The Rhythms of His Heart

  It's been a year!  A year of mental, physical and emotional gymnastics.  A year of learning to be flexible. A year of acknowledging trauma, grief and disappointment. It's been a year of welcoming loneliness and aloneness as friends in an apartment all my own.  It's been a year of doubt where I've wondered has it all been worth it? A year of missing hugs and singing with people. A year of goodbyes and so longs.  A year of initiating conversations where my voice and tear ducts quiver. A year of learning how to be at home with myself---of being at home in God.  A year of learning to laugh at myself and to stop being so serious.  A year of "flipping tables" inwardly as I learned Zoom screens and to unmute my microphone as time and time again being with people was deemed unsafe or restricted.  It's been exhausting. It's been beautiful discovering all the things around my city and walking/praying as I walk or wheel on these sidewalks. It's been a year

 In my kitchen cupboard there are a variety of cups. It's probably not much different than your collection.  There are tumblers, wine glasses,  coffee mugs and two pieces of real china--one from my grandmother and another tea cup and saucer from a woman who has been a good friend over the years.  In the morning I need a big mug to sip my coffee! Sabbath and celebration days are for the wine & china containers :) and then some days I just reach for whatever is clean and available.  This may drive some of you crazy, but in this house coffee mugs have been used to hold soup, juice, ice cream and sometimes just  plain ol'  water!   What's my point?  I've been talking to God about a myriad of things that cause me to wrestle & pray---and at times enter into conversation that is not always comfortable for me.  One of those things is the role of women and their leadership in a spiritual context.I realize not everyone has the same context and background as me and I respe

Stearns Wedding 09/16    Shaw Wedding  02/19 Drabiuk Wedding 06/09 Durette Wedding 09/09 Waite Wedding 07/12 It's wedding season...oh but wait?!  Is it though?  Ok, it IS 2021 and there can be weddings in any place-- any season, rain or shine, huh? Since Covid we've even lived through a time where we can attend virtual weddings!  I even know by attending a wedding earlier this spring that drive thru weddings can be a lovely thing! They may not be the  best that we would have  hoped for, but I  still did see a good, exciting thing and left with some pretty great chocolates and a candle in the end! 😏 I've been a part of  several weddings over the years! It has been my joy to honor these couples either by walking the aisle or singing my heart out on a  love song or two!  I  have breathed in a whole lot of grace and times of sitting with God over my own and other's expectations of  MY  relationship status!  These times have even included a review, repenting and rebuilding

  I am always taking time to notice trees.  I  have paid attention to them in each season. It helps now too that I  live in a  beautiful city that seems to have streets that are shaded by them.  Also,  I am drawn to look out and consider them when I am in silent prayer.  This week it seems trees are coming to the forefront again!  I gave Sunday's homily on the Gospel Parable  where the  mustard seed becomes a tree where birds nest in it to find shade.  I was also drawn to look at a tree because my parents are moving from a home they have lived in for several years!  My youngest brother sent us all the above video of the big, lush tree that will no longer be the one that we or the grandkids linger at for family photos.  (Sorry, not sorry for the Stearns' sentimental sap!) 😉   So yes, it seems  the trees are shimmering for me  these days!  Even this morning my Scripture reading drew me to Revelation 22 when there will be restoration back to Eden and the tree of life will have l

The Ascension Acts 1:   And after He had said these things, He was lifted up while they were watching, and a cloud took Him up, out of their sight.   And as they were gazing intently into the sky while He was going, then behold, two men in white clothing stood beside them,     and they said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven.” "...why do you stand looking into the sky? " This question hit me when I read it---it hit me real hard!  Like a "Ahha!" moment!  I have been stirred to consider and ask questions about what to focus on!  How should I focus my time and energy in my own vocation---in my community---and in the world?  My love for one-on-one intimate times of solitude and prayer feel like home and a sure place for me!  Still if it was just about MY own relationship with God without any movement outward then I think the ques

