Blog Posts

Feeling joy, a fruit of the spirit~

8/24/2024

'Joy' is the second of the fruit of the spirit that Saint Paul shares in his letter to the Galatians. I love joy! "Joyful Leaning in Kindergarten" was the title I chose for the book I wrote for teachers. And now as a Christian I am feeling joy at the direction Kamala Harris wants to lead this country.
I don't mean to get political. No, I just want to stay faithful to what Jesus calls me to do. To quote Barbara Brown Taylor: Wash feet. Give your stuff away. Share your food. Favor reprobates. Pray for those who are out to get you. Be the first to say, "I'm sorry."

Is it necessary--To talk, to have an opinion about everything?

8/9/2024

8/9/24 Here is what I shared on my cottagebythesea.net blog. What follows is my prayerful response.
Every year one of my daily readings reminds me of the three sieves, a set of questions attributed to Socrates, who reportedly asked an man who was about to tell him a story if he had put it through the test of the three sieves.
Is it true?
Is it kind?
Is it necessary?

I'm wondering what percent of the stories and information passed along among family and friends fit through such a sieve. I'm wondering about my little world, just little me sharing stuff, passing along information, letting folks know what going on. When I consider this, or for a moment actually practice it, I sense that I become rather boring, uninteresting, and passive. I have little to say; I disappear, at least from the social scene.
   Hmm, it's rather appealing.
     It's what monastics do. I observe that the brothers at SSJE follow something similar. They don't talk very much; they listen. Their primary communication is with God.
      When someone talks, it takes practice and commitment not to respond with more talk, which usually includes giving an opinion. Some people need to talk in order to figure out what they believe about a given topic; they need a dialog, a conversation with someone else. Others prefer writing.
    Thought and language. As a kindergarten teacher I get that. But let's put that aside. Perhaps some of us don't need to have ideas and opinions about everything. Perhaps we long for less to put through the sieve. When we start to put 'Is it necessary?" through, perhaps we might consider, "Is the topic even necessary?" Conversation with God doesn't need a sieve.

Silence at SSJE

7/29/2024

It was silent and it was a retreat from my daily life. Three nights following the Daily Office with the brothers at the Society of Sain John the Evangelist, an Episcopal brotherhood in Cambridge, MA.
Here's what I learned, not from being told, but by observing the monks as the offered hospital to me and ten other guests.
LISTEN
Listen to others, talk less, don't give an opinion unless specifically asked for one. Hear God speaking through others, to you, to them, to God's kingdom

Silent retreat at SSJE

7/25/2024

I am about to visit my 104 year old friend Ruth and then head on into Cambridge for a silent retreat at the monastery of Society of St. John the Evangelist. For four days I will follow the daily office along with the brothers in the chapel, eat with them in silence, and have spiritual direction with one of them. I will sit in silence, praying and meditating in the chapel; I will walk along the Charles River. The only reading material I am taking with me is a small journal and my Bible. Jesus tells me only to take what I need.

Iona Hope

7/17/2024

Sometimes I have to make a big reach in choosing a photo to accompany the quotes or messages on my blogs. I consider not adding one at all, and leaving it only to words. But that feels to cerebral, defying the mood and message I want to convey. Today is definitely one of those days. And so I have chosen photos from my July 2022 visit to Iona, photos that I included in the little booklet I created about Hope.
When times are challenging, let us remember Emily Dickinson's message-

“Hope” is the thing with feathers -
That perches in the soul -
And sings the tune without the words -
And never stops - at all -

Self-control: Fruit of the Spirit #9

7/10/2024

As a Christian, self-control means following Jesus. Believing that I can't do this alone means giving up my own self-control so I can release God's self-control.

I did as promised, I had self-control, and commente on each fruit of the spirit as listed in Paul's letter to the Galatians.
… the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness,
generosity, faithfulness, patience, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things. Galatians 5:22-23.

Gentleness: Fruit of the Spirit #8

7/7/2024

#8 Gentleness. I am gentle except when I am not.
Enough said: BE GENTLE!

May my teaching drop like the rain, my speech condense like the dew, like gentle rain on grass, like showers on new growth.
Deuteronomy 32:2

After the earthquake, there was a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. After the fire, there was a quiet, gentle sound.
Kings 19:12

Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
Matthew 11:29

….gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things.
Galatians 5:23
Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near.
Philippians 4:5

Who is wise and knowledgeable among you? Show by your good life that your works are done with gentleness born of wisdom.
James 3:13

Fruit of the Spirit #7 Faithfulness

6/25/2024

#7 Faithfulness. Faithfulness is often associated with religion, but we can be faithful in other ways. We can be faithful to people--a spouse, family, friends.  We can be faithful to a job, a pet, a commitment for our wellbeing. I try to be faithful in going to bed at a usual time, to emailing a friend every week, to walking every day. I am very faithful in getting the coffee ready before I go to bed.
     Faithfulness can be trivial, but when it is profound, we know it and do our best to stay faithful. And that is when faithfulness slips over to that spiritual realm and we hear someone say, "I'm spiritual but not religious," or go even further, confessing that they are religious. And with that, the spiritual  becoming implicit.

That is the piece I posted today in cottagebythesea.net. As a Christian I try to be faithful in following Jesus. Being spiritual  and religious is all encompassing and consuming.

Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Romans 5:1-2
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. Hebrews 11:1

“Go,” said Jesus, “your faith has healed you.” Mark 10:52

Fruit of the Spiri #6: Generosity

6/21/2024

Abundance of green, of nature

#6 Generosity
Christians are called to be generous. We know that. Although scripture doesn't use the word often, the implication is there for us. Love suggests generosity. We reap what we sow, so if we want generosity for ourselves, we must be generous to others.
Generosity is positive, abundance for the good. I suppose I can be generous with vitriolic words or deeds, but that isn't the point here. I don't need to do that; you know what I'm getting at. Be generous in thought, word, and deed.

A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.
Proverbs 11:25

Good will come to those who are generous and lend freely, who conduct their affairs with justice.
Psalm 112:5

Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will never fail, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys.
Luke 12:33

Fruit of the Spirit #5: Kindness

6/19/2024

#5 Kindness

Kindness is not some lofty ideal to work toward; rather we can practice it throughout the day, not just with the big things but with the little things. We all know that we should be kind. We were taught that as kids, sometimes as a correction to some not-so-kind behavior. As adults, however, our kindness is more proactive, more positive, often acknowledging the kindness of others.
Scripture is replete with the word: kind as a verb, kindness as a noun. Take your pick. However we read it, we know the implication, BE Kind.

Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. Ephesians 4:32

Love is patient and kind.
1 Corinthians 13: 4

But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil.
Luke 6:35