Santa Cruz Sundays

"Being grateful isn’t a magic wand or kind of prosperity mantra. Rather, it rearranges the way we see the world. As we practice redirecting our attention toward the gifts in our lives, gratitude lessens our fears, strengthens our hearts, and builds our resilience."    -Diana Butler Bass  I loved hearing you name that you were feeling so blessed to have the friends that you've found there at Santa Cruz. Write a few things down each day and name those blessings. That perspective of gratitude as it's such a powerful lens that will serve you so well in your live. 💓

some good words for midterms this week....  "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding; in all your ways know him, and he will make your paths straight. "  — Proverbs 3:5–6   “Success” is often portrayed as a matter of setting one’s goals, making an agenda, and working strategically to reach a chosen destination in life, whether it be a matter of study, career success, or some other mark of status. The contrasting vision in Proverbs 3 is an open attitude entrusting our future to the Lord - “success”, it seems, is not about succeeding in my plans, but rather responding faithfully to the opportunities presented to us. - Dr. Bill Cayley  

I remember many years ago when you and Anna were little that I went through the training to be a teacher for the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd classes at Christ Church downtown in Nashville. This was for the Sunday school classes at St. B's, and it was quite a bit of training (90 hours required!).  I don't think it was your favorite thing to go to while I was in the training, but there was always a great lunch served after and then we would go to the Frist Art Museum across the street to do art for a fun little outing.  in the parking lot at Christ Church in Nashville  at the Frist Art Museum afterwards  At one of the classes, they were teaching about the sign of the cross. The way they would teach us is that the facilitator would lead the lesson, and all the adults would circle up on the floor as if we were children in the class to listen and learn. When they told us about the subject, I did not think there would be much to share as it seemed quite straightforward...

  What a special day here at the Chicago marathon with the gift of Anna, Jason, and Janie here to cheer along the way (along with the incredible crowds here in the Windy City). As I mentioned to you, while I had some pretty intense leg cramps to run through for a long stretch, my body gave me the gift of running with a smile through the miles and of finishing feeling strong. I was grateful for quite a few fun quick stops along the way for photo ops to soak up the joy of it all (see below for some of them in addition to what Janie and I already texted you-- sorry for any repeats). I ran in honor of some amazing women in my life (thus the wonder woman theme!!) and of course you were with me in spirit too- see below. I wrote this blessing as a tribute this afternoon in an effort to pass along some of the things that came to mind as I was running and holding you (and the wonder women I was running in honor of) close during each mile..... Blessed are we when we remember that no one d...

  This is from a book by Barbara Brown Taylor that I read this summer for one of my classes:  "Over the next five years, I struggled with the ordination question. I read books, prayed, made appointments with my bishop, and canceled them. I entered diocesan programs and dropped out of them. I worked as a seminary administrator and a hospital chaplain. I took part-time jobs at churches. I moved a thousand miles away and back again in eight months. I listened for voices in the night and searched the sky for signs. If lasting preoccupation with the church constitutes a call, then I was called, but called to what? To be a priest, or to be a Christian?  One midnight, I asked God to tell me as plainly as possible what I was supposed to do.  ‘Anything that pleases you,’ That is the answer that came into my sleepy head. ‘What?’ I said, waking up. ‘What kind of an answer is that?’ ‘ Do anything that pleases you ,’ the voice in my head said again, ‘ and belong to me .' That sim...