What Did They Know: An Offering from Joan Curtis

Lil Smith
December 14, 2017
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We hope to approach Advent with a sense of reverence, but sometimes it seems we live in a cacophonous circle of noise. We leave our houses with televisions blaring, get in our cars with songs or podcasts talking, go into stores with background music invading our thoughts, and eat out at restaurants or sports bars in buildings built for no sound absorption. This noise can compete with our sense of reverence Are we missing the opportunity to hear God talking to us? Are the angels around us drowned out?

 

This advent season our thoughts and our prayers center around the people who lived the Christmas story—Mary, Joseph, Jesus, the shepherds, the wise men. What did they know? How did they feel? What prompted them to listen?

 

Ann Weems has long been one of my favorite writers as her poetry – language of the soul – speaks to me, asks me questions, leads me to God Who calms my fears. Her poem Mary, Nazareth Girl speaks to Mary and asks this same question.

 

Mary,

Nazareth girl:

God-chosen girl:         

Could it be that you had been ready

     waiting

             listening

                 for the footsteps

             of an angel?

 

On these days of Advent, let’s make our hearts ready.

Be still and know the waiting.

Be still and know the wonder.

Be still and listen.

(c) 2017 Joan Curtis

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Comfort, O Comfort My People: An Offering from Lil Smith

Lil Smith
December 8, 2017
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Reflecting on Isaiah 40:1-11

I wonder who will speak tenderly in the crowd when the tear gas is launched.

I wonder who will cry with the mother of the gunman when the penalty is paid.

I wonder whose voice cries out, “Prepare the way of the Lord”!

I wonder who will have the courage to create the first tracks in the desert.

I wonder what captive message will find freedom from within me to cry out.

I wonder how I will be able to make the journey to the high mountain to see God.

Come, Lord Jesus.

Come, Lord.

Come.

(c) 2017 Rev. Lil Smith

Spiritual Director and Supervisor

 

 

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An offering from Lil: Hope that we choose real life

Lil Smith
November 28, 2016
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 17 You will be hated by all because of my name. 18 But not a hair of your head will perish.  Luke 21: 17-18

(c) Bonnie Oden
(c) Bonnie Oden

I can’t remember a time when the coming of Advent has been so welcome.  Hope for a world in chaos.  Hope that God is creating something new in the midst of hatred, despair and judgment.  Hope that our pointing fingers at one another will be replaced with open arms to embrace a new peace that we have never known before.  Hope that those with ears to hear and eyes to see will not be deceived and will hear your voice and see your face in the stranger.  Hope that we choose real life.

O Holy One of hope, we pray that this time of waiting will prepare us for the new creation you have for the world.  We pray that we are wide awake to recognize you in the midst of the chaos around us.  In the name of the Coming One we pray.  AMEN

Rev. Lil Smith

SMI Seminary Liaison

Spiritual Director and Supervisor

(c) 2015 Rev. Lil Smith

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An offering from Jeanene: Let love be…

Lil Smith
July 27, 2015
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28 One of the scribes came near and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, he asked him, “Which commandment is the first of all?”29 Jesus answered, “The first is, ‘Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one; 30 you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ 31 The second is this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” – Mark 12:12-31

(c) Bonnie Oden
(c) Bonnie Oden

Fifteen years ago at the end of a retreat I was invited to write a note to myself.   My note said simply, “Let love be.”  I had no idea what it meant.  I recently reflected on the picture and Scripture shown above.   I wondered, how does a commandment of the law to love God, self and neighbor go from head to heart; from lofty ideal to humble flesh?  And then I remembered recently sitting face to face with my 11 month old granddaughter.  Delighted at her sweet, searching gaze, part of me was thinking, “Don’t you see what time, gravity, and being human has done to this face – – doesn’t it make you want to look away?”  Gratefully, in an instant I was lost in an eternal moment; defenses down; captured by surprising, irresistible innocent love.  And then I remembered that note to myself so long ago, “Let love be.” 

(c) Jeanene McIntyre

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An offering from Nancy Kate: Bearers of seeds

Lil Smith
July 13, 2015
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Pine cones, bearers of seeds, a hidden latent forest lying on the ground. Notice the seeds, notice the potential.

(c) Bonnie Oden
(c) Bonnie Oden

As a spiritual director I am always looking for what else is there than what is showing, more than what is said. What is the unseen God doing? What is the unseen love, grace, call that is inside the part we can see? From years of noticing seeds in students, to now noticing seeds in spiritual directees, I cannot see what is before me without wondering what more there might be. How did I learn to look at something or someone and see more than what shows? I honor those who have seen the seeds of goodness in me even when I feel protected by my outer shell. What is the invitation to accept what makes the seeds grow inside me?

