Friday Photographs-Psalm 18:2

"The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer,
    my God, my rock in whom I take refuge,
    my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold."

~Psalm 18:2

Finding Balance in My Life

Recently I've been feeling the need for more balance in my life. Over the past 6 months or so I have been focusing a lot on my health and career. Focusing on these two aspects of my life has been necessary but I was beginning to feel just a bit off. I couldn't pin point what I was feeling. None of my previous notions of what it could be fit. It was a bit disconcerting. One day it hit me-balance! I realized that in focusing on my health and my career I had pushed aside other areas of my life.

I recently "stumbled" on a concept that has really helped me better understand what it means to have a balanced life. Oola Life is a way of life the strives to balance 7 areas of ones life. Oola is a noun meaning a "state of awesomeness." They call these key areas the 7 F's: Faith, Family, Fitness, Field, Finance, Friends and Fun. This seems like pretty comprehensive. While I have just begun to dig into and learn about this idea of Oola Life I wanted to share with you all a short overview of each of the 7 F's.

Faith: The focus here is on gratitude, humility and our greater purpose in the world. Our beliefs about God and our Spiritual Practice would fit into this category.

Family: This includes everything related to your family. It is about your relationship with those in your family and how you interact with them.

Fitness: The focus here is on your health and wellness with a primary focus on "how you use your body and what you put into your body."

Field: This is your career what every that is at this moment; including students and stay a home parents.

Finance: Everything related to your person finance.

Friends: This is your social life including close friends and acquaintances.

Fun: "Explores your personal passion in life." This is about what you enjoy doing and really want to do for fun.

There is so much more to learn and explore about the Oola Life. You can find more information about  and use some cool interactive tools at there website www.oolalife.com. I encourage you to check it out and begin your Oola Life journey.

As I learn more about Oola Life and each of the 7 F's I will share with you my insights and experiences. I am excited about the ways this will help keep me be more balanced and authentic!

Healing Not Controlling

This past Friday I posted the following quote as part of Friday Photographs. "Healing doesn't mean the damage never existed. It means the damage no longer controls our lives." I love what this quote implies about healing and it's effect on our lives. When we are hurt emotionally or spiritually it controls our lives. The wound is all we can think about. We talk about it, we think about it, we dream about it and we worry about it.

This was the case when I broke my foot 8 years ago. My broken foot "controlled" everything thing I did and thought about. There were certain things I couldn't do because I was on crutches. I was always thinking about my next move and if my "wound" would effect it. How was I going to open the door with grocery bags in my hand? How was I going to get up and not put weight on my foot. However, as my foot began to heal I thought less and less about how it affected my everyday life. I  could walk around and not worry about falling or stepping funny. My foot is fully healed yet there are days I am aware this wound existed but it doesn't control my life.

Just as with the feeling of my foot, as emotional and spiritual wounds begin to heal we see a transformation. We begin to notice that we are not talking, thinking, dreaming, or worrying about the wound. The wounds no longer paralyze us from taking action. When a wound has transformed from living with it to telling about it healing has begun. It becomes part of our lived story rather than our life. 

Telling the story of our woundedness is proof that the damage existed. I believe sharing our stories of woundedness it a way that we can help others in their journey toward wholeness. Our stories remind others that they are not alone and that they can also heal from their wounds. My hope is that I can use my stories of woundedness, shame and fear as one tool to hold space for healing and wholeness. 

I want YOU to experience this quote as I have. I want to help YOU do so. What are some ways that you find healing from your wounds? What tools or support would you like to have to assist you in your emotional and/or spiritual healing? 

Friday Photographs-Healing

"Healing doesn't mean the damage never existed. 

It means the damage no longer controls our lives."

Holding Space for Healing and Wholeness

As I have look back on my years in educational ministry I realized that I have always been drawn toward experiences that create and hold space for worship, prayer, noticing, healing and listening. I seem to come alive when I can create and plan experiences that allow individuals to notice and listen for the ways God's love is present in and around them. I want to be able to hold space and time for healing of mind, body and spirit. I want to come alongside people as they journey toward wholeness.

Part of my current journey and discernment is exploring what "holding space and time for healing of mind, body and spirit" looks like. This can take so many forms. I have so many things that interest and intrigue me from the use of essential oils to spiritual practices to massage to yoga to chakra/energy work...the list goes on. Somedays I think I see clearly what this looks like but many days it looks like a heavy fog has set in and I can only see rough outlines of what is ahead. On the one hand this is discouraging because feel like I should be able to see clearly and know what I want to "be when I grow up." On the other hand having so many possibilities and avenues gives me the opportunity to explore and really hone into to my particular niche and calling.

I am reminded that we do not discern alone but in community. So today I ask for two things. First I ask for your prayers. Second I ask that you take a moment to think about what you know about me (my gifts, skills, passions, personality etc.), what I have said above and let me know what direction you see God calling me. You can message me or put your thoughts in the comments. Thank you!

I also challenge you to think about spaces and places of healing you can hold for others.

Love - It Changes Everything

One of the instructors at the yoga studio I go to tells us every class that we are "entities of love" (or today the phrase was "points of love"). He challenges us to "give that love away" because it "will change the world." Despite being a Christian I forget about love. I get so caught up in my own anxiety or get in my own head. I forget that I am worthy of love and belonging. I forget that God loves each of us unconditionally. We all need to be reminded of this daily if not multiple times a day!

Today I was struck by the phrase "give that love away." It can seem like a huge task to show love to each person we come into contact with every day. How do I show love to that customer who I know nothing about? How do I show love to the child who has been overly crabby all day? How do I show love to the co-worker who just treated me with disrespect? How do I show love to my fellow church member who is acting out in a meeting? How do I show love to my best friend in her greatest time of need?

The more I thought about doing this the more I realized it doesn't have to be overwhelming. You don't need to say just the right thing or do something extravagant. It is really about the small but intentional ways you show love. It might be a genuine smile, taking the time to listen to one more story, rising above the disrespect, saying a small word of encouragement, giving a high five or a hug, or even just holding open the door for someone. It is about taking that extra moment and being intentional about your act of love. It is about making that act of love personal and situational. You might only have a split second to act so make it count.

I challenge you to take one day this week and focus on showing love to each and every person you come into contact with that day. Notice how it changes you. Notice how it changes the people around you. Notice how God works through you. Notice how this makes you feel. Notice you ARE changing the world with each act of love!

(Oh and report back...I'd love to hear your stories and experiences!!)

Friday Photographs-Water for Thirsty

"Not only the thirsty seek the water,

the water as well seeks the thirsty."

~Rumi

Where do you quench your thirst? Who gives you life giving water? Have you had an experience of "water...seek[ing] the thirsty"?

The Anti-Bullying Scarf

For the past week I have been crocheting my first anti-bullying scarf for the Oshkosh, WI school district. The anti-bullying scarves are given to 5th graders who pledge not to bully and to report any bullying the witness. This year they are giving out over 400 scarves. I am told the children wear the scarves with honor and that younger children look up to them and are anxious to receive their own when they finally become 5th grade students.

Bullying is a subject that hits very close to home for me. Throughout much of my upper elementary, middle, and high school years I was teased and picked on. I'm not sure I would go so far as to say I was bullied for it was not as severe as the stories I hear today. My experiences of being teased and picked on has had a lasting impact on me. It has impacted my self confidence, my sense of self worth, my ability to authentically express myself. Healing from the woundedness that occurred is a slow yet beautiful process as I uncover layers of myself I had covered and all but forgotten.

The other day as I was working on this scarf I found myself reflecting on my experiences. With each stitch I found myself reliving the memories of my "bullying" experiences. At first this was all I could think about. However, as I crocheted on my memories transformed into prayers. A prayer that this scarf may prevent someone from having to have a similar experience (or worse) to mine. A prayer that the the child who receives this scarf will find the confidence to be authentic, the courage to stand up to bullying, and the heart to befriend the friendless. A prayer of love and peace for all who are impacted by this scarf and this scarf "ministry."

This is something that I can do to have a positive impact this tragic epidemic in our society. What are you doing? What can you do? How can you contribute, big or small, to positively impact the life of a child?

Praying in Color and Embracing Change

In the past year I have been challenged to embrace change with vulnerability, courage, and self acceptance. This has not been any easy task. In fact some days I would rather just stick my head in a hole and not resurface until it's all over. However, I know this is really not the best or most effective way to live one's life even if life has thrown you a huge curve ball. So instead I have been searching for ways to "rise strong" (Rising Strong is the title of Brene Brown's newest book) and show up every moment of every day. A few of the ways I have been doing this is through regular yoga practice, reaching out to friends and professionals for support and healing, and more recently reintroducing regular prayer practices into my daily routine.

For the past week I have been digging into to my creative heart and my need to work with my hands and "trying out" a prayer practice called Praying in Color. Praying in Color uses the concepts of doodling and coloring as tools for a more "active, meditative, playful prayer practice" (Praying in Color pg. 5). You can pray for others, for you self, or even pray through scripture.

As you can see my prayer focus has been self centered (in a positive way). My need to embrace change within myself and my situation has dictated my praying in color practice thus far. It has allowed me to take time to listen for God, ask questions of God and myself, and seek answers about who I am and where I am on the this journey we call life.

This practice is constantly changing (as you can tell from the two photographs). No two prayers are alike.

Praying in Color allows my brain to focus and wander simultaneously. It also gives me a safe time and outlet to lean in to and really feel my emotions. For example today while I was doodling "embrace fear" not only did I notice the fear bubbling up from within but I was able to doodle and color the emotion as I was feeling it. I authentically felt it but it didn't have the power to paralyze me. I believe  this is what the God means in the verse "Do not be afraid."

This is an ever evolving prayer practice and I am excited to see where it will take me next.

Does this practice intrigue you? Would you like to learn more about it? If so, click on the link above or click right here.  Or contact me and we can chat about it-I'd love to help you begin!

Friday Photographs-Shifting Perspectives

"All spiritual practice is the art of shifting perspectives."

~Teal Swan

The Impact of Joyce

In the next few days Joyce will be taken off life support after complications during an an emergency surgery, she was 80 years old. I've only known Joyce for about 9 months but she had an impact on me. I first met Joyce when I attended the knitting/crocheting group at the church I attend here in the Fox Cities. Ever since that first meeting she always made a point to speak to me on Sunday mornings as well as during knitting/crocheting group. Her small acts of hospitality and kindness kept me coming back tot this group.

Today was knitting/crocheting group day and I witnessed the impact Joyce had on the members of this group. As we prayed for Joyce and her family tears flowed from just about everyone in the room. Joyce will probably never know the ways in which she was a vessel of God's love and grace. She will probably never know how many people her gentle and kind spirit touched. She will never know how much I appreciated her kindness because I never told her.

Remember we are all vessels of light and love. We may never know how much we impact another person. I am challenged by Joyce's life to be more intentional about my actions so that they may reflect God's love and grace to all I come into contact with.

Friday Photographs-Find Rest

"Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls."

Matthew 11:28-29