Looking Within - A Contemplative Podcast: Recent Episodes
Julie Stevens
Looking Within is a podcast to help you quiet your mind, settle your body, and see God’s presence in your everyday life. Julie Stevens leads this program with the hope your time together will help you to feel more grounded, whole, and filled with a growing desire to be a conduit of God’s love and presence to the world around you.
This is the final episode for now of “Looking Within,” but we’re very excited to be offering a new Facebook page called the “Looking Within Collective” to help you on your inner journey!
The pearls of wisdom of those who have gone before us would be many! But one pearl sure to make the list would be the reminder that life is short. Don’t waste time on inner offenses, or on inner upset over unfulfilled expectations for life and others. Just get on with doing what you’re meant to do!
We are not always good at waiting, are we! It can be annoying to have to wait for things or people, seemingly taking up many moments of our life. But although we don’t like waiting, it is often the most important part of the spiritual journey.
Jesus prays for you, in real time. Could there be a more comforting reality that's securely wrapped around your life? -- that you're loved and supported by wonderful people, but above all, by Jesus?
God does not primarily choose any of us for a role or task. God is really choosing us to be God’s self in the world, in our own unique situations and settings. We are each a part of uniquely being the face of God, sharing divine love in a way that no one else can or will.
Do you ever have one of those days when you just need to be loved? Do you ever doubt that who you are, or what you have to offer to the world, is really all that valuable? It’s so easy to forget our true identity as beloveds of God. You are enough. You are just right!
Today may you be encouraged in the role you play in your corner of the world. As helpless as we might feel to make even a dent in humanity’s challenges, it is a first, wonderful step to let our hearts soften in love.
Contemplation is really just another word for prayer. At its core is relationship, and not the saying of prayers or the making requests to God (which are good and important in their own right). Contemplation brings us into a life lived in constant union and relationship with God.
There is gold inside of you, longing for your attention to see new possibilities, new things to explore or to do, new ways of being that allow your wonderful light to shine as a uniquely made child of God.
It’s time to shed the dry crustiness that’s clinging to us from the winter. And if you’re feeling a little lost, weakened, and parched from the year now past, then remember the Risen Christ is always present to guide and strengthen you.
Today, we conclude our seven week series entitled, “Imagining a New Life and a New Story.” This week, we have considered Jesus’ practice of being fully present to death. What do we do when we face death or when things don’t work out the way we had hoped? Gently hold this question as you enter into our guided meditation.
Today, we continue the seventh and final week of, “Imagining a New Life and a New Story.” In this season of Lent, we’ve observed many of the practices that formed Jesus’ story and life. This week, we consider what may be the ultimate spiritual practice that forms us and gives us our story -- our encounter with death.
Today, we begin the seventh and final week of, “Imagining a New Life and a New Story.” In this season of Lent, we’ve observed many of the practices that formed Jesus’ story and life. This week, we consider what may be the ultimate spiritual practice that forms us and gives us our story -- our encounter with death.
Each Friday’s bonus episode is a guided meditation inviting you into silence and solitude. This week, we have considered Jesus’ practice of taking the one seat: What do we do when life gives us a challenging situation and there is no way out? Gently hold this question as you enter into our guided meditation.
This week, we continue our series of Lenten podcasts, entitled, “Imagining a New Life and a New Story.” We are paying close attention to the practices that formed Jesus’ life. This week, we consider the practice of “taking the one seat.” Today, we observe how Jesus taught and lived out this practice with his disciples.
Today, we begin week six of our series, “Imagining a New Life and a New Story.” In this season of Lent, we’ve observed the practices that formed Jesus’ story and life. This week, we consider the very challenging practice of “taking the one seat,” when we have only one option in life and it is not a good option.
Each Friday’s bonus episode will include a guided meditation inviting you into silence and solitude. This week, we have considered Jesus’ practice of “Self-Inquiry, Our Old Story has Worn Out.” As we enter into a time of silence and solitude, let’s open our hearts to letting go of a life that no longer works for us, a life based on worthiness rather than the abundant love of God.
Today, we continue our Lenten series, “Imagining a New Life and a New Story.” During this season of Lent, we’re paying close attention to the practices that formed Jesus’ life, giving him a new story and a new life. This week, we consider the practice of “Self-Inquiry, Our Old Story has Worn Out.” On Monday we heard the story of Oskar Schindler. Today we consider how Jesus practiced this in his life.
Today, we begin week five of our series, “Imagining a New Life and a New Story.” During this season of Lent, we’re paying close attention to the practices that formed Jesus’ life, giving him a new story and a new life. This week, we consider the practice of “Self-Inquiry, Our Old Story has Worn Out.” We tell the story of Oskar Schindler.
Each Friday’s bonus episode will include a guided meditation inviting you into silence and solitude. This week, we have considered Jesus’ practice of surrender. As we enter into a time of silence and solitude, let’s open our hearts to surrender, “not my will but yours be done, Lord.”
Today, we continue our Lenten series, “Imagining a New Life and a New Story.” We’re paying close attention to the practices that formed Jesus’ life, giving him a new story and a new life. This week, we consider the practice of “surrender,” in Jesus’ life and his teaching.
Today, we begin week four of our series, “Imagining a New Life and a New Story.” During this season of Lent, we’re paying close attention to the practices that formed Jesus’ life, giving him a new story and a new life.” This week, we consider the practice of “surrender,” as seen in a story told by Charles of his train trip to Oregon.
Each Friday’s bonus episode will include a guided meditation inviting you into silence and solitude. This week, we have considered Jesus’ practice with remembering the poor. He calls them blessed, having a different perspective on life. As we enter into a time of silence and solitude, let us open our hearts to the wisdom of the blessed poor.
Today, we continue week three of our series, “Imagining a New Life and a New Story.” During this season of Lent, we’ll pay close attention to the practices that formed Jesus’ life, giving him a new story and a new life. This week, we consider the practice of “remembering the poor.” Jesus calls them blessed. They may have much to tell us.
Today, we begin week three of our series, “Imagining a New Life and a New Story.” During this season of Lent, we’ll pay close attention to the practices that formed Jesus’ life, giving him a new story and a new life.” This week, we consider the practice of “remembering the poor.”
Each Friday’s bonus episode will include a guided meditation inviting you into silence and solitude. This week, we have considered Jesus’ practice with a beginner’s mind where we learn to let go of our wisdom, what we want, what we like, and start to understand things from God’s perspective, telling a new story and living a new life.
This week, we continue our series of Lenten podcasts, entitled, “Imagining a New Life and a New Story.” We are paying close attention to the practices that formed Jesus’ life. This week, we consider the practice of having “A Beginner’s Mind.” Today, we observe how Jesus taught this to the disciples, particularly to Nicodemus.
Today, we begin week two of our series, “Imagining a New Life and a New Story.” During this season of Lent, we’ll pay close attention to the practices that formed Jesus’ life,giving him a new story and a new life.” This week, we consider the practice of having “A Beginner’s Mind.”
Each Friday’s bonus episode will include a guided meditation inviting you into silence and solitude. This week, we have considered Jesus’ practice with silence and solitude where he heard not only the voice of scarcity and fear, but also the voice of abundance and love. He let the second voice silence the first and learned to tell a new story and live a new life.
We are now, one year into our journey with Covid-19. Silence and solitude have been challenging for us this past year. On Monday, we talked about Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s time in prison that led to a new story. Today, we talk about Jesus in the silence and solitude of the desert, tempted by Satan, where he learns a new story and a new life.
We are now, one year into our journey with Covid-19. Silence and solitude have been challenging for us this past year. In the story of Jesus, these are seen as gifts. This week, as we begin the season of Lent, we explore how Jesus’ story informs our story. We see things differently: new stories, new lives.
As we begin the year 2021, we are asking the question: “How should we live? In fear and scarcity or in love and abundance?” We have a choice. We’ve told the story of the two wolves. One afraid, living in scarcity. The other full of love, living in abundance. For many, the voice of the bad wolf still dominates our thinking. Recognizing that voice is the first step to silencing it.
As we begin the year 2021, we are asking the question: “How should we live? In fear and scarcity or in love and abundance?” We have a choice. By doing nothing, we often live in fear and scarcity. But by living consciously, paying attention to our choice, we can learn to feed that part of us that can thrive even in the most challenging time.
As we begin the year 2021, we are faced with all the usual challenges and this year, we add one more: Covid-19. What is our plan? Should we live in scarcity and fear or in abundance and love? We have a choice. Last week, we heard the story of The Two Wolves. This week we consider, “Which wolf will we feed?”
As we begin the year 2021, we are faced with all the usual challenges and this year, we add one more: Covid-19. What is our plan? Will we live in scarcity and fear or in abundance and love? We have a choice. Today, let’s consider the choice that is ours in the story of the two wolves.
No one likes the uncertainty of living in a Covid-19 world. We wish to return to a time when we had more control over life. Return is not always an option. Sometimes we must push through. In the story of John Newton, we learn that in such times as these we have a unique opportunity to not merely survive but to thrive.
Travel can change us. If we pay attention, we gain new perspectives on life that are energizing. Our hearts and minds are opened to new possibilities. Recently, we’ve all been on a journey: December’s journey to our Christmas celebration, and of course, our year long journey with Covid. What changes have you noticed looking back on your journey?
This year during December we’ve told stories about people who have had challenges, disappointments, and suffering. Yet in the midst of all this, they have found hope, joy, peace and love, the “big four” of Christmas. Today, we turn to Mary, the mother of our Lord, for her story at the end of Christmas, how she might have processed Christ’s birth.
How do we celebrate Christmas in a Covid world? We’ve spent 4 weeks preparing for our celebration and now Christmas is here. So how will we do? From the stories of those who have gone before us in similarly trying times, let’s consider a new vision for our Christmas celebration.
How do we find God’s love this Christmas in a Covid world? On Monday, we introduced the theme of love as we heard the story of the Spafford family. Today we continue our theme as we consider the story of Christ’s birth, looking for the love of God in this innocent little child.
How do we experience God’s love at Christmas in a Covid world? Join us this week, as we consider the story behind a well known hymn, “It is Well with My Soul.” This hymn, though comforting to us, was written by a man deep in grief, yet somehow, he found God’s love in his suffering. His story speaks to us today in our Covid world.
How do we find peace this Christmas in a Covid world? Today, we conclude our conversations about finding peace in times of uncertainty and unrest. On Monday, we talked about the Christmas truce during World War I. Wednesday we talked about Joseph in the Christmas story. Today, Julie and Charles tell us their stories of peace.
How do we find peace this Christmas in a Covid world? On Monday, we introduced the theme of peace as we heard the story of the Christmas truce in World War I. Today we continue our theme as we consider Joseph in the nativity story. He was a man of inner peace and outer gentleness.
How do we find peace this Christmas in a Covid world? Join us this week, as we look at a Christmas miracle, soldiers on Christmas Eve stopped fighting and together celebrated Christ’s birth. Their story is a message for us on how to navigate through distressful externals of life and still maintain a peaceful inner life.
How do we find joy this Christmas in a Covid world? Today, we continue the theme we heard on Monday, God’s last tender word to us, “And all will be well.” As we watch our own lives unfold, we can be anxious about life’s uncertainties or we trust God’s tender and caring words to us: “all will be well.”
How do we find joy this Christmas in a Covid world? Today, we continue the theme we heard on Monday, God’s last tender word to us, “And all will be well.” In the story of Jesus’ birth, we see the shepherds experience a deep joy that is not influenced by any externals of life, but this joy holds firm in all circumstances.
How do we find joy this Christmas in a Covid world? Join us this week, as we consider the advice of a wonderful woman from the middle ages. She counseled many who struggled with suffering just like us. She always had the last word: “And all will be well.” What joy can her message bring to us today?
How do we celebrate Christmas in a Covid world? How do we live with both the hopelessness of Covid-19 and the hope of Christmas? Today we’ll hear how Julie and Charles practice holding this contradiction of hopelessness and hope. We invite you to share this practice in your own Christmas preparations.
How do we celebrate Christmas in a Covid world? How do we live with both the hopelessness of Covid-19 and the hope of Christmas? Today we’ll hear from Mary in the story of Jesus’ birth. She held on to this contradiction of hopelessness and hope. She has much to tell us.
How do we celebrate Christmas in a Covid world? How do we live with both the hopelessness of Covid-19 and the hope of Christmas? Listen to the wisdom of a young woman who experienced great suffering and great beauty. She held them both. She has much to tell us.
Having your heart opened for gratitude enables good and wonderful things to increasingly flow into your life, even in the midst of challenges and hard times.
You were born for such a time as this! Your life -- wherever God has placed you -- does make a difference.
Today, know that Christ’s presence fills you with hope, joy, peace, and love. Carry that thought with you. Sink your roots deep into what this can mean in your life. And let the loving presence of Christ help you to feel more complete, loved, and full of life and energy.
What do you actually need for the journey, and how would a home and living spaces that are freed up of extra possessions free up space in your mind and heart for more time in relationships, especially with God?
If you’ve been engaging in some home projects and decluttering during the pandemic, let those activities remind you of the need to also spot and discard inner life emotions and stories that are no longer needed on your journey.
Let go of your need to control the present moment, taking any next steps as God shows them to you. Then see how much more joy and freedom you feel when you let go, knowing that God is on the job and in control, leading you in the way that’s best for you.
For the sake of your physical, emotional, and spiritual health -- and no matter what time of life you’re in -- it’s good to spend some time looking at what “letting go” might look like for your daily schedule.
If you need some encouragement today, if you maybe need a mantra to get through the storms and chaos, try using the words peace, be still... peace, be still... peace, be still.
If you’re losing heart and feel rather helpless to make a difference in the world, hold on to Love. It’s already inside of you. Cultivate it in your daily life. And be assured of God’s desire to assist you in being a conduit of the very thing that the world needs now -- Love.
The letting go of long time habits or distractions, and the voluntary pruning of things in our life that keep us from being our true and connected self would undoubtedly change us. But the result of our efforts might just lead to a new inner beauty and love about us, and to an abundant and calm productivity in all that we do to