Jane Kirkpatrick - Telling Our Stories

We were very fortunate to have Jane Kirkpatrick as a featured speaker for our October church women's guild. Jane is a Christian author of over twenty novels. Her stories are often based on the events and experiences of real people from the past. She particularly writes of strong women who showed tremendous faith, hope, and courage as they faced life's challenges. Her talk for this day was about the power of stories to heal and transform lives. Jane has a background in social work, and for 15 years she worked with families on the Warm Springs Indian Reservation. Jane told us about a medicine man who asked three questions when a person came to him for healing. These questions helped him to determine the seriousness of their illness: 1) When was the last time you sang? 2) When was the last time you danced? 3) When was the last time you told your story? Jane went on to say that research verifies that telling our stories has a healing effect that can actually increase T cells in our bodies. In a recent Harvard study, asthmatic and arthritic patients were divided into two groups. One group was asked to write in a journal 20 minutes a day for three days a week. The other group was asked to spend 20 minutes a day (3 times a week) writing their to-do lists. The former group showed a significant reduction in their need for medication and the number of asthmatic attacks! As I was reading from Jane's devotional Promises of Hope for Difficult Times, she suggests that "Better than all those lists would be to pause and be taught, to note how I'm feeling this day, to tell my story and witness to how God is intersecting in my life, pulling me closer, opening my heart on days of drain. A short note will do. Lists of thing for which I'm grateful. Struggles I write down and then give to God. No need to show it to anyone else." When Jane is working on a novel she tries to keep three particular goals in mind: 1) to provide the reader with information 2) to connect with the reader 3) to provide support and encouragement for the reader. Jane's stories are engaging and uplifting. My particular favorites include A Sweetness to the Soul,The Kinship and Courage Series (All Together in One Place, No Eye Can See, and What Once We Loved), as well as Where Lilacs Still Bloom. For those who would like to learn more about Jane, please check out her website at http://www.jkbooks.com/ and sign up for her newsletter "Story Sparks". While looking at Jane's website I noticed a short essay called "Life is messy". Here it is: "Like a weaver, I look to the landscape, relationships, spirituality and work to find the threads. Historical research, interviews with descendants along with my mental health background and imagination are the loom upon which I untangle the stories of my main characters - women of history. Although they may not always have a 'met my prince' ending, my stories are always hopeful. It is my goal that the stories I weave help my readers to find peace and love and grace within. I hope that my stories inspire you to look with new eyes at your life - no matter how messy it might be."

Don't hide your light (gifts) under a bushel!

One of the readings in yesterday’s church service was from Mark 10:35-45. In this passage James and John came to Jesus to ask:

"Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.” And he said to them, What is it you want me to do for you?” And they said to him, “Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory."

When the other disciples heard about this they were understandably angry, so Jesus called all of the disciples together and reminded them:

"You know that among the Gentiles those whom they recognize as their rulers lord it over them, and their great ones are tyrants over them. But it is not so among you; but whoever wishes to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you must be slave for all. For the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

The pastor’s take on this passage was very interesting. He reminded us that the disciples of Jesus were from vastly different backgrounds and temperaments - not a homogenous team. The disciples had very different gifts and would be called on to share those gifts for the good of all. Father Ted reminded us that mankind has a problem which is the need to “be in charge"; to "do it on our own"; and to make demands even when we don’t understand the larger picture. Instead, Father Ted encouraged us to seek wisdom and understanding, saying that a model of shared leadership is one that values diversity, cooperation and wisdom and builds on the gifts of many. He closed his sermon by reminding us:

"We are all servants - in need of grace as well as holders of grace!"

The Examen

I came across a good book The Jesuit Guide to (Almost) Everything - a Spirituality for Real Life by James Martin, S.J. In this book the author describes a type of prayer (or spiritual exercise) called the examen. It is based on five steps: "1. Gratitude: Recall anything from the day for which you are especially grateful, and give thanks. 2. Review: Recall the events of the day, from start to finish, noticing where you felt God's presence, and where you accepted or turned away from any invitations to grow in love. 3. Sorrow: Recall any actions for which you are sorry. 4. Forgiveness: Ask for God's forgiveness. Decide whether you want to reconcile with anyone you have hurt. 5. Grace: Ask God for the grace you need for the next day and an ability to see God's presence more clearly." I have found this type of prayer to be very healing and as the author says, "finding God in your examen makes you more likely to look for him during the day."

I came across this quote today from Elizabeth Barrett Browning and I thought I'd share! "Earth is crammed with heaven. Every common bush afire with God. Only he who sees it takes off his shoes."

Hi - if you are just signing up for the blog as an author/contributor and have opened your google account be sure to go to your google account profile and put in a picture and nickname - so that you show up under the authors in the side bar. Otherwise it just says "unknown". If you need help - just email me at jabeaver@mac.com and I will talk you through the process.

One Body - Let's re-energize

Hi everybody, I know this blog has been dormant for over a year - but I'd like to try again to get this going. Last time, I thought we needed to have a book in common, but I don't think that it is necessary. Let's just share whatever we are reading, experiencing, or contemplating that relates to our personal walk with God. I miss all of you from Hawaii and our Sunday morning discussions. Thankfully I have made many new friends through our church group and community here in Sisters. You ALL are a diverse spirit-filled mix of friends and family, and I would like to capitalize on that synergy. If there are others you would like to include, please let me know their email, and I will be very happy to invite them. I am hoping that you have an interest in responding and "posting" as well as commenting on the blog. "We are all "One Body" and EACH of us is God's gift to the others! I'd love to soak up as much of God's grace as I can get! Love to you all - Judy

Love --- essential to exsistence....unless one loves..poof!!

Dallas Willard states loving relationships are essential; reaching out & enfolding others in love is imperative & this is symbolized by the Trinity.....loving oneself, loving another PLUS reaching out to others.....