When I was first diagnosed with Type II diabetes, I came to quickly understand the importance of daily exercise.
For me, my exercise of choice was and is walking. Not only is it cheap, but it also gets me outside when the weather is nice. Right now, its freezing outside, so a trip to the mall is how I get my daily walk in, making a big loop inside, where it’s nice and warm.
One of the presenters on my retreat this weekend mentioned this statue in her talk. It’s of St. Ignatius of Loyola, and it can be found in Guelph, Canada.
As I looked at the image, I couldn’t help but think of the words of St. Paul: “… forgetting what lies behind but straining forward to what lies ahead, I continue my pursuit toward the goal, the prize of God’s upward calling, in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:13-14). Today, let’s not dwell on our past, but rather, with hopeful expectation, look forward to a brighter future. What’s holding you back?
Have a blessed Monday!
Wow, I’m just settling back at home from a wonderful time on retreat. It was a powerful weekend for everyone. Thanks to all who came, and don’t forget to email me so we can start the next part of our spiritual pilgrimage.
This was the sunrise that greeted me and my fellow retreatants this morning. What a spectacular way to start a day.
Throughout the generations, people have been able to get out of their normal surroundings in their quest for a deeper relationship with God.
The group that I’m with is no different, and so far, they have been soaking in the experience. What a joy to be with them.
You’re in for a treat. This dish will be the main course for the first night of my upcoming retreat.
I’ve made it twice now, and I will say that I think it tastes much better the second day. Delicious either way, and I’m sure, if you try it, you’ll be making it time and time again.
There’s a boy in my class who has started using the phrase, “I’ve got this” for just about everything I ask my class to do.
Maybe it’s self motivation, or it just might be seventh grade bravado, but a few nights ago he raised his hand to read a wordy and difficult Scripture passage. He did great, and I could see he was happy with himself when he finished. He got it.
Over the past several days, I’ve been getting myself ready for my upcoming retreat. It’s all a bit overwhelming, with lots to do and lots to think about.
What are we going to do? What am I going to say?
A reoccurring challenge found in St. Ignatius’ Spiritual Exercises kept coming up in my mind as I prepared my talks. I was thinking about what it might mean to those who will be listening to me, but I was also thinking about what it means to me. Since it keeps coming up in my head, I guess that means I needs I need to take a pause and pray about it.
St. Ignatius asks three simple questions:
What have I done for Christ? What am I doing for Christ? What ought I do for Christ?
Something for us all to think about in the week ahead.
Funny how life is. This morning, I woke up from a dream, and the weather I was experiencing in that dream looked something like this picture.
In reality, however, the Polar Vortex had finally come to Maryland, and it was about 4 degrees outside, but with the windchill, it felt like -20. I wanted to go back to bed and try to rejoin that dream of mine, but it wasn’t meant to be. Oh well.
It looks like Maryland will luck out and not get hit too badly by the big freeze that’s gripping the country. Just some freezing rain and a little snow later tonight. I’m looking forward to spring 🙂
But before the warm weather comes, I’m going to be leading my first Making All Things New Retreat at the end of January, and I have a lot to do to make it a powerful experience for everyone coming.
Well, we made it. 2014 is here, and I hope and pray that it will be a great year for everyone.
I don’t know about you, but I have several resolutions that I plan to work on this year.
A big one is to finish up my doctoral studies and be ready to graduate in the spring of 2015. I purchased some software recently that I hope will help me reach this huge goal. I hope they work like they’re supposed to 🙂