Being Rich Waterfall

One practice I am doing during my 2020 Year of Courage and Overcoming, is studying a word a week. (See my post titled  Gifts .) Words carry so much power and purpose within them. I've found that by studying them, I either engage in a new understanding, find a deeper appreciation, or am empowered in a new way. I could write a list of the words I've studied so far this year, and to you they may just look like random words without much connection. But for me, each week, my word of the week leads me to the next one; and after a week of seeking that word, reading it and learning from it, it grows in depth of meaning. A few weeks ago, I chose to study mountain . If you're wondering where or how do I study these words, it's primarily in the Word of God. But as is His nature, God wants to reveal Himself to us through everything in the world and in our lives, and so I often find my words pop up in articles I read, songs I hear, or in conversation with others throughout that week...

In my approaching 12 years as a follower of God and believer in Jesus, the Jewish Messiah, I have battled with religion. I've hated it, yet conformed to it. It was my identity, my practice, my community.  I studied it, adored it, compared one to another, and wrestled with what it meant for me personally. A few weeks ago I heard a well-respected pastor in LA, Jennifer Toledo, say that "Christianity is a practice, not a religion." How relieving! Another quote from a spiritual leader said, "All religions are the same; they teach us right from wrong." So then, if they're all the same, what stirs up so much tension amongst them? How can we really "do right" if there are so many contradictions and separations among these differentiating beliefs? And even within the dome of "Christianity", there are many different practices and divisions. Because of this, "Religion" has become a very ugly word in my experience. With that being said, wh...

One thing I learned in college was that in order to be a good writer, you have to be a good reader. To be honest, I don't think I am a good reader! I enjoy reading, but am by no means an avid reader. I love libraries; I think they are treasures of knowledge, history and wisdom, but I don't spend hours in them reading or even perusing the shelves. I believe there is an art form to storytelling, to book printing and binding, illustration, prose and poetry, but I have yet to master it. Even still, since childhood, I've wanted to "be" a writer.  What I'm learning that means is: I write, because it's what I do. It doesn't mean my identity is "writer" "author" or "wordsmith". I simply write. Almost daily, I write. I write even if no one reads it. I, myself, may not even reread my own writing! For years I've kept journals upon journals of written messages, imaginings, quotes that inspire me, quotes from the Bible, prayers and...

At the beginning of each year, for the past six years, I have followed a local life coach's 'New Year Questions' guide. I've answered these questions now as tradition and find them to be something that I do remember, consider, and reconsider throughout the year. These questions serve as a tool to help me reflect and dream, to stay intentional, and to prayerfully consider themes for my life each year. ( You can read a brief summary about my past two years' themes in a recent post.) At the start of 2020, I answered 20 questions. One of them led me to claim this year as "A Year of Courage". Seeing as its the eighth month, the nations are in (what I would call) turmoil, there is a global pandemic, and life as we thought it would be has definitely and drastically averted from plan, I can't help but wonder what the courage is all about. Was it courageous to step out of my ballroom dance career when I was already furloughed from it? Was it courageous to start...

How is it with your soul?  In my newly renovated instruction of what I call "mindful movement"- sessions that combine mindfulness, meditation, yoga postures, and pilates/dance strengthening exercises, I begin by asking the participants that question. I started last week, Monday morning, with a Spiritual Direction session; then, had a wonderful follow up by  attending my Spiritual Director   Whitney 's  "Soul Care At Home Workshop". After reflecting on my personal time of wonder and encountering a community full of people who all desire the same deep care for their souls ,  I felt a strong affirmation in my calling to pursue the contemplative lifestyle- along with whatever that means in pursuing purposeful work in this world. Affirmation-   1. the action or process of affirming something or being affirmed. - assertion, declaration, statement, proclamation, pronouncement, confirmation, endorsement   2. emotional support or encouragement Don't we all...

Today I welcome myself back to a practice of writing. As an aspiring writer since age 8, an avid journal-keeper and lover of words and poetry, I come back to this public writing platform with a tinge of doubts. Will anyone read or be interested in my words? Can I consistently keep up a blog? (This is my second or third one.) What will I write about? Yet, in an unprecedented time, with time on my side, I consider and think why not ?   In April of 2018, I started a draft post titled  A Time To Slow Down.  I wrote, "This has truly been an adventure: Pauper to Princess. Minimalist to Business Professional. Air-dried hair and a natural face to make up, curling irons and hair product, of all things! Nomadic to settled, to balancing the shift of settled-nomadic, once again. Of course I trust the Author of this story of my life." When all I wanted for two years was to slow down and enjoy life, God took me on the fastest-paced, roller coaster experience of a growing and successful...

As 2017 ends and 2018 begins, I spend some time in reflection, as has been my pattern to do, in order to envision what might be coming for me in 2018. It's only the third day of the new year, and I'm already overwhelmed at the goodness and grace I've encountered, with ever more expectation and hope and excitement to come! 2017 was a BIG year of breakthrough for me, and one of my main learning points from the year was that intentionality produces fruitfulness. I purposed 2017 as my Year of Soul Care, and each month, focused on a theme or intention. I worked hard pursuing holistic health and wellness, and today I declare that I am more alive, thriving and flourishing in holistic health than ever before. My monthly words may just seem like words to you, but when I list them out, I see in each one deep revelation, a road map from my journey of transformation from darkness to light: Remember Flow Roots Abundance Joy Strength Trust Power Hope New Life Celebrate Peace ...