Tag: Love
-
Unbusy
I decided to give up busyness for Lent. Fasting or refraining at Lent is traditionally about food, but it can be applied to just about any habitual behavior that creates distance between you and God. While Lent is a time of penitence, it is not meant to be about punishment. If we are disciples, we are not “giving…
-
Welcomed in
I remember the day I walked into my church for the first time. I had been feeling the pull to seek a church, even though I had only attended worship a handful of times in my life. At the time, I lived within walking distance of at least five churches, so I had my pick. I…
-
Lighting the darkness
This is the first week of Advent, a time of spiritual darkness as we await the coming of the One who will set our hearts alight from within with his love. This is a hard time of year for many. Old grief resurfaces, broken relationships break us open, and the increasing darkness as we move…
-
Asking for help is not weakness
I’m in the middle of a 21 Day Self-Healing practice that Reiki practitioners may be asked to complete as part of their training. I require this practice of my Reiki students, and I will periodically “re-commit” myself as well. Although I have a daily practice, it’s good to do an occasional intensive to dust away the cobwebs. I…
-
Left hanging
I am reflecting today on the message of Good Friday and how it offers us the opportunity to examine the experience of human suffering as a spiritual wake-up call – to be more compassionate, empathetic and present for others. I have been thinking of all the ways that like Jesus, we are left to suffer – and how often…
-
Give someone a meal (Advent Day 18)
Did you know that over 36 million people – including 13 million children – experience hunger or the risk of hunger in the United States? That means that more than one in ten households in your community are having difficulty putting food on their table or in their bellies each day. Some of those people…
-
Give your light to others (Advent Day 17)
So many times in life, we walk in darkness. Advent is the promise that our time in darkness will end, and the light of the world will shines upon us again. We light the candles of hope, love, peace and joy each Sunday during Advent to remind ourselves that life-affirming light is always within reach,…
-
Give a nice greeting (Advent Day 13)
During the holidays, I notice that strangers are more likely to start up conversations while waiting on line, or wishing each other well in passing. The personal boundaries we usually keep up the rest of the year falls during the holidays, when people are feeling more excited, open and generous. The other day, I was…
-
Give blessings (Advent Day 9)
Yesterday, we lit the Advent candle of peace. It was a moment to reflect on our Prince of Peace, Jesus, who taught us to open our divided hearts toward a life of reconciliation. I realized late in the day that it was also the anniversary of the murder of John Lennon, another strong advocate for…
-
Give hugs (Advent Day 8)
Words may fail, but a true hug never does. We are a culture disconnected from healthy, loving, healing touch – everything that a heartfelt hug offers. One of the books my daughter loved for me to read to her was a book called Hug, by Jez Alborough. The main character, a chimp named Bobo, searches…
dana-young.com 