(c) 2015 Nancy Kate Dunkerley

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An offering from Nancy J: Chosen by God to be created and loved

Lil Smith
July 10, 2015
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Long ago, even before he made the world, God chose us to be his very own, through what Christ would do for us; he decided then to make us holy in his eyes . . . we who stand before him covered with his love. (Eph 1: 4)

(c) Bonnie Oden
(c) Bonnie Oden

 

I notice the contrast between the pine cones and the trees . . . so many more cones than trees.  How were the cones chosen to become trees?  Was there something special about them?  Or did they just fall at just the right time, landing on the spot that would offer the perfect combination of light, shadow, water, soil, and room to grow?

 

Some cones thrive and grow, but even those that lie fallow and eventually decay are part of the beauty of the created landscape.  We all are special, but our real specialness comes from the fact that we were chosen by God to be created and loved.

(c) 2015 Nancy Jagmin

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An offering from Evelyn: He is risen, indeed!

Lil Smith
April 22, 2015
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Up from the grave He arose,

With a mighty triumph o’er His foes

He arose a Victor from the dark domain,Easter Lily

And He lives forever, with His saints to reign.

He arose! He arose!

Hallelujah! Christ arose!

Refrain from Christ Arose by Robert Lowry 1874

 

Christ’s resurrection victory means he conquered not only the foes of His day, but He also conquered my foes. Through the years my foes have changed. My personality has not changed so my attractions and my weaknesses have followed me through the passages and transitions of my life. Because Jesus arose from the tomb, I have been freed by God’s love and grace. He lives in me through the power of the Holy Spirit. I am not defeated by occasional loneliness and anxiety. I am able to face the unknown of aging with confidence and hope.

What foes has the Risen Christ conquered in your life?

He is risen, indeed!

© Evelyn Pope 2015

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An Offering from Bonnie: Finding the Gifts in Chronic Disease

Lil Smith
April 21, 2015
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2014-7Butterflies on Blue Daisies6

‘Trust in the Lord with all your heart,

and do not lean on your own understanding.’

 Proverbs 3:5

I was thinking today about the many blessings I have been given in my life and God blessed me with a new insight.  Many of my blessings have come to me through living with Multiple Sclerosis over the last 37 years. I may not be able to walk tomorrow.  I may not be able to see tomorrow.  Tomorrow, my brain my not function like it does today.  This is the reality I have lived with for 37 years.

I decided early on to live a life full of gratitude for what I have been given instead of living a life in fear of tomorrow; to live a life in the sun instead of the shadows.

The MS episodes have brought me and my wonderful husband closer together.  He has always been there to hold me when I needed extra strength and when I was scared.  This melded us together as a couple until we have truly become one, as God intended.  What a blessing.

Another wonderful blessing I have been given because of MS is photography.  I call it “seeing with the eyes of God.”  Most of my MS attacks have affected my ability to see.  For example, I might wake up one morning and not be able to see out of one of my eyes.  An attack may have lasted only a few months, but I wouldn’t know that until my vision returned.  Photography has been a contemplative prayer way for God and me to communicate.  What a blessing.

I am so glad I choose to live in the sun!

(c) Bonnie Oden 2015

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An offering from Eunice: This is the day the Lord has made!

Lil Smith
April 6, 2015
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This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad!  Psalm 118:24

The light coming from the empty tomb is for me a symbol of new life, the resurrected life, hope and joy. DSCN0771Today I want to forget problems, disappointment and worries – personal and national. I even want to put aside the ongoing “to do’ list and focus on joy. It is easy for me to see what is missing, what is undone instead of seeing my cup is more than half full. And yet as I reflect, I am aware that my real life experience is one that supports trust, positive outlooks and gratitude. Most of the negatives that I’ve seen as possible never happened. So this week I pray to keep my attention on the light of hope and joy.

(c) 2015 Eunice Cheshire

HeartPaths Faculty

Spiritual Director

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An offering from Lil: You shall be my people, and I will be your God

Lil Smith
April 4, 2015
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Holy Saturday Ezekiel 36:24-28

24 I will take you from the nations, and gather you from all the countries, and bring you into your own land. 25 I will sprinkle clean water upon you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses, and from all your idols I will cleanse you. 26 A new heart I will give you, and a new spirit I will put within you; and I will remove from your body the heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. 27 I will put my spirit within you, and make you follow my statutes and be careful to observe my ordinances. 28 Then you shall live in the land that I gave to your ancestors; and you shall be my people, and I will be your God.

I hear your promises, O Holy One.

But I do not see them.holy-saturday

The stillness of death brushes my cheek.

The smell of death encircles me.

The taste of death is bitter.

Help me let go those parts of me that need to die.

Prepare my eyes to see the hope of the one who returns the sweetness to the world.

Prepare my ears to hear the timpani of new life.

Prepare my broken heart to be flooded with joy as the stone falls away.

I can wait, one more day.

For the promise of You gives me strength.

 

(c) 2015 The Rev. Lil Smith

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