April 8

Images created on this day over the past 7 years bring to mind the sweet words of my dear friend, Liz, who lived deeply her faithful insight of God as Lover.

2020

“When we relax our patterns of contraction we create the conditions for greater flow and emergence. We dismantle the barriers we had erected against evolution’s invitations. As we step into the unknown without our habitual tensions, and with our senses and hearts open—we receive teachings, support, and encouragement from unexpected places. Each blade of grass begins to sing.” —Pavithra Mehta

2019

Spring is arriving at the Guild and each budding leaf, in its time, effuses hope.

“A tree gives glory to God by being a tree.” —Thomas Merton

These words from Richard Rohr’s Daily Meditation, “the unfolding Body of Christ or the Parousia—Growing Fullness,” invited my morning curiosity.

“The created world itself can hardly wait for what’s coming next. Everything in creation is being more or less held back. God reins it in until both creation and all the creatures are ready and can be released at the same moment into the glorious times ahead. Meanwhile, the joyful anticipation deepens.” —Romans 8:19-21 (MSG)

2018

“Life becomes more joyful when I realize that I have a dancing partner! I drop my own choreography and begin to move.” ~an excerpt from Sophia Diehl’s Monk in the World Guest Post on Abbey of the Arts

2017

“The breath and wind of the Spirit remind us that our God can create order from chaos and life from death.” ~Rev. Melissa Bills, from the Renewal of Creation devotion produced by Women of the ELCA

2016

“Rather than hoarding life, nature gives it all away.” ~Parker Palmer

Looking out the window right now in Austin, TX, mesmerized by all the green outside, and a little song from grade school is playing in my head, “Love is something if you give it away, give it away, give it away. Love is something if you give it away, you end up having more.”