Today I am wearing my Josh Garrels Shirt!  I also celebrated 9 years recently of  living in Manitoba and I really don't like typing!   All of these things--- though not really connected made me want to post my monthly blog to you today by video.  So here I am on the  small screen --- talking and  singing (give grace for my media and sound equipment) 😉 Let's just pretend we're having tea and please sing with me! :) Thanks for leaning in to the rhythms of His heart with me!  You, too,  have been faithful blog followers:        

 It has been part of my daily activities now that the weather is warmer to take a walk around my block.  Most of the time I use my crutches--the odd time I will wheel in my mobility scooter,but the first thing I do is take a deep breath of fresh air in unmasked abandon (providing there are not people close to me)!     A few weeks ago it was around supper time and I was walking---savoring---breathing!  As I breathed in,  I smelled the smells of the world coming from the many beautiful local multicultural restaurants that make home in my end of the city.  In one sniff you can be carried to a far away land by the scent of curry, cardamom and cinnamon.  You can smell food from India,  Africa, Thailand, and China! If you walk far enough all of that could be mixed with the smell of bannock,  bread , fried chicken & coffee just to balance it all out and make us not forget that that though are noses may have transported us to another place---we still are very much in Canada :) I also could

 I was reminded the other day how quickly we can see someone passing by and imagine who they are and what their story is without even knowing them.  My favorite place to do this is at an airport during a layover or in a coffee shop as I watch people go in and out.  I am not a fan of being creepy in this and I know that this can quickly turn in to making harsh judgments and assumptions. This is also something I am not a fan of when I see it in me!  These days however I am not going on airplanes and the pandemic doesn't even allow for coffee shop lingering! The only off screen  "social interaction " I have had in the last weeks was with an internet repair technician, quick delivery drop offs, a drive thru wedding, a prospective job meeting and a Sunday afternoon First Aide Course...and as you can see from the picture--- the latter was not what you could call "lively  meaningful conversation!" :) 😃  The highlight of my days has been sitting in my apartment at a re

  Sometimes when life gets a little nuts!  I have to go back to the places where I heard very clearly from God.  The ocean is one of those places for me and the other day as I was in prayer the song came back to me too.  I feel so loved whenever I sing or am reminded of this song and it's similar to the feeling that I get when I am at the real ocean.  So sing it with me through the ups and downs of life...sing it with me as we hit one year in a global pandemic...because these are places where our feet may fail, but God never will... You call me out upon the waters The great unknown where feet may fail And there I find You in the mystery In oceans deep My faith will stand And I will call upon Your name And keep my eyes above the waves When oceans rise My soul will rest in Your embrace For I am Yours and You are mine Your grace abounds in deepest waters Your sovereign hand Will be my guide Where feet may fail and fear surrounds me You've never failed and You won't start now S

  I wish I wouldn't  be so sensitive to it, but I am. I am an adult and still so very aware that I try dang hard to “even the playing field,"  cut the competition and make sure that no one is more special over the rest.  I’ve reflected/ prayed the se weeks about where this comes from and my mind takes me back to life growing up. I have 5 siblings and one thing that I am working and being healed through is the pain I've felt  because I was their ‘special needs’ sister. I took a lot of time from them--while other siblings ran and wrestled together , mine did homework in physiotherapist waiting rooms. While other siblings played together,  shared chores and responsibilities mine were left to carry walkers up staircases and make sure my leg braces were on me.  For the most part they handled things well and were and are a good support team, but even now I can sometimes work so hard to make sure that I don’t get all the attention on a video call...or make them feel like I do!  A

 I could sound very academic and spout off terms to you like "Theology, Christology and Pneumatology.” I love to explore, discover and learn about all of these things and a decade ago when I sat in classrooms and wrote exams on these big words I felt smart, successful and like I had this Christian thing all settled.  Even though I grew up in church and went to a college that believed these things on paper, I barely remember sermons, lectures or in depth questions and discussions around our  personal relationship and experience to the Father, the Son, and Holy Spirit.  It is not my intention in this blog post to to describe the Holy Three in detail. I mean Church Fathers and Mothers have discussed, written and argued about it all for years...and now I think a healthy faith leaves room for God to mystify us and be indescribable in the very best way.  However, what I do believe as a Christian is that our GOD is ONE that expresses in Three distinct Persons...the Father, the Son and Ho