Category Archives: Helpful Images

Right Where I Am

I looked at this drawing of an injured bird and felt tender inside. I lingered for a while with that feeling and the sense of being held. Then, in the retreat’s spacious silence, I reflected on a poem by Mary … Continue reading

Posted in Helpful Images, Poetry, Praying with the Imagination, Reflections, Spiritual Direction, Stories | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

What’s a Bucket to Do?

I’ve been on Bowen Island co-facilitating Living from the Heart, so I’ve had no time to write. But I think you’ll like this post (originally published in 2014) which follows up what I posted last week. The quote at the bottom … Continue reading

Posted in Helpful Images, Popular Posts, Poverty of Spirit | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Immersed in an Ocean of Love

Here’s one of my favourite posts, originally published January 17, 2014. I hope you enjoy it. I awake at 4 a.m. with an emotional heaviness and remember what caused this feeling. I got hoodwinked by fear in a legitimate disguise: I … Continue reading

Posted in Helpful Images, Mystical, Popular Posts, Poverty of Spirit, Praying with the Imagination, Rob Des Cotes, Stories | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

God Inclined His Ear to Me

I love the Lord, because he has heard     my voice and my supplications. Because he inclined his ear to me,     therefore I will call on him as long as I live. –Psalm 116:1,2 I imagine God inclining his/her ear to … Continue reading

Posted in Childhood, Helpful Images, Reflections, Spiritual Direction | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

God’s Salvific Love

“This helplessness, what’s it like?” asked my spiritual director. It took me a few minutes to let the feeling return to my body. It’s how I felt the night I was driving to a friend’s house in the rain. I … Continue reading

Posted in Helpful Images, Poverty of Spirit, Reflections, Spiritual Direction, Stories | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Goodbye, Rob

On April 6 friend and mentor Rob Des Cotes passed into glory. Rob was a pastor, spiritual director and retreat leader as well as a husband, father, and grandfather, musician, writer and artist. Hearing God’s call to go deeper in contemplative … Continue reading

Posted in Helpful Images, Mystical, Popular Posts, Poverty of Spirit, Praying with the Imagination, Rob Des Cotes, Stories | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Moving from “Me” to “We”

If I were Jesus riding into Jerusalem, I would have been pretty agitated. Imagine entering the city where you’re about to be betrayed, abandoned, beaten, and killed. How could Jesus remain present to the crowds of joyous people shouting, “Hosanna!”? Before the week is through, … Continue reading

Posted in Easter, Helpful Images, Holy Week, Lent, Rob Des Cotes | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

A Miracle Day

  They were filled with the Holy Spirit. Not just some believers, but all of them. When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house … Continue reading

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Christ Will Come Again

The disciples were anxious, afraid and extremely sad as they watched Jesus whisked up to heaven. What would they do now?  He promised he wouldn’t leave them alone, that God would send the Holy Spirit. But how could this Spirit possibly replace Jesus? What … Continue reading

Posted in Easter, Helpful Images | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Moving from “Me” to “We”

If I were Jesus riding into Jerusalem, I would have been pretty agitated. Imagine entering the city where you’re about to be betrayed, abandoned, beaten, and killed. How could Jesus remain present to the crowds of joyous people shouting, “Hosanna!”? Before the week is through, … Continue reading

Posted in Helpful Images, Holy Week, Lent, Rob Des Cotes | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments