Spiritual Direction-- a balm for my soul

I met with my spiritual director this morning for our monthly time. After our session, I took a moment to check out her beautiful garden and get some photos. I took a handful of photos and didn't stay long, but the incredible beauty could have kept me there much longer. There is such a diverse variety of plants and flowers. It is a gorgeous space! St. Francis thinks so too, as he was there in statue form.

As I drove away, I noted the peacefulness and calm in my heart, mind, body, and soul. I gave thanks for this gift of spiritual direction as I reflected on today and the years I have been in direction.

I believe I started in spiritual direction in 2009. I thought I had a blogpost about the beginnings of this journey, but I don't. I started blogging in September 2010, so that's why I don't find a blog about the beginning of my spiritual direction journey. I do have about 5 posts in which I have mentioned "spiritual director" and/or talked some about my experience.

*Growing in silence...sharing the sacred space--May 12, 2013
*Hello.... I'm a Seminarian--September 20, 2013
*A Rainy Friday Full of Unexpected Adventures-- January 23, 2015
*Down By the Water-- September 9, 2016
*Sacred Spaces for Quiet and Listening--December 26, 2016

I wrote a paragraph or so about my time with my spiritual director in the above posts. Truthfully, I would have thought that a spiritual practice I have been engaging in monthly would have had more written about it than I have done. 

One thing that is evident from the above writings is that this spiritual practice of spiritual direction brings me peace. I'm glad it's a practice that I began and that I've continued.

I know I've written about it in my journal. I found my journals from 2011 to present and yes, I have written some about spiritual direction. However, I don't find anything taking me back to the beginnings of the journey.

How and when did I begin spiritual direction? I think it goes back to one of the SoulFeast experiences at Lake Junaluska (though I didn't attend one of those until summer 2010). Does it go back to the 5 Day Academy that I attended in the Fall of 2010? I was on the board for about 6 years with Fellowship of United Methodist Spiritual Directors and Retreat Leaders (FUMSDRL) also known as Hearts on Fire (HOF). It could have started in those days. I thought maybe I began in 2009 or 2010, but I can't find proof.  Maybe I started in 2011 when I started back to seminary for the M.Div. in 2011?! No, I am fairly sure I was already in direction by then. Now, where are my spiritual timelines that I had to write in the early days of seminary?!?! Those might help me. I'm not sure what about the year is important to me, but for now, it is something for me to let go. That's the "when" (or lack of "when").

Here's the "how":

I remember searching the directory on the Spiritual Directors International website. I found 3 directors locally at that time. As I prayed, I felt led to one more than the others. She was a retired professor, had taught at UTC, and became an Episcopal priest as a second calling. Our first meeting was held at the Barnes & Noble cafe at Hamilton Place. The connection was good and I have been seeing her monthly ever since (except for during the pandemic). 

Today's time in spiritual direction contained more silence and pauses on my part. I noted the ongoing liminal space(s) in my life and a sense of not being tethered (or rather a sense of being untethered). Other words that came out were "unknowing", "trusting", "peace". I have experienced quite a bit of liminal space and unknowing over the years. I think that is how I have come to live in it with more peace. It has helped me become more present in the present moment and to trust what is to be. 

Here are some photos from the garden/front yard after my spiritual direction time.

Peace in the ongoing liminal space and transitions, 

Deb

Nature time heals!

If you follow my blog, you might notice the theme of nature in my writings. I have always been drawn to nature, creation. Yet it is in recent years that I've come to realize that nature heals, that nature is part of my self-care/soul-care, and that spending time in nature is a spiritual practice. Who knew that something so simple, spending time outdoors in creation, could offer so much?!?!

Yesterday as I was riding my bike through the Chickamauga Battlefield and enjoying the canopy of the trees and the wildflowers, it came to me how much nature time truly heals, offers me self-care/soul-care, and is one of my spiritual practices.

It isn't that I didn't know that before. I did. During the height of the pandemic, I spent as much time as possible outside, in nature. Sometimes that meant being in my backyard. I spent time in the hammock or looked for mushrooms or checked out what happened to be budding or blooming at the time,  or I would be on the patio or deck. It's a practice I had prior to pandemic and one I have continued since the worst of pandemic ended. Sometimes I find cool things blooming in the front yard too, but the back yard is my go-to, with all the trees.

Worship in an outdoor space monthly also feeds my soul. I am able to do that through Bamboo Encounter, which is part of Wild Church Network.

On my walks and hikes (and even my bike rides), I am on the look out for interesting things in nature.

This past Monday I went to a new-to-me place to walk. I found a tiny turtle, a robin's egg, some very cool trees, a pond, tiny creeks, etc. It was a wonderful place and I plan to go back.

My nature/outdoor shelf of books continues to expand slowly. Two books that relate to this post are Steven Chase's book Nature as Spiritual Practice and Rochelle Calvert's Healing with Nature.

Though there are many nuggets to quote from both the above books, here is one quote apiece:

"Spiritual practice in nature changes and transforms the mind and body and soul." (Chase, xx)

"Nature has an intrinsic tendency to thrive, and it always works with and toward a traumatic or difficult experience to find a new way of being and restore health. We can see this in the way a tree grows back after a limb is torn off by the wind, or a tiny patch of grass grows up through a crack in concrete. In nature, healing is supported by interconnection." (Calvert, 3-4)

Some past posts on nature and/or creation: (for others, you can search "nature" or "creation" on my page)

*Nature Deficit Disorder-- January 13, 2015
*Trail's Inn Campground-- September 28, 2010
*Advice From a River--July 29, 2011
*Restlessness Gives Way to Peace as I Abide-- January 4, 2013
*Lessons from Creation...the Creator Speaks--April 8, 2014
*Bamboo Encounter-- A Nudge is Becoming a Reality-- February 7, 2019

There are MANY more posts on nature, creation, being outdoors. I didn't realize how many until I just looked. It is obvious that nature is a big part of who I am.

Peace on this adventurous journey!

Rev. Deb

Selected photos from Monday's walk at Rocky Face Ridge Park:

Selected photos from Tuesday's bike ride at the Chickamauga Battlefield:

Labyrinth time during Holy Week

Though my Lenten practice of walking/praying the labyrinth is over, I wanted to walk/pray during Holy Week. 

I was able to get my time in at dusk.

As I approached the labyrinth at Burks UMC,  I saw something brown in the grass. Was it a squirrel? It turned out to be a bunny rabbit. There were two. The one in the left hopped away sooner than the one on the right. 

Bunnies and blooms were the overall theme tonight, along with crickets as the primary sound.

The violets were in full bloom. There were a few dandelions in white form, or as I call them, blowy flowers. 

My heart seemed heavier tonight. I sat vigil this afternoon with someone who will soon be crossing the threshold.  Yet, that is not a heavy thing. It is a beautiful experience, Holy ground, and an honor to walk that part of life with someone. 

Truthfully, it is a beautiful experience, Holy ground, and an honor to walk any and all parts of life with someone.  That is something I enjoy offering to another. It is part of who I am. Me, as me. Me, as pastor. Me, as ally. Etc. It is simply me. I have always walked alongside others, meeting them where they are.

Maybe that's what keeps drawing me back to the labyrinth. It takes me to the center of things, to the center of who I am. It allows me to let go, to trust the One who created me, and to help me to be me.

As this week continues, may I walk/pray knowing I am a beloved child of God. May I live into the me I am created to be. 

May you know this too. May you do this too.

Peace, 

Rev. Deb

Transgender Day of Visibility 2023

I wrote a short post this morning on my social media sites:

"Today is transgender day of visibility.  #tdov #tdov2023 #tdov2023🏳️‍⚧️

We need to see our transgender siblings. Each person is a  human being with rights.

May we begin to learn about people who are different than ourselves rather than remaining ignorant, becoming fearful, or creating laws to suppress them. May we love and treat others as we desire to be loved and treated.

To the trans community: I stand with you-- in the work place, in health care, in schools, in faith communities, etc.

You are seen, you are accepted, you are loved.

For anyone seeking to learn more about transgender people, here is one link on transequality issues that offers explanations: https://transequality.org/issues/resources/understanding-transgender-people-the-basics

There is much more available on GLSEN, PFLAG, and other sites. I put together some links and information in this post a bit back: https://alienadventurejourney.blogspot.com/2023/03/ongoing-learning-thanks-pilgrim-for.html"

-------

I wore my ally shirt today to lunch, to donate blood, and to Ollie's. I had a few conversations about it.

I posted a TikTok video in support of this day and the transgender community. 

May we continue to create spaces for all!

Rev. Deb

Lenten labyrinth time--week 6

I walked/prayed the labyrinth at Burks UMC last night. 

It's a bit hard to wrap my head around that six weeks have passed, that Lent is almost over, that this Sunday begins the journey of Holy Week. The Lenten journey seems to have moved quickly. 

Last night's time in the labyrinth was calming, peaceful.  As I headed down the stone path toward the entrance, these words from a song came to mind:

"Lay down your burdens
Lay down your shame
All who are broken
Weary traveler come home"

Crowder-- "Come As You Are"

Those aren't all the lyrics (nor are they in order or 100% correct), but those are what came to mind as I approached the prayer path. 

