Where is June?

Wondering why I haven't posted lately?

By the grace of God, since April 10th I've been at Father Martin's Ashley, a rehab center for pain management and alcohol or drug addiction (I'm here for pain and alcohol). I'll be here until around May 8th.

This is an incredibly wonderful place that addresses your problems physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. And the right place for me.

I will tell some stories after I get out.

If You Ever Need Me, Let me Know

I have slightly altered a poem by Laurie Wyrner (my apologies to her), that speaks to me about Jesus’ eternal and unending desire to be there for us in times of trouble.

 

No one, not even me, said life would be easy.

It seems so unfair sometimes.

Yet life’s ups and downs

Make us better and stronger,

Even though we may not realize it at the moment.

 

Remember –

When you hurt, let the pain out.

When you’re sad, let the tears flow.

When you’re angry, release it. (You know I did.)

When frustration sets in, work it out.

 

Help yourself as much as you can.

You can be your own best friend.

 

But when you need to share,

In your confusion, let me know.

I want to know when to be there,

But I can’t always reach out to you

Unless you reach out to me.

 

Love is the greatest gift

We can give to one another.

And giving is one of the

Greatest joys life bestows upon us.

 

I’m here to give you what you need,

Whenever and for always.

Difficult Times in Life Can Help Us Grow

I found this poem on a website. I think it describes the times that we all face -- sometimes often, sometomes occasionally. But it spoke to me.

TRY TO REMEMBER THE GOOD THINGS

by Sherrie L. Householder

When times become difficult

(and you know they sometimes will),

remember a moment in your life

that was filled with joy and happiness.

Remember how it made you feel,

and you will have the strength you need

to get through and trial.

When life throws you one more obstacle
than you think you can handle,
remember something you achieved
through perseverance and by struggling to the end.
In doing so, you'll find you have the ability to overcome
each obstacle brought your way.

When you find yourself drained and depleted of energy,
remember to find a place of sanctuary and rest.
Take the necessary time in your own life
to dream your dreams and renew your energy,
so you'll be ready to face each new day.

When you feel tension building,
find something fun to do.
You'll find that the stress you feel will dissipate
and your thoughts will become clearer

When you're faced with so many negative
and draining situations, realize how minuscle problems will seem
when you view your life as a whole -- and remember the positive things.

With God's unlimited grace,
we can get past the bad times and find Him again.

There Are Always New Things to Do

“Dreadful will be the day when the world becomes contented, when one great universal satisfaction spreads itself over the world. Sad will be the day for every man when he becomes absolutely contented with the life that he is living, with the thoughts that he is thinking, with the deeds that he is doing, when there is not forever beating at the doors of his soul some great desire to do something larger which he knows that he was meant and made to do because he is a child of God.”

This was written by Phillips Brooks (1835 – 1893), an American clergyman and author who briefly served as Bishop of Massachusetts in the Episcopal Church during the early 1890s. In the Episcopal liturgical calendar he is remembered on January 23. He is known for being the lyricist of "O Little Town of Bethlehem".

During the recent meeting of the Diocese of Virginia representatives and clergy, this spoke to me as a retired person who could, all too easily, contentedly sink into a relaxing life of leisure, going to the gym, watching TV and having lunch with my friends. But that's not enough. There are still things that I want (and need) to do, whether they are a call from God or just for my own mental health. Is it the former or the latter? Or maybe are they the same? Regardless, there's still this inner need to continue to do things that take time and effort -- and sometimes are a stretch for my soul -- to help others in body or spirit.

Do you feel the same thing? Are you looking for fullfillment? Or have you already found it?

Let Your God Love You

Let Your God Love You

Be silent.
Be still.
Alone.
Empty before your God.
Say nothing.
Ask nothing.
Be silent.
Be still.
Let your God look upon you.
That is all.
God knows.
God understands.
God loves you
With an enormous love,
And only wants
To look upon you
With that love.
Quiet.
Still.
Be.
Let your God love you.

          -- Edwina Gateley

Edwina Gateley is a bestselling author and poet, a pioneering missioner and lay minister, well known to large numbers of Christians in the USA, Canada, Britain and Ireland. She has been featured on CBS's "60 Minutes" and on "48 Hours," and is in high demand as a speaker and retreat giver. Her bestselling books include Soul Sisters, Christ in the Margins, I Hear a Seed Growing, and In God's Womb. She lives in Erie, PA.