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June 26th, 2020

6/26/2020

The Northumbria Community’s Rule of Life speaks to me these days.
The Rule we embrace and keep will be that of AVAILABILITY and VULNERABILITY.
We are called to be AVAILABLE to God and to others
We are called to intentional, deliberate VULNERABILITY

    My mind tell me that vulnerability ought to be my biggest challenge. It confronts me all the time, and besides, why would anyone choose to be intentionally and deliberately vulnerable! It’s bad enough when it happens, and it happens often.
     It is availability, however, that is getting my attention, and that baffles me because I am friendly, I listen, I smile, I help others. I am available. Nonetheless, I notice that I am writing in the first person. I am the subject of what I do. I choose when I am available and friendly, when I listen and smile, and when I help out. I control my availability even at times when I could let go and follow the availability of the other.
    Embracing and keeping availability to God opens up the possibility that I might succeed in being available to someone else on their schedule. I’m trying. At least I’m noticing.
https://www.northumbriacommunity.org

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Thy will be done

6/17/2020

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Being and doing in June 2020

6/5/2020

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What follows is a message that I sent to some friends who have known each other for many years-- many I mean 50 years—and we still keep up regularly. (I’ve made a few edits.)

     But I want to say more about this to you who read my prayer diary. My being and doing is praying, which entails not thinking. Briefly and simply I sit quietly, empty my mind of thoughts, center on God’s love, and pray that love to people and situations.
    This being and doing isn’t just during prayer times. It is about leading a prayerful life throughout the day, which I admit is difficult and impossible to do on my own. I forget and fail miserably but God is there to pick me up and send me on with renewed faith, hope, and love.
     How did I get to this prayerful place in my life? God’s grace, which continues to move me forward to live in peace and love for myself and others.

     I sense that we are all settling into a rhythm that works for us as we continue to self-distance due to the pandemic, and as we ponder all that is going on in our country. I view this rhythm as two-fold; to stay safe and healthy, and to keep our lives meaningful. Another way is to consider being and doing.
     My being. Gentleness (when I remember it) crystallizes how I am trying to lead my life. I am gentle when I let go of unnecessary little irritations (for example, being annoyed that a package didn’t come on time, or that the car I am following is going way too slowly). I am grateful for these moments of gentleness because I know that they put love, not hate into the world. I believe that how we feel inside ourselves has direct bearing one what goes on in the world. This doesn’t mean I am passive, but how I choose to act not only makes a cosmic difference, but also gives me peace.
     My doing. Keeping the home fires burning with Jim and keeping up with our kids and grands, and with family; keeping my church community connected in personal ways.
     Being and Doing: silence and solitude— getting out of my head by just sitting and when walking. In this silence and solitude I think of each of you as you find your own ways of being and doing.

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June 26th, 2020

Thy will be done

Being and doing in June 2020

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