Here are the full lyrics:

Come out of sadness
From wherever you've been
Come broken hearted
Let rescue begin
Come find your mercy
Oh sinner come kneel
Earth has no sorrow
That heaven can't heal
Earth has no sorrow
That heaven can't heal

So lay down your burdens
Lay down your shame
All who are broken
Lift up your face
Oh wanderer come home
You're not too far
So lay down your hurt
Lay down your heart
Come as you are

There's hope for the hopeless
And all those who've strayed
Come sit at the table
Come taste the grace
There's rest for the weary
Rest that endures
Earth has no sorrow
That heaven can't cure

So lay down your burdens
Lay down your shame
All who are broken
Lift up your face
Oh wanderer come home
You're not too far
Lay down your hurt lay down your heart
Come as you are
Come as you are
Fall in his arms
Come as you are
There's joy for the morning
Oh sinner be still
Earth has no sorrow
That heaven can't heal
Earth has no sorrow
That heaven can't heal

So lay down your burdens
Lay down your shame
All who are broken
Lift up your face
Oh wanderer come home
You're not too far
So lay down your hurt
Lay down your heart
Come as you are
Come as you are
Come as you are
Come as you are

I allowed the words to stay with me as I walked the path.

I prayed for some people and situations that were on my mind. 

My senses were engaged as I noticed the smell of the grass and heard the sounds of the birds and a neighborhood lawnmower. I noticed the tiny flowers that were still there, purple and whitish and some stemmed purple things. A clump of clover even caught my attention because of its shape.

I blew bubbles as I neared the center, watching them float away.

I rested in the center, taking in the vast blue skies, the sounds of the birds, noticing the branch pile had been burned to ashes, noticing how the sun shone through the greenhouse. 

The ashes reminded me of renewal, of returning, of Lent

I got up, gave thanks, and headed out. 

When I got to the threshold,  I paused and took a deep breath, giving thanks once again. 

I sensed strength and renewal from my prayer time.

Lenten labyrinth practice week 5

It rained all day Wednesday and I didn't really want to walk/pray in the cold rain, so I waited until this morning on my way in to work to stop by the labyrinth at Burks UMC for my weekly lenten practice.

Upon arrival and walking to the entrance, I notice the back end of a bunny rabbit scurrying into the nearby woods. Drats. I had missed an opportunity to gaze upon a rabbit this morning. I didn't mean to scare the little creature away. 

Birds were chirping, singing, and I would even say chattering this morning. They were a lively bunch.

It was cool outside, about 52 degrees Fahrenheit, but I didn't need a jacket. It felt good to feel the air on my arms as I walked around in my short-sleeved shirt.

A tiny bit of fog remained in the distance.

The clouds were puffy white and moving in the sky, not too fast, yet not too slow either.

Among the greenery on the labyrinth path, I spotted a heart-shaped leaf.

#SeeAHeartShareAHeart

The time went by quickly this morning. As I rounded the last bend to enter the straight path toward the center, I found myself questioning how quickly the time had gone. I thought back through the journey to see if I had somehow jumped the path along the way, stepping out of the path somewhere, somehow. I don't think I did. It just seemed too quick for some reason. Maybe it was due to holding space of encouragement for several people today. Or, that I was sipping coffee from my "tree church" mug along the way. I don't know. But, it was a peaceful prayer walk.

I sat on one of the concrete benches for a while. It was cold and wet/damp. I watched the clouds for a moment. I noticed some birds seeking food in the grass nearby. I sipped on my coffee.

I rose and headed out, giving thanks for the time.

Before I knew it, I was at the threshold/entrance. 

I wanted to check out what looked to be yucca in the distance on a path to the side of the greenhouse, into the woods. It turned out to not be yucca, but a clump of flowers without blooms. There was one white flower blooming on the other side of the path. And, there were iris leaves popping up in several places where one wouldn't expect them to be. I suppose beauty can be anywhere. Maybe it's the unexpected places that become more meaningful. 

How that might apply in some sort of life lesson, I don't know. Allow it to sink in if it has something for you. If not, allow it to simply be what it is.

As I was leaving, the carillon bells began to chime the hour. Oops. I would not be arriving to work "on time" today. But that's okay. After the bells chimed, a song played. I rolled down the windows in the car so I could listen as I drove out of the parking lot.

Ah. Though the time in the labyrinth might not have been long nor the overall time spent on location long, there was something peaceful, that refreshed my spirit and soul, that nourished me.

I am grateful for this lenten spiritual practice.

Rev. Deb

P.S. 

I don't know who might understand this one, but the labyrinth is a pokéstop in Pokémon GO. I don't think I knew that before today. It is called "prayer garden" here.