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"?