“What do you want me to do for you?” (Jesus, as quoted in Mark 10:36, 51)

The promises, intentions and hopes of January are sputtering like a short-wicked candle. February pounds in my heart, pushing me to find where I left off and to take stock.

This blog, titled soulPantry, stores various reflections and ideas and prompts that have risen in my own heart; and naturally (for me) I share them here. In the beginning, it was called Nourishment for the Soul: A Place to Feed on Words and to this day, it’s still a place for words, and lately a place for artistic prompts, as well.

I started typing out these inspirational musings in the wee hours of the year 2000. I felt compelled to share “words for the weary.” (See Isaiah 50:4) And that phrase truly defines the intent of my blog to this day. Many readers tell me that these posted reflections arrive just when they need them, and that humbles me and thrills me at the same moment.

I wander away from these digital spaces for months at a time. Then other months, I am here daily pouring out words that flow out of my own personal journey. Today, I come back with the resolve to post more regularly, but realistically, too. I hope/plan to post once a month. (And if more often, so be it.)

When I am away for an extended time, I struggle with wanting to catch you (the reader) up with all my inner musings and the adventures of life. But that’s not realistic, either. So, I’ll just jump in right here.

Last Friday, I enjoyed sharing journaling tips with a small group of women, who gathered for some fun and food, for both their bodies and souls. Seventeen women passed through the space with me. I had an hour per session (two separate sessions) to give them a taste of a few journaling appetizers.

We started with this prompt: “Right now…” I set the timer for two minutes to demonstrate that they could write for a contained amount of time. (Many admitted they didn’t feel like they had time to keep a journal.) I gave them a moment to read over their musings, and then invited them to write a short sentence about what surprised them or what they noticed in their quick writing jaunt.

With their writing juices flowing, I challenged them to ponder a question, as their prompt. As I prepared for the class, I remembered that in Scriptures, Jesus often asked questions to get his audience thinking. The question that came to mind was “What do you want me to do for you?” I did a quick search online to recall which situation he asked this question. I was surprised that he asked the same question twice. First, he asked two of his disciples. And then, he asked a blind man. The disciples asked for position, prestige and glory. The blind man asked for sight, for healing.

Since the question was asked twice, I thought why not ask the question to ourselves with pen in hand, answering Jesus ourselves. I set the timer for five minutes, and the women, even if they didn’t really know Jesus or had much experience with journaling quickly poured out their answers. It was such an honor to hold this space with them.

Right now, I invite you to ponder this same question, as if Jesus was asking:

“What do you want me to do for you?”

Even if you’re not familiar with Jesus or comfortable with answering questions in a journal, would you ponder this powerful question?

Knowing what we want can be so insightful and freeing.

I will be back soon, with more words, prompts and nourishment for our souls! Enjoy!

 

We humans keep brainstorming options and plans,
    but God’s purpose prevails. (Proverbs 19:21 The Message)

It’s the planning time of year. And I still find comfort in the wisdom of these words whispered to my soul earlier this winter: “It’s not too late.”

After a full celebration of Christmas with all the joys and trimmings, there is a let down. Saying good-bye to loved ones who traveled across the country to see us leaves an ache. The immediate pressure to put away Christmas haunts me each year, so this time I planned to UN-decorate slowly, a little at a time.

With that pressure eased, I find myself in my art studio clearing out space. Taking out the old to make way for the new gives me room to breathe. January is a month for me to rest. To let the sap of all my goings and doings recede, to prepare for the next season of creativity and growing and living.

On this first day of the year, I like to dream about all the things I’d like to do and the books I might read.

In between hauling out boxes of paper “compost” from the studio, I worked in my art journals. I glued down ephemera in my holiday journal, and mostly dreamed of relaxing in this room, with my little heater humming and the radio tuned to uplifting music.

While I puttered around and played with my art supplies, in the back of my mind, I was wondering what word I might choose for my guiding intention for 2018. (There’s a whole movement, where people pick one word to inform their life, rather than a list of resolutions.) Last year, I journeyed with “success” and learned that success looks less like perfection, and more like showing up and enjoying life with its quirks and questions.

I haven’t picked a word yet. And that’s okay, because “It’s not too late.”

I tend to audition words by looking up their definition and synonyms until a word resonates with my heart. My friend and I were talking about the possibility of having more than one word, or even changing the word mid-year. Such freedom and permission. Maybe I will have a new word for each month!

I’m sure, just like me, you have lots of plans and ideas of what you’d like to do this year. I often share ideas here that you are welcome to try or not. I heard about this project where you order a small sketchbook, then fill it with your art. After you’re done, you send it back to have it added to their art library.

I hope you might join me in the Sketchbook Project…it’s not too late! (I think you can still order a sketchbook until January 5, 2018.)

I’m filling mine with textures, and my niece in New Jersey is joining me. When you complete the sketchbook, it’s catalogued and kept in the sketchbook “museum” in Brooklyn, NY!

What are your plans for this year? What purpose do you see unfolding?

I would love to hear whether you chose a word for the year, or join the Sketchbook Project!

Happy 2018!

Kel

 

 

 

 

Why spend money on what is not bread,
    and your labor on what does not satisfy?
Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good,
    and you will delight in the richest of fare. (Isaiah 55:2)

As I prepare for the feasting of Christmas, my stomach growls. I’m hungry for something. Something that satisfies, something good, something of the robust and rich promise of the season.

As I wait for for the passing of Christmas, my spirit languishes. I’m hungry for something. Something that satisfies, something good, something of the robust and rich promise of the season.

As I listen to the call of Christmas, my soul soars. My hunger for wonder, appreciation, welcoming others and celebration is real. I listen for that something that will satisfy my need for deep joy. I prepare for something good, both spiritual and material. I wait for the robust and rich promise of the season.

I want to spend my money on those things that fill us up, like a warm, crusty slice of bread. I want to work on things that bring satisfaction. I want to listen for the voice that calls me by name. I want to eat that which is good. I want to delight in the richness of God’s presence.

To appreciate and welcome this season will be my end of the year ADVENTure!!!

What are you longing for this season?

I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. (Psalm 27:13 NIV)

 

First of all, let me congratulate, Carol Ann! You won the giveaway from last Friday, your own copy of Times of Trouble Bring Rays of Joy by Cecelia Lester. (I am planning other giveaways as the year finishes out, so stay tuned!) I love giving gifts of goodness away.

This past week has been packed full with lots of goodness. Over the weekend, I prepared for a birthday party for our younger son, who normally doesn’t put a lot of hoopla into birthdays and such. He likes to celebrate life every day. But it just happened that he was available for some festivities on his actual day of birth this year.

So I went overboard, as a mother tends to do. I hung up art work from his school days and dusted off the scrapbooks. He wrote a song once about being “a perfect snowflake,” so I wanted to decorate with those. I found lights at Lowe’s, and my project crew (aka my sister, my mom and my niece) helped me hang them up on the porch.

Since we are traveling to celebrate the next holiday (Thanksgiving) with our older son and his wife, I contemplated putting our Christmas tree up for the birthday bash. But then, I decided that was really over the top.

After decorating the porch, I went to see a local production of The Drowsy Chaperone. My husband had been out for the day, and possibly relieved that we tackled the light hanging project without him. Since, I was sort of proud of our accomplishment, when we both returned home, I took him out to the porch to admire the lights. As we were intently looking at the lights, we missed this.

My mom, my sister and her kids, secretly placed this live spruce tree with snowflake decorations hanging from its branches on our porch. I burst into tears of joy, mingled with awe that my family heard my heart’s desire to have a Christmas tree up before Thanksgiving this year.

The whole day was a series of tender reminders of the goodness of God in the land of the living. That morning, I was once again recognized as a veteran, along with others at our church service. The pastor was a poignant storyteller, and I came away humbled by the losses he had experienced in his life, and yet he held onto hope.

The message of the musical combined humor with hope. In the last scene the narrator shares how his love for musicals transports him away from “the horrors of life for a couple hours.” As the cast sang the reprise of “As We Stumble Along,” tears welled up in my eyes. The messages of hope combined with the thoughtful surprise tree, moved me to more tears. Sometimes goodness causes me to cry tears of joy, hope and sadness all at once.

The goodness continued through the weekend, with an impromptu visit to the local outdoor skating rink. A first time experience for my nieces.

And we stopped to admire this sculpture on the way out of Forest Park. My older niece said, ” I enjoy this sculpture.” Something about the way she said it, made me want to enjoy things, too. The younger niece read the plaque, and told us it was called “Looking Up,” and then she did a cartwheel just for good measure in the darkened parking lot.

And on Monday, some of us went to the zoo, and all the creatures and critters were exulting with life and movement, even the sloth, who was reportedly a chronic sleeper.

 

And on Tuesday, we had a house full of goodness and good people. We enjoyed BBQ cooked by the hubby, board games and pumpkin pie for the birthday boy.

And a measure of humor, to push the goodness over the top.

As the holiday season fast approaches, I hope you have many goodness sightings. May your life be filled with expectations tempered with appreciation.

What is one of your favorite ways to celebrate life?