Mind-Body Connection (Station I)

I was mad.

No I was angry.

Actually, I was livid. I swore out loud in front of my daughter AND in public. I was overreacting. I was late for yoga class.

I had a great workout. I was able to go deeper in the poses, feeling things I hadn't felt before. But I did not leave class feeling peaceful like I usually do. While I was able to let go of the feelings of anger, I was not able to release it from my body.

And so I wonder - if it takes me hours to get rid of petty feelings of injustice that are mostly my own issues of not getting what I want at the second I want it -- how was Jesus able to stand, silent, wrongly accused and condemned -- and still travel on to die on a cross? Not for any wrong of his own, but for this hatred that would well up in me 2000 years later over a little comment at the store.

Wow.

He knew my heart would need some safe place to land -- to be emptied out so that I don't poison everyone in my little corner of the world. He did not spit out words in anger, but knew his place, his call. The work he came to do was almost finished and he could return to the Father who loved him.

And so can we.

In God's presence, I can release the negative and find true peace. I wish that peace for you this Lenten season.

Good Morning, God

As I drove back into my regular life on Monday morning, I found myself saying my now habitual good morning to God and my thanks for the small things in life - a good car, the shining sun, electric heat, etc.

This Monday I noticed something. I had not said these things out loud all weekend. I had asked for prayer cover, but I had not done the same for myself. My mind tried to go to the usual place of beating myself up over my lack of spirituality, but it was immediately blocked by the thought - it was all covered.

It was all covered.

As I look back, I know that my spirit was praying. And I know that I was awash in the prayers of my community. I was able to focus on my friends and family, tending them in the ways God knew they needed me to be there for them.

Because I live a shared life, perhaps it is not always ME who needs to be on my knees praying. Maybe sometimes my prayers look like making phone calls for an auto part when I was "supposed" to be boutique shopping with my friend. Maybe sometimes my prayers look like listening to a friend talk until midnight about the amazing ways God provides and the enemy tries to tempt.

I don't know if this is true, but it encourages my soul. It gives me encouragement to keep doing the hard work of building a true Christ centered community. I need people to carry me. I cannot cover all the bases on my own.

I need to know it is all covered.

Too Much Drama

Nothing in life seems to go off without a hitch.

This morning John discovered that the trailer and passenger load would overload the tow vehicle by almost a ton. 2000 extra pounds! And yet he calmly opened Internet Explorer and began searching for a car trailer that would be somewhere close to the current location of the car.

Perhaps I worried enough for the both of us. (That seems to be my role in this relationship.)

But I also prayed. I asked God for guidance and a way out of this sticky situation. And He provided.

When John let out a sigh of relief, I knew he had been a bit worried, too. But he didn't let that overwhelm his ability to tend to the situation. (That seems to be his role in this relationship.)

And I had to wonder: is this What Jesus Would Do? What He DID DO for us as he walked toward the Garden and toward Calvary?

I am such a Martha. I want to be busy worrying the details so that others won't even notice all the little things going on in the background. It's part of what makes me perfect for my job, but leaves me not a little stressed out in my daily life.

"Truly I tell you...." Jesus spoke plainly. He knew what was before him both in his circumstances and in the hearts of his friends. He knew all the drama that would unfold in his last days. And yet he calmly tends to the situation, setting right everything he can, speaking clearly about what was to come.

During this season, how do I slow my pace and my passions so as not to become overwhelmed by the drama of my life? How do I tend to the situations before me calmly and in-tend-tionally? How do I turn my gaze to the one who knows all that is before me?

Lord, help me to slow my pace so I may listen well to your tending!

Listening

Are you listening?

What have you been hearing during these first few days of lent? Is your body or spirit groaning for something that you have chosen to leave behind for this season?

I have been listening - with my ears, my heart, my spirit - to the crys of the children around me at my school. Many of them are so upset that she doesn't like her anymore or the whole class makes fun of them or he punched him on the playground. I listen to their longing to be loved, cared for and valued for who they truly are.

Isn't that what we all want?

What are you hearing about how God wants to love you, care for you and show you how valuable you are?

Are you listening?

Lent 2010

So, here we go! A place to come and "tend: the "in"ward places during Lent 2010. I hope this will be an interactive place to notice how God is moving among us during this season. Share your thoughts as we go by commenting on the posts.

Psalm 51 spoke powerfully to me from the Ash Wednesday "service." I'll re-post it here:

God,
show me your favor
in keeping with your faithful love.
Because your love is so tender and kind,
wipe out my sin.

Wash away all of the evil things I've done.
Make me pure from my sin.
I know the lawless acts I've committed.
I can't forget my sin.

You are the only one I've really sinned against.
I've done what is evil in your sight.
So you are right when you sentence me.
You are fair when you judge me.

I know that you want truth to be in my heart.
You teach me wisdom deep down inside me.
Make me pure by sprinkling me with hyssop plant.
Then I will be clean.
Wash me. Then I will be whiter than snow.

Let me hear you say, "Your sins are forgiven."
That will bring me joy and gladness.
Let the body you have broken be glad.

Take away all of my sins.
Wipe away all of the evil things I've done.
God, create a pure heart in me.
Give me a new spirit that is faithful to you.


Ashes to ashes, dust to dust. You are God's loved child.

May you feel God's hand firmly upon you, blessing you during this
Lenten Journey.