Category Archives: Prayer

Aching for More

Posted on May 5, 2017 by

It’s Tuesday and I haven’t written Friday’s blog post yet. I’ve finished praying and have nothing scheduled for the rest of the morning; it’s an ideal setting to write. Often the story has already come together, and I just need a chunk … Continue reading →

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Connected

Posted on April 21, 2017 by

I tried to lie back and relax in the underground saltwater pool but whenever I did, I began to drift toward people I didn’t know. I was afraid I’d bump against them and disturb their solace. The Nordik spa in Gatineau, … Continue reading →

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A Sense of God’s Presence

Posted on November 18, 2016 by

This month I returned to Bowen Island to spend a few days alone with God. I hoped it would help me get through the dark months ahead. I didn’t have much of a sense of God’s presence until I passed by a church and … Continue reading →

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I Wonder What’s Under

Posted on September 16, 2016 by

As I listen to directees share their struggles and listen to my own, I notice that there’s a strata to our feelings and desires. Like an archaeological dig, the top layer–the first one we experience–gets our attention. It’s the hurt right under … Continue reading →

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What Am I Waiting For?

Posted on August 26, 2016 by

As I mentioned last week, stillness is not something I easily gravitate toward. When I do try to be still, fleeting and few are the moments when I’m “walking on water,” blissfully free from distraction. Even though I know (and teach) that God is … Continue reading →

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Walking on Water

Posted on August 12, 2016 by

Jesus sends me off to pray in my boat of words. I begin to row. Even though I know he’s gone off to the hills, I keep looking for him beside me, hands touching, asleep in the stern, head on a … Continue reading →

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DIY Retreat #7: Circle Me, Lord

Posted on August 4, 2016 by

Here is another one-day prayer/silent retreat outline prepared by my friend Joy Richardson, a spiritual director in Coquitlam. You’ll find the introduction to DIY group prayer retreats here and other outlines under resources. CIRCLE ME, LORD After people have gathered, begin with a time of … Continue reading →

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Praying in the Cracks

Posted on July 29, 2016 by

Not that long ago, the idea of spending time alone with God in silence was not even on my radar. But God knew how much I needed this and invited me to “pray in the cracks.” This post was originally … Continue reading →

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Cracked Open: Part Two

Posted on July 8, 2016 by

After the pharisee listed my faults publicly and loudly, I began to weep. It was all true. I prayed, “Lord God, have mercy on me, a sinner.” My heart cracked open. I was now painfully aware of the extent to which … Continue reading →

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Cracked Open: Part One

Posted on July 1, 2016 by

“I’d like you to begin the retreat by praying with Psalm 139,” said Edmund, the young Jesuit who was my spiritual director for the eight days I spent alone with God. My room at Carmel Hill Formation House in Deroche opened … Continue reading →

Posted in Ignatian Spirituality, Poverty of Spirit, Prayer, Reflections, Spiritual Direction, Stories | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments