Being Rich Waterfall

About a painting at Silent + Yoga Retreat: Nashville, TN - Waiting with God What was in that painting? that painting that caught not my eye nor my attention yesterday but today-- today after sitting in silence           after practicing stillness           and mindfulness, today as we close a time of being alone together and look together at this painting, in community together-- that painting has caught my eye and my attention. I notice longing, yes, a longing of wonder and leftover worry. I look at the faces and postures of embrace, of holding after a long, long wait. And I can see, in the background, in her face, in his burrowed posture, in her hand upon the back of his shoulder, in her shoulder cradling his hidden expression, I imagine this climactic expiration, a deep sigh: " You made it here." an exhale and the waiting ended, a true relief. Truly together, forever, the waiting relief. Inhal...

My friend picked me up from the airport Sunday morning and we drove into the city of LA with a view and perspective I had yet to have after living here a little over two years. The beauty of the mountains and sunshine and palm trees after spending a week of gloomy skies in the midwest was such a deep contrast that it reached all the way to my soul. I spent a week visiting family, hometown, and memories; it was truly one of those "fastest week ever" weeks spent in life, ending with a silent retreat in Nashville with my spiritual director. At some point during my 10 days away, I realized that the last 5 would be spent each night in a different bed, in 4 different cities, totaling 6 nights in different beds in 5 cities in less than 2 weeks. What a summary! It reminds me of the words of the Son of Man: "Foxes have dens, and birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head." I'm full of gratitude and awe at God's faithful provision a...

13 th I find vast volts of hope in knowing there is limitless Sunshine above the clouds, beyond the grey gloom of rain-soaked clouds, and there lay the rafters of the Eternal One’s home. 16 th There’s no such feeling as a heart relieved no other thing that can relate its weightless state of being that seems to bleed peace through all the tangled silence. “How beautiful are the feet of the messenger who brings good news.” Outside of Childhood A journey begun is the greatest one a journeyer could hope for as she takes a peek behind the things that made up dreams for the future. It seems all was placed in childhood’s embrace when life was free and forming. The journey is life and the danger comes only when we stay still, grow up, stop moving. Keep moving on, journey-girl, keep racing on, whatever the thrill, when simple joys replace outlandish t...

Simply I come to blank page, with pen, I continue with steadfast perseverance, never knowing what will be written in the end.

Turn,      and face the sun,              face the light. Let it shine on you. Let it shine through you.     Shift into the senses, feel your heart, feel your life. Let it speak to you; Let it speak for you.     Find your altar,     the place of Truth. Let it come to you, Let it be in you.     Set your mind on One Above: see the sun in your heart, see the light in your heart, Let it change you. Let it stay.

In 2010, beginning my junior year in college, I took one of those general education "required" courses that ended up changing my life. I don't even remember the class name, but its content was women's studies, specifically in third-world or impoverished countries, and its focus was on human and sex trafficking. At 21 years old, I had never heard about trafficking and was appalled and the reality that was uncovered. Not only did I learn that human sex trafficking existed, but that my city- my hometown, Toledo, Ohio- was ranked as the #4 city per capita in the US for the sex trafficking industry. The University of Toledo held an annual conference to educate and mobilize people about anti-trafficking efforts. As a part of my course, I was invited to attend. I remember meeting speakers of different non-profit organizations, hearing testimonies from rescued victims, and learning from scholars' research about this multi-billion dollar industry...  a   multi-billion dol...

Relax. Have fun. Enjoy. Be at rest. The Servant’s work is complete. The reward is and is to come. There’s room to expand belief. The work of “unceasing” prayer is ongoing, The great feast and celebration is unfolding, For if the work is prayer, Then the feast is life; If work is ever-constant Then celebration is required. A worker must be paid. The supply to support the feast is as limitless As where joy and peace abound, And Love is full and able to go around And reach and know and feel every heart Whose work has yet to begin. Every time we complete a task The workload is multiplied, and the sweet life becomes sweeter.