what others posted allowed my list to grow even more.  I either missed one of the books I posted or I didn't post 7.  Oh, well.

As the sun begins to set and the breezes gently blow, it's time to call it a night anyway.  It's time to stop writing about listening and do it.

Peace on the journey,


Debra