Category Archives: Poverty of Spirit

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 , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 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 , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 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

This Is My Prayer

Posted on October 5, 2018 by

The kingdom of God is justice and peace  and joy through the Holy Spirit Come, Lord, and open in us the gates of your kingdom. —Taizé Community Notice it’s not “open to us” but “open in us.” The gate is in … Continue reading →

Posted in Ignatian Spirituality, Poverty of Spirit, Prayer, Reflections | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Sometimes I Don’t Care

Posted on September 28, 2018 by

Sometimes I don’t care and I don’t care that I don’t care. I’m tired of feeling guilty for my lack of compassion for eating too much for not trying to be more Christlike and I don’t want to figure out … Continue reading →

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