Rainer Maria Rilke:

I would like to beg of you, dear friend, as well as I can, to have patience with everything that remains unsolved in your heart.

Try to love the questions themselves, like locked rooms and like books written in a foreign language.

Do not now look for the answers.

They cannot now be given to you because you could not live them.

And the point is to live everything.

Live the questions now. Perhaps you will gradually, without even noticing it, live along some distant day into the answers.

Parker Palmer:

"Before you tell your life what you intend to do with it, listen for what it intends to do with you. Before you tell your life what truths and values you have decided to live up to, let your life tell you what truths you embody, what values you represent. Let your heart speak."

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, VMM]

Life is paradoxical.

I don't know about you, but many times in life I find that if I stop trying so hard to make something happen, it happens. If I spend a little time away from my loved ones, I learn how I can improve those relationships.

I invite you to make some space in your life. Allow a spot for some quiet here, some stillness there. No matter what your religious affiliation or spirituality, we all need that.

I will post an activity, reflection, or prayer from time to time, but if you are interested in a personalized retreat, please email me your request and concern. I can design a short retreat text, retreat-on-CD, or an online retreat for you, as an aid to creating a little space in your life. The only cost I'd request would be if you want a CD mailed to you. That's only a few stamps.

Paradoxically, the fastest way to make a change in your life... is to just be.