Writing is tough! I think the greatest thing a person can do in helping them become a better verbal communicator is to work harder and more intentionally at writing. It doesn’t stop there, that is if you want to become a better writer - to become a better writer one must become a more diligent reader (reading good books, journals, and articles).

So, if you want to speak well, write well; if you desire to write well, read well.

In view of that…

A writer is someone for whom writing is harder than it is for other people… Len Sweet

As the old saying goes: Writing is easy. You just stare at a blank page until drops of blood form on your forehead. – Marshall Shelley

Peace.

Thanks to those who were praying for me. The retreat was a great experience - both to lead and join in and participate with everyone. A mix of stillness, laughter, eating, singing, praying, learning, and just being together. In the midst of it I was taken by the slowness. It took much longer than I anticipated to work through some of the issues and passages that I had planned. It really drove home for me - that being with others and genuinely being present with others and THE OTHER - takes time. To love another, takes time. Love often equals time spent with. It reminded me and challenged me - that frankly, I don’t allow enough time to enter into the love of God and others.

It was a good weekend and one that I believe is still “working its way in me.”

That is a good thing.

Two folks from the weekend have posted there thoughts and in one case, summary, as well.

From Ben

From Aaron

Enjoy!

Peace.

This weekend I have the pleasure of leading a group of youth workers from across the Mid-Atlantic on a spiritual retreat. Each time I have approached these times I have moments of great panic followed by deep breathing and a sense of calm - reminding myself - “this isn’t about me.” I don’t know if that makes sense - but it is clear as day for me.

I am leading the weekend focused on developing our attentiveness to the present moment and to becoming more aware of God’s activity around us. In leading this time we will spend considerable time focusing on the “Bethany Trio” found in the Gospel Narratives (Mary, Martha and Lazarus). I have spent the past two months or so living with these passages and have found them to be deep wells of fresh, clean and cool water to quench our soul thirst. Hopefully others will find them helpful, satisfying and, at the least, tangentially connected to the topic of developing our awareness/attentiveness.

So if my name, ugly mug or blog crosses your mind over the next few days - a prayer would be greatly appreciated!

I often beat myself up in approaching these times - but have enough history in leading retreats to recognize this for what it is (pre-retreat jitters). All in all (with the exception of time away from my family) I cherish these opportunities and experiences - and as many of you are aware, walk away gaining far more than I sense I gave.

Peace!

There is nothing like a great story. It doesn’t happen often enough, but when it does; well, it is magical. Gathering around a crackling fire on a cool, clear night and then the magic, “Tell us a story!” Ahh… the pressure is on! It’s a great pressure, though - to weave a tale that excites, holds the attention, keeps ‘em guessing and then comes together at the end with surprise or relief or, at the least, a “fairly” logical resolution. Some of the finer moments in my time with family, friends and youth ministry all took place around a fire sharing a “good story.”

Nothing can capture us like that - our imagination, our attention, our emotions and maybe even shaping our vocation and our character. Lately I have been experiencing that as I have been walking around and in my daily chores living with a couple particular stories from the New Testament - and I have been noticing: they don’t seem to have a bottom, you can go so deep; and they don’t seem to have an end, they just keep unraveling; and they don’t seem to stop revealing and teaching, they illumine more and more.

Then yesterday I stumbled across this quote from Parker Palmer,

“The marvelous thing about learning from a story is that the story never ends, so our learning from it need not end either.” (from The Active Life. Harper & Row. 1990. p.98)

Yes!!

Don’t ever stop listening to or sharing a great story, there is nothing like it.