Category Archives: Poverty of Spirit

Even When

Posted on March 13, 2020 by

I’m here as promised. I have lots of time but nothing I want to write about. I’m waiting, listening, remembering that You always come through. We’ve done three hundred and ninety-five blog posts together, and You’ve never let me down. … Continue reading →

Posted in Lent, Poverty of Spirit, Prayer, Reflections, Writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Cave

Posted on February 21, 2020 by

Pain. Sharp, deep and relentless. That’s what I feel when I’ve been treated unfairly. I keep wondering why they did that to me? I can imagine that it’s hard for them to admit they made a mistake. If I confronted … Continue reading →

Posted in compassion, False Self, Poverty of Spirit, Reflections, Spiritual Direction | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Fred Saves the Day

Posted on November 8, 2019 by

“I have my passport,” Fred said on Sunday night, “but I can’t find yours.” We were going to Bellingham, Washington the next day to pick up my books and have lunch with friends. We needed our passports to cross the … Continue reading →

Posted in compassion, False Self, Poverty of Spirit, Reflections, Seed Cracked Open, Stories | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

A Frog Trainer Retires

Posted on September 20, 2019 by

The image of trying to get all my frogs in a bowl keeps coming to mind whenever I notice a desire for things to go my way or fear that they won’t. This noticing brings a little more freedom. I … Continue reading →

Posted in Poverty of Spirit, Reflections, Stories | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Love Is Our Birthright

Posted on August 9, 2019 by

This is the third post about what happened on my 8-day silent retreat in July. If you haven’t read the previous posts. I encourage you to do that before you read today’s. Erik suggested that I pray with Psalm 51. … Continue reading →

Posted in community, Ignatian Spirituality, Poverty of Spirit, Praying with the Imagination, Reflections, Spiritual Direction | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

The Sound of Freedom Rising

Posted on May 24, 2019 by

It came like a low, distant hum, barely noticeable at first: a momentary sadness after a conversation. The drone grew louder as I noticed it more often–after a suggestion I made evoked a negative response, after a compliment went nowhere, … Continue reading →

Posted in Poverty of Spirit, Reflections, Stories | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Empty

Posted on May 10, 2019 by

Empty Before you go to bed, shake the dust off your feet. Open your front door and –with a shoe in each hand– smack those soles together. Like a TV preacher, tell those demons: “Be gone!” Before you go to … Continue reading →

Posted in Poetry, Poverty of Spirit | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

A Holy Place

Posted on April 5, 2019 by

Of course I told my spiritual director what happened, and she listened compassionately as I talked and cried. She asked me to name my feelings and notice how they felt in my body. I told her that I felt betrayed, … Continue reading →

Posted in Ignatian Spirituality, Lent, Poverty of Spirit, Prayer, Reflections, Songs, Stories | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

A Punch in the Gut

Posted on March 29, 2019 by

Sometimes self-awareness bubbles up gently and slowly expands to softly widen our world view and make more room for love to flow in and out of our hearts. Sometimes self-awareness comes like a punch in the gut. I know this. … Continue reading →

Posted in Easter, Lent, Poverty of Spirit, Prayer, Reflections, Songs, Stories | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Calls to Prayer

Posted on January 4, 2019 by

Notice what you notice. You’ve heard me say that countless times in my book and blog. It’s become a contemplative practice for me ever since I prayed the Ignatian Exercises in 2012-13. I notice experiences that warm my heart. I … Continue reading →

Posted in Advent, Homelessness, Ignatian Spirituality, Poverty of Spirit, Prayer, Reflections | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments