I am struggling with the decision regarding the contract I have received to write the book of meditations. The date required for submission of the manuscript is only 4 months away. 365 meditations in 4 months??? I know that I need to feel the material has meaning and that I would be proud for friends and family to read it. I also know that my formal writing process is slow-with lots and lots of rewrites.
On one level I realize that this contract is a gift. Thousands of people are wrestling with terrible, devastating decisions-how to pay their mortgage-how to feed their family-how to care for a loved one. It is mighty self-absorbed of me to even consider this a stress. However I am awake at nights wrestling with this decision. During those awake times I try to get out of my circular thinking and ask the Holy Spirit for guidance. God has given me this opportunity to put my thoughts out there-thoughts about living life abundantly, living this new life He has promised. He has given me two friends who have offered to help-one a retired editor-one a retired pastor. Am I listening to this answer?
What keeps you awake at night?
Do you listen for guidance from the Holy Spirit? Are you open to the guidance you hear?
Blessings-Penny
Friday, October 28, 2011
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
creativity
A recent visit to a neice I see very infrequently was just delightful. It was fun to see her two young boys. It was fun to see the home she has created. And it was wonderful to see her energy. She teaches American History at a large mid western university. As she talked about a course she has created, her face became alive. Her eyes smiled, her voice was animated and her description flowed. One could feel her energy.
We each have places in our lives we can be creative. We can be creative in our homes-cooking a new dish, rearranging a bedroom, painting a wall, playing a new game with our family; at work in simply being geneerous to a co-worker who annoys us; at play in trying a new sport or a new haircut!
In our spiritual lives we can take time for a new prayer-simply asking God to be with us in times of stress.
We are not trapped!
In what small places in your life can you be creative? Can you feel yourself smile both inwardly and outwardly? Can you feel new energy?
Blessings-Penny
We each have places in our lives we can be creative. We can be creative in our homes-cooking a new dish, rearranging a bedroom, painting a wall, playing a new game with our family; at work in simply being geneerous to a co-worker who annoys us; at play in trying a new sport or a new haircut!
In our spiritual lives we can take time for a new prayer-simply asking God to be with us in times of stress.
We are not trapped!
In what small places in your life can you be creative? Can you feel yourself smile both inwardly and outwardly? Can you feel new energy?
Blessings-Penny
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Good news and not so good news
I want to share with you that "my publisher" has accepted a proposal for me to write a book of meditations and reflections. On one hand I am delighted-on the other hand I am intimidated. The book will be a daily reflection on things that get in the way of our relationship with God---things that prevent us from living the abundant life God wishes for us. The reflections will focus on our anxieties, our attachments and our addictions.
I am intimidated by the need for 365 reflections by mid February. And even more I am intimidated by the awareness that I may not have 365 meaningful things to say!
However the whole reason for my book on women's recovery from addictions and this blog, is to say we can take chances, we can do things we didn't know we could, we can make changes. I'll keep you posted on how that's working out!!!
What risks do you want to take?
Blessings-Penny
I am intimidated by the need for 365 reflections by mid February. And even more I am intimidated by the awareness that I may not have 365 meaningful things to say!
However the whole reason for my book on women's recovery from addictions and this blog, is to say we can take chances, we can do things we didn't know we could, we can make changes. I'll keep you posted on how that's working out!!!
What risks do you want to take?
Blessings-Penny
Friday, October 7, 2011
sooth
Our newly adopted lab/golden retriever mix is certainly providing entertainment, energy and dog hair to our home! In looking for something to manage her shedding, I came across a spray-on product that promises "soothing relief for those itchy and irritating spots" on her skin or coat.
I was thinking,wouldn't it be wonderful if we could have a spray-on product for soothing relief of those irritating spots in our lives?
What spot in your life could use some soothing?
How might you provide some soothing? --a deep breath, a phone call to a friend, a whispered prayer?
Blessings-Penny
I was thinking,wouldn't it be wonderful if we could have a spray-on product for soothing relief of those irritating spots in our lives?
What spot in your life could use some soothing?
How might you provide some soothing? --a deep breath, a phone call to a friend, a whispered prayer?
Blessings-Penny
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
anxious and tense
Sometimes I become aware of a tension in my body that surprises me. While reading the paper I will notice my shoulders are tight or I'm clenching my jaw. My life is pretty calm. My kids are ok. Money is tight but not alarmingly so. Where does this tension come from?
I think an awareness of this tension is important on several levels. It is important to pay attention to the messages our bodies are telling us. It is important to think through what is going on not only in our external lives but internally. For me the tension has been there for so long in the way I lived my personal and professional life,it's a way of being for me. And it used to be a trigger, the excuse, for drinking. I knew what would relieve that tension---at least short term. An awareness of that tension and thinking it through remains a major part of my ongoing recovery.
And when the tenseness is there, I say Julian of Norwich's prayer-"All will be well, all will be well."
Can you and I really trust that "All will be well?" Do we have that faith?
Blessings-Penny
I think an awareness of this tension is important on several levels. It is important to pay attention to the messages our bodies are telling us. It is important to think through what is going on not only in our external lives but internally. For me the tension has been there for so long in the way I lived my personal and professional life,it's a way of being for me. And it used to be a trigger, the excuse, for drinking. I knew what would relieve that tension---at least short term. An awareness of that tension and thinking it through remains a major part of my ongoing recovery.
And when the tenseness is there, I say Julian of Norwich's prayer-"All will be well, all will be well."
Can you and I really trust that "All will be well?" Do we have that faith?
Blessings-Penny
Thursday, September 22, 2011
"Spirited Woman"
I am delighted to share with you that my book "Broken by Addiction, Blessed by God-a woman's path to sustained recovery" has been selected by the "Spirited Women" web site as one of their "Top 12 New Books for Fall 2011." As many of you know, writing a book and finding a publisher are monumental tasks in this day and age. Then there is the whole project of letting people know about the book---as in marketing! Being selected on the Spirited Women website reaches another audience. Hopefully the book will reach some additional women challenged by addiction and give them support and encouragement for their recovery.
The book "Sophia-The Feminine Face of God" written by Karen Speerstra is also featured on Spirited Women this Fall. Karen is a close friend, a prolific, creative writer, a woman who moves beyond her own challenges with energy and enthusiasm to live the life we are called to. Read about her book on the "spirited Women" website also.
I encourage you to visit the "Spirited Women" website and connect with women like yourself-women looking to give and receive support from other courageous women.
Blessings-Penny
The book "Sophia-The Feminine Face of God" written by Karen Speerstra is also featured on Spirited Women this Fall. Karen is a close friend, a prolific, creative writer, a woman who moves beyond her own challenges with energy and enthusiasm to live the life we are called to. Read about her book on the "spirited Women" website also.
I encourage you to visit the "Spirited Women" website and connect with women like yourself-women looking to give and receive support from other courageous women.
Blessings-Penny
Saturday, September 17, 2011
"The road is open"
After 3 weeks of the road to town being totally closed due to horrendous damage from Tropical Storm Irene, the words "the road is open" were shared from neighbor to neighbor with great delight. Smiles and laughter replaced concerns and fears.
Driving into town for the first time since the flooding we are all staggered by the extent of the damage. Whole hillsides are washed away. A once delightful mountain brook is the width of a river-bare on both sides. The total geography of the river road has changed. The work that has been done to create a new road is nothing short of miraculous.
And once again I think of the comparison of the devastation of the flood to the devastation of addiction. Truly for some of us whole parts of our lives are washed away by the consequences of addiction. For some of us the devastation isn't quite so horrendous but the pain of the broken relationships and poor choices remain.
The miracle for all of us is "the road is open." The road to a new life has been built by God's love, God's forgiveness, and the work of many people to build that new road for us.
Do we take the time to acknowledge the devastation and consequences of our addiction--especially when the desire for the drink or the drug returns? Do we use the memory of that pain to make the recovery choices?
Do we thank God and the people who have built the new road for us?
Blessings-Penny
Driving into town for the first time since the flooding we are all staggered by the extent of the damage. Whole hillsides are washed away. A once delightful mountain brook is the width of a river-bare on both sides. The total geography of the river road has changed. The work that has been done to create a new road is nothing short of miraculous.
And once again I think of the comparison of the devastation of the flood to the devastation of addiction. Truly for some of us whole parts of our lives are washed away by the consequences of addiction. For some of us the devastation isn't quite so horrendous but the pain of the broken relationships and poor choices remain.
The miracle for all of us is "the road is open." The road to a new life has been built by God's love, God's forgiveness, and the work of many people to build that new road for us.
Do we take the time to acknowledge the devastation and consequences of our addiction--especially when the desire for the drink or the drug returns? Do we use the memory of that pain to make the recovery choices?
Do we thank God and the people who have built the new road for us?
Blessings-Penny
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)