prayer
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silence (part 3)
We are not comfortable with silence. It’s the first thing to go when we have a to-do list, the easiest practice to neglect. There is the fear that if we don’t hear anything, it’s because we’re not listening. It’s our fault. How often have we heard it? “God’s always speaking; we’re the ones not listening.” Continue reading
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the gift of silence (part 2)
We are weak flames barely burning. Our voices can say no more. Our ears can hear no more. With God, there’s no need. He lets us walk ahead, fall behind. He does not lead with pressure. He does not wait with impatience. He is not fickle or demanding. He does not hold our weaknesses, failures, Continue reading
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the gift of God’s silence (part 1)
“I won’t let you burn out. I won’t let you lose your light.” Some of us are weak flames barely burning. God will not extinguish us. Even a whisper could turn us pitch black. We are not a shimmering coal to be blown upon, igniting a new fire; just a weak flame barely burning. And Continue reading
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further still
Have you ever entered a cave and gone deep enough to lose all light to pitch black when you turn off the headlamp, where the air is utterly still, sound ceases, the only way forward is on hands and knees, the only guidance is by tentative touch? I have. It’s perhaps the closest one can Continue reading
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guilt
Ever since childhood, there’s often been a subtly pervasive voice in the background saying, “You’re not good enough, you’re not doing enough, you’re not enough as you are.” Have you heard it? This was not stated by anyone explicitly, but was sometimes implied within spiritual environments I participated in and observed. Guilt. As easy as Continue reading
authenticity, Christianity, church, Faith, God, honesty, hope, Jesus, love, prayer, reflections, religion, spirituality, Trust, worship -
(re)movement
As I have pulled back on my participation in familiar spiritual environments, as I have ceased the once familiar spirituality of my history and context, I find that I still encounter God in the midst of (re)movement. I do not speak, but stay silent; I do not move, but am still; I do not ask, Continue reading
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possibilities
I followed the snaking Gallatin River on 191, driving beside the water, on either side of me tree covered mountains and cliff faces, the sporadic homes and all the vehicles going somewhere. I played a song and prayed. It was a real prayer. Honest. Broken. Those kinds of prayers are rare, hard to come by Continue reading
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the blue chair
The last glow of the day above the pine trees across the quiet residential street. I sit on the driveway on this northerly side of the house facing the setting sun in my cheap blue camping chair lined with bright green. I’m catching the remaining light. If I lift my head I feel the last Continue reading
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Week 50: more
I’ve heard it, I’ve prayed it: “More Lord, more God, we ask for more…” If we come to God wanting “more” and receive nothing–no inspiration, feeling, experience, emotion, change, result, or answer–it’s still worthwhile. God is still worth it. We do not “need” anything from God (hear me out here). We already have what we Continue reading
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Week 37: prayer
“Pray your hardest when it’s hardest to pray.” I saw this quote recently. And it rang true. I don’t know if I remember the last time I really prayed in this way (in the traditional sense at least). Sometimes I don’t know if I remember how, or ever even knew. It’s like I was always Continue reading
a kingdom built of seeds 