Light Coming Through Leaves

Look out!
Look up!
Light is coming through the leaves!

Thank you, God, that I know I am beloved by:
*church on the radio
*remembering an old friend's birthday
*a red-headed woodpecker on the lawn
*walking through the woods
*good and faithful pets
*the smell of lemons
*words of integrity
*a day of rest
*praying for Victor
*turning the page in the love book

With gratitude,
Sally

Be My Bridge

One day
as I was sitting
on a bench
by a stream
at Green Bough
drawing the plank bridge
I had just walked across
I heard God say
"Be My bridge."

Thank you, God, that I know I am beloved by:
*early morning sounds of birds singing
*Victor being interested in what I love
*slow Saturdays
*laughing and crying with Margaret as she reads to us from her book
*circling this place of prayer with prayer
*alleluia chimes
*a promising letter for Joseph
*listening
*releasing clutter
*beautiful Margaret wearing my pearls

With gratitude,
Sally

Solitude

"Once we have had a sufficiently intense dose of solitude,
from then on we know by personal experience
the necessity and the value of solitude.
After we have been sought out
initially by solitude,
we are then drawn spontaneously
to seek it out.
Gradually,
the need for solitude
parallels that
of eating and sleeping."
(from The Way of Spiritual Direction)

Thank you, God, that I know I am beloved by:
*Friday morning prayer and "the grace of new beginnings"
*circling this place with prayer
*birds bathing
*four tiny baby birds where there were just four little eggs
*a great spot for the pair of cool circular side tables
*Little Darlin' walking with me
*driving JV on another Friday morning
*a day to do what needs to be done
*a cushion and a footstool and a window to the backyard
*remembering Mama

With gratitude,
Sally

After the Storm

On the third of July at Tybee
a storm came up during supper.
Darkness suddenly fell
except for flashes of lightning.
Thunder rumbled close by.
The dogs were shaking
and searching for shelter.

But the storm passed.
And as I walked out on the upstairs porch
to sit on the swing
I spotted a section of a rainbow
slipping through the clouds
as a ship headed out to sea.

Thank you, God, that I know I am beloved by:
*everyday signs and wonders
*books delivered to my door right on time
*the promise of small groups
*Joseph grilling hamburgers on Amber's birthday
*going to get the stump with Vic
*hearing good words about Ben
*and then about Margaret
*making progress, even slow progress
*almost all the Grace Girls are coming
*Sister mentioned fondly

With gratitude,
Sally

Happy July Hibiscus

Doesn't this hibiscus blossom sing
"Happy July!"?

Thank you, God, that I know I am beloved by:
*beautiful butterflies wrapping a wonderful birthday gift
*"my sweetest friend"
*filling bird feeders
*fertilizing plants
*finding four tiny eggs in a nest in a fern
*seeing a mama bird (or a daddy bird?) feed two of her/his young birds
*an invitation to pray
*replying that things are better
*Ben going for an interview
*having a large window near my secretary

With gratitude,
Sally

Ride Toward The Rainbow, Beloved

Early Saturday morning,
I realized
I was riding toward a rainbow.

Really,
signs of hope,
promises of Presence,
are always before me.

Help me Holy Spirit
to see the signs,
to notice You.

Thank You, God, that I know I am beloved by:
*a song on the radio just when I felt sad and insecure
*a friend's beautiful benediction
*a cool breeze blowing on the upstairs porch
*sweet sound of my hummingbird chimes
*sitting between two of my boys Sunday morning
*watching a softball game at Chik-fil-A family fun day
*cheering for darling twin boys making home runs
*lemonade and sweet tea
*a powerful, pentecostal birthday
*being the 60th associate - somehow, so appropriate

With gratitude,
Sally

Beloved Green Bough

Today is my birthday
and I am going to Green Bough.

What could be better?

Thank You, God, that I know I am beloved by:
*unexpected blossoms
*hearing my dear friend Jane's voice on the phone
*sharing stories, happy and sad
*a birthday letter from my wonderful brother
*messages from sweet sisters
*"Glory, glory, glory
for the grace of new beginnings in every moment of life."
(from Celtic Benediction by J. Philip Newell)
*hearing birdsongs as the sky lightens
*inspiration to put things in order
*no more fleas
*hearing the warmth in the voices of Fay and Steve

With gratitude,
Sally

Surprise, Beloved

Surprise!
Red and pink blossoms
on the same geranium plant.
How pretty.

Thank You, God, that I know I am beloved by:
*a day full of good news calls for Victor
*all my children working
*a sister who keeps calling
*a funny, sweet birthday card from a dear friend
*an invitation to a bridal shower
*little girls all grown up
*listening to life stories
*soup from the freezer
*"just checking" message on voice mail
*new tires for Bertha

With gratitude,
Sally

Relax, Beloved

A friend has been
praying this passage
for me and my children:
"I will pour my spirit upon your descendants,
and my blessing on your offspring.
They shall spring up like a green tamarisk,
like willows by flowing streams.
This one will say, "I am the Lord's"
another will be called by the name of Jacob,
yet another will write on the hand, "The Lord's,"
and adopt the name of Israel."
(Isaiah 44:3b-5)

And so,
like our sweet cat,
I will relax.

Thank You, God, that I know I am beloved by:
*friends who pray Truth
*being a part of the great river of prayer
*a good meeting
*Ben going to work
*a sister who sends love
*riding with the radio and laughing out loud
*the sounds of a violin lesson in the parlor
*a title and an outline
*beautiful pictures of a simple sacred place
*a renewed vision

With gratitude,
Sally

Beloved Ben

Today is Ben's 16th birthday!
He is a wonderful young man!
My youngest and my tallest-
with such a big heart!

Happy Birthday, Benjamin!
Love always,
Mom

Thank You, God, that I know I am beloved by:
*sixteen amazing years with Ben
*walking and praying around the place of prayer
*all the little things (and big) that Victor does for us
*planning birthday celebrations
*a restored bird feeder
*a newly inviting place to eat outside
*Journey accompanying me as I walk and pray
*the sound of daily prayers prayed by our teacher
*a growing writers group
*setting summer goals

With gratitude,
Sally

Look Closely, Breathe Deeply, Beloved

Gardenia blossom greets.
Bend down.
Look closely.
I am beauty.
Come even closer.
Breathe deeply.
I am lovely fragrance.
Return my greeting, beloved.

Thank You, God, that I know I am beloved by:
*friends who spur me on
*friends who keep me company in the uncomfortable
*the spiral slowing
*Your marvelous provision
*Benjamin getting the job
*children rewarded
*coaches who love first
*a room of my own
*walking and praying
*border grass gently blowing in the breeze

With gratitude,
Sally

Beloved, Come Further Up! Come Further In!

Come further up!
Come further in!
(C.S. Lewis)

Beloved,
our journey
has just begun.

"Commit your way to the Lord,
Trust also in Him, and He will do it."
(Psalm 37:5)

Let us ask God to lead us
further up and further in:

"Make me know Your ways,
O Lord;
Teach me Your paths.
Lead me in Your truth and teach me,
For You are the God of my salvation;
For You I wait all the day."
(Psalm 25:4-5)

Thank You, God, that I know I am beloved by:
*fresh, clear, cool air
*kneeling before the cross in the early morning light
*tax refunds in the mail
*angel wings in the shells on the cross
*realizing a reason for "The Welcome Chair"
*Your generous provision
*visiting with Mema and Joyce
*Seven Sacred Pauses
*using the bird's nest candle
*more that enough light

With gratitude,
Sally

Tend Your Nest, Beloved

Might be a little hard to see,
but if you look very carefully
you will discover
a nest just under the roof
of the prayer chapel.
One day I went there
to reflect and pray.
As I sat down
I prayed a prayer
we had been given
by our teacher,
Robert Benson:
"In the course of our busy lives, Almighty God,
You grant us times of rest and refreshment:
Grant that we may use such times as these
to perceive the ways in which you are calling to us now,
then grant us strength and courage
to pursue those things and to accomplish them.
We make our prayers always
in the name of the One Who made us,
in the name of the One Who redeems us,
in the name of the One who will sustain us until we are home.
Amen, and so may it ever be."
(A Collect for Retreat. Adapted from, The Book of Common Prayer.)

God answered my prayer
by sending a dear little bird
(maybe a sparrow)
hopping through the barely open doors.
She flew up to the high windowsill,
hopped over to her nest
and settled in.
And I heard God say:
Sally, tend the nest
I have given you
and to which you have been given.

Then I saw
that her nest
was in the shadow of the cross.
In my heart I knew that, yes,
the One Who made us,
the One Who redeems us,
the One Who sustains us
will certainly
grant us strength and courage
to pursue those things we have perceived
to which you are calling us now
and to accomplish them.

Yes, dear God, I will tend my nest.

Thank You, God, that I know I am beloved by:
*the flickering light of a candle
*a boy who is "always good":)
*Margaret, deep breath, is now a senior
*Joseph taking one more step
*a sturdy privacy fence
*receiving a CD of beautiful, peaceful music in the mail
*a full supper table
*the sound of big boys playing in the pool
*an invitation to a support circle for writers
*yard sale inspiration

With gratitude,
Sally

Beloved Every Morning

New every morning
is your love,
great God of light,
and all day long
you are working
for good in the world.
Stir up in us
desire to serve you,
to live peacefully
with our neighbors
and all your creation,
and to devote each day
to your Son,
our Savior Jesus Christ.
Amen.
(we prayed this every morning
at the Academy and it is from
The Worshipbook: Services and Hymns
(The Westminster Press) and found in
the Upper Room Worshipbook)

Thank You, God, that I know I am beloved by:
*the sound of my dad's voice over the telephone
*www.margaretwolfeblog.blogspot.com
*Ben patiently seeing Berklee through a stomach bug
*Berklee feeling better today
*Journey going on our morning walk with the girls and me
*the kittens' eyes opening
*the steady, gentle reading of daily prayer by Robert Benson
*Shirley calling with an invitation to lunch
*dear Victor
*the new pastor for Lyons coming from Isle of Hope

With gratitude,
Sally

Beloved . . . Yes!

One morning last week
I stepped outside my door
just as the sky was lightening.
I looked up at the trees
freshly full of leaves
and I saw this
bare branched "Y"
reaching to the sky.
My heart cried, "Yes!",
though I wasn't sure why.
On the last day
I was asked the question
to which I had already
been given
that plain "Yes"
in my heart:
"Will you receive the mantle
of being formed
in the image of Christ
for the sake of others?"
And, with all that is within me
and inexpressible joy,
I answered "Yes!".

And today,
again,
I say
"Yes!".

Thank You, God, that I know I am beloved by:
*Victor's touch on my arm as I drift off to sleep
*the constant friendship of a friend like Sarah
*our Sarah's good report of beginning training at a new hospital
*seeing a bird I'd never seen before with a speckled breast
*Joseph gliding in on his skateboard with arms full of groceries
*adding new pages
*hearing that Bertha's not dead
*Ben's cell phone sermon notes
*sitting with Mema on her front porch in the late afternoon
*Margaret's very special coupon

With gratitude,
Sally

Behold Beauty, Beloved

"But we all,
with unveiled face,
beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord,
are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory,
just as from the Lord, the Spirit."
(2 Corinthians 3:18)

Thank You, God, that I know I am beloved by:
*fluttering luminescent green wings flying
*"Guess what I saw last night?"
*my friend, the butterfly, accompanying me on my goodbye walk
*the good folks at Southern Performance
*a peaceful Mother's Day morning at home
*a card that made me cry
*six wonderful children
*coming home changed
*good morning tulips
*kittens

With gratitude,
Sally

Babbling Be loved!

This little brook
beckoned to me
and babbled
be loved!
be loved!
be love!

Jesus says:
"Let the one who believes in me drink.
As the scripture has said,
'Out of the believer's heart
shall flow
rivers of living water.'"
(John 7:38)

Thank You, God, that I know I am beloved by:
*an early morning walk with Little Darlin and Sweetie Pie
*blooming bridal wreath
*a place to pray made ready
*dancing before the torn veil
*restoration resting on a foundation of grace
*reading by candlelight
*Sarah calling
*the girls watching over Margaret
*a sacred space reminder to persevere in relationships
*just the right prayer for my pause, ferns and all!

With gratitude,
Sally

Beloved Beauty

For the beauty of the earth. . .

Lord of all
to Thee we raise
this our hymn
of grateful praise!

God, thank you, that I know I am beloved by:
*two brilliant bluejays saying good morning
*watercolor notecards
*pictures to remember the workshop
*praying the prayer path once again
*pansies overflowing vintage planters
*imagining trees
*thoughts of planting a garden
*a mailbox posted in a bed of snapdragons and such
*a pretty monogrammed Green Bough bag passed on
*gifts given through grief

With gratitude,
Sally

Beloved Thou Art

My soul collage
states plainly:
"Art Becomes You"

What drew me to those words?
What does that mean,
"Art Becomes You"?

"become" means:
to grow to be;
to change or develop into by growth
or
to befit;
suit
or
to be right for
or
to happen to;
be the fate of

When I think of all this,
I think "Art Becomes You" means
"Art Brings Out the Best in You"

How will art become me today?

Maybe it starts by remembering:
"In the beginning God created."
(Genesis 1:1)

Thank You, God, that I know I am beloved by:
*early morning light turning cactus leaves light green
*the warmth of the fire on my leg
*fearing not
*Ben and the Breakfast Club
*a day at home
*Windflower Hollow
*Victor's waterfall dreams
*the privilege of listening
*Your presence
*possibilities coming to mind

With gratitude,
Sally

Vespers, Beloved

Vespers from Vicki:

Just as I was
about to be overtaken
by weariness
and stress,
this photo
of peace,
of evening prayer,
miraculously arrived
to help me
breathe
and be. . .
beloved.

Thank You, God, that I know I am beloved by:
*Margaret and friends going to a knitting party
*and not knitting but staying until eleven
*finding a book on the spirituality of knitting
*Ben and the boys
*JV finding rest in seeing a tree
*driving and visiting with sons
*focused prayer
*a three day old full moon shining through
*pancakes and bacon
*a new bed for Berklee

With gratitude,
Sally

Beloved, Reach High!

Beloved,
reach high to the clear blue sky!

Beloved,
Reach High!

Thank You, God, that I know I am beloved by:
*Victor giving the nod to another of my crazy ideas
*an artist date adventure
*a dear sister-in-love
*lunch with my sisters
*celebrating birthdays
*praying while making prayer beads
*raisin bran
*Dante loving his catnip treats
*Joseph pampering Dante
*on the road again

With gratitude,
Sally

Peace, Beloved!

Peace To All Who Enter

Jesus says to the Beloved:
"Peace I leave with you;
My peace I give to you;
not as the world gives
do I give to you.
Do not let your heart be troubled,
nor let it be fearful."
(John 14:27)

To All Who Enter:
Peace, Beloved!

Thank You, God, that I know I am beloved by:
*a grandmother and her grandson in each other's arms in heaven today
*peace
*a gift that blesses with power
*experiencing the building up of the kingdom
*Mema loving the church bells
*smiling orange slices on blue glass plates
*writing and realizing
*sweet sleeping puppies
*a platter of carved, colorful fruits and vegetables
*taking time to celebrate life

With gratitude,
Sally

Begin Beloved

2014 has begun.
Where will the path lead?
I don't know.
All I can do is begin,
one step at a time,
following the path
in faith.

Thank You, God, that I know I am beloved by:
*just the place above the door for peace
*a full moon through the trees
*a beautiful card from a friend
*sitting and talking at Mama's table
*a Scrabble tutoring session
*Margaret being ready to share
*poetry
*naval oranges
*being able to be ourselves
*blankets fresh from the dryer

With gratitude,
Sally

Beloved, Enter In!

Beloved,
God is beckoning to us,
by way of the cross,
to enter in
to go deeper
to follow farther
to come closer.

Beloved,
will we?

Thank You, God, that I know I am beloved by:
*Margaret's purple shirt
*Sarah's purple and orange stained-glass shirt
*a January retreat
*Sweetie Pie coming home
*Victor persevering through problems
*Ross's reply
*a new tire for Andrew
*filling the fruit stand
*Ben feeling better
*the possibility of hearing a favorite author speak

With gratitude,
Sally

Beloved Friends

LuAnn by the lake.

I happened by
and noticed LuAnn
sitting on the bench.

I stopped
and took a picture of her.

Turned out,
a breakthrough was beginning.

And God had arranged
for her to have a picture of it.

Isn't that just like God?

"Beloved,
since God loved us so much,
we also ought to love one another."
(I John 4:11)

Thank You, God, that I know I am beloved by:
*You arranging a day at home
*friends that understand the unexpected
*Margaret's concern for Ben
*texting Jane just in time
*a beautiful work of art explained in detail
*a sparkly silver star
*a photo of a Christmas dinner to remember
*a sweet smile for the camera
*our compassionate, funny vet
*poor, sweet Sweetie Pie

With gratitude,
Sally

Beloved Every Day

This is a picture of
me and my brother and sisters
with my dad
taken on the occasion of
Daddy's 80th birthday party.

I just love this picture!

It reminds me of
how beloved I am,
how beloved we are.

Special occasions
are a wonderful time
for feeling beloved.

But really,
shouldn't we,
couldn't we,
feel beloved
every day!

"Beloved, let us love one another"!
(I John 5:7a)

Thank You, God, that I know I am beloved by:
*a great story that kept me reading until 2:00 am
*a welcome burst of energy this morning
*a friend being able to come by earlier than planned
*a friend calling to make a date to get together
*the "I" standing out on the "BELIEVE" banner
*still pretty poinsettias
*vitamins
*Victor's idea for naming the prayer chapel
*a letter of true compassion
*blue sky

With gratitude,
Sally

Lift High Beloved

These almost bare branches
with bright bits of beauty
lifting themselves
high to the clear blue sky

remind me
of this quote
from Nouwen's
Life of the Beloved:

"Yes, there is that voice,
the voice that speaks
from above
and from within
and that whispers softly
or declares loudly:
'You are my Beloved,
on you my favor rests.'"

Today,
let's lift high our bare selves,
with our bright bits of beauty,
to God
and hear him call us
Beloved.

Thank You, God, that I know I am beloved by:
*the alleluia bells chiming the hour
*the stray dog at the door (he hasn't frozen)
*turning on a warm fire on a very cold morning
*working side by side with Victor by that fire
*hearing Margaret play the guitar and worship in the parlor
*beginning an extraordinary book
*camellias blooming beautifully in winter
*fresh spaghetti sauce
*putting our house in order
*sweet puppies lying by the hearth

With gratitude,
Sally

Beloved Gifts

Today is the traditional date for
Epiphany.

Today we remember those kings
who traversed afar
bearing gifts.

Gifts for the Christ Child.
Treasures opened and presented.

Gifts of
gold (costly, valuable),
frankincense (worshipful, creative, sweet),
myrrh (painful, sacrifice).

O God,
please help me
to be brave
like those kings
and to be loved
like those kings
and to open myself
and bow beloved before You
and present my gifts,
myself,
as a
costly
valuable
worshipful
creative
sweet
painful
sacrifice.

Thank You, God, that I know I am beloved by:
*the accepting voice of a friend
*settling in for a new season
*FUEL refigured
*a big bag of almonds
*Ben's forecast of a chance of snow
*the first full week of January
*Joseph eagerly offering to drive Mema
*sparkly snowflakes
*news of a book soon to be delivered
*comfort food: meatloaf and mashed potatoes

With gratitude,
Sally

Flash: Beloved!

epiphany: a moment of sudden intuitive understanding;
flash of insight.

"When they saw the star,
they rejoiced exceedingly
with great joy.
After coming into the house
they saw the Child
with Mary His mother;
and they fell to the ground
and worshiped Him.
Then,
opening their treasures,
they presented to Him
gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
(Matthew 2:10-11)

Will we,
like the Magi,
have a moment of sudden intuitive understanding
and realize
that we are so
beloved
that God gave
His One and Only Son
because He loves us?

Will we see
and rejoice exceedingly
with great joy?

Will we see
the Child
and fall to the ground
and worship Him?

Will we open our treasures?
Will we present to Him gifts?

Today,
will we experience
our own Epiphany,
our own flash of insight:
that we are God's Beloved!

And what difference will it make in our lives?

Thank You, God, that I know I am beloved by:
*warming up on a cold January afternoon walk with Vic
*exploring a prayer garden
*juniper
*writing by a warm fire
*making a set of prayer beads to give to someone I love
*praying for that person while I make them
*a bag for Ben
*Margaret helping to lead worship
*God connecting my reading to the preaching
*Godiva peppermint bark candy (just one piece)

With gratitude,
Sally

Beloved Bean Trees

A bean tree
growing right outside
my door.

I had just finished reading
a wonderful novel
by Barbara Kingsolver
entitled The Bean Trees.

Then
I walked out my back door
and realized
that right in my own yard
were bean trees!

I had never noticed
wisteria in winter
before.

But God,
dear God,
let me know that day
through the bean trees
that I am beloved.

Thank You, God, that I know I am beloved by:
*Your impeccable timing
*eyes to see
*a plan to pray, to wait and pray
*cooking
*candlelight
*the warmth of the dining room fire
*soccer and skateboarding in the cold
*Victor finding a way
*Speck taking the time to figure it out
*"it doesn't matter what she wants it for"

With gratitude,
Sally

Beloved Book

Somehow,
I came across this book
and ordered it
after I knew
the word God had given me
for 2014.

I've been reading it
as we enter this new year
and Nouwen's words
are bearing witness
with something deep within me.

". . . I have been wondering
it there might be one word
I would most want you to remember
when you finished reading
all I wish to say.
Over the past year,
that special word
has gradually emerged
from the depths of my own heart.
It is the word
"Beloved,"
and I am convinced
it has been given to me
for the sake of you
and your friends."

I John 5:7 says:
"Beloved,
let us love one another,
for love is from God;
and everyone who loves
is born of God
and knows God."

I pray we each know
in this year 2014
deep in our being
that we are God's Beloved.

Thank You, God, that I know I am beloved by:
*Bertha keeping going after 350,000 miles
*sunshine, cold sunshine, but sunshine
*tomato pie
*crab cakes
*John Victor staying home one more night
*getting to watch the final episode of season 3 again
*finding a way to develop old film
*Margaret walking Berklee (or Berklee walking Margaret?)
*tennis in the rain
*Victor finding sweet "Grace" and bringing it home

With gratitude,
Sally

Beloved Butterfly

"Just when the caterpillar thought the world was over,
it became a butterfly."

A beloved butterfly!

Thank You, God, that I know I am beloved by:
*waking to the sound of gentle rain
*realizing it was only a nightmare
*indestructible hope
*a cup (or two) of good coffee
*silver toenails
*a new year's tradition revisited
*"Finding God in the Present Moment"
*Little Darlin asking to be helped up on the bed
*looking over the calendar possibilities of the new year
*candlelit nativities

With gratitude,
Sally

Beloved!

God has given me a word
for the coming year.

My word for 2013 was "Wonder".

My word for 2012 was "Rejoice".

God gave these words
and I lived them
and they changed me.

For 2014
the word God has given me is
"Beloved".

The Sumatanga cross,
created by a member of
The Academy of Spiritual Formation
to honor Sumatanga Retreat Center,
expresses "Beloved" clearly to me:
"Suma" means "highest, best".
"Tanga", to me, means "tangle"
or "dance" (I think of "tango").



In the cross of Christ
we find
the highest, best, most excellent
tangle or dance of love.


The strong, unbreakable bonds
of God's love
in God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit
hold all of us, each of us
together
to make a
beautiful
blazing
tangled
dance of love.


O God, I pray that
in this year of 2014
I will "beloved"
and I might encourage others to "beloved".


I pray that we might "beloved"
in order to "be love".

Thank You, God, that I know I am beloved by:
*Happy New Year greetings
*clearly knowing Your word for me
*the first day of "Disciplines"
*the continued brightening of the light born in Advent
*our buddy Berklee
*Ben coming home safe and sound
*knowing our friend is alive
*the grace of new beginnings
*hoppin john and scallops
*walking and praying

With gratitude,
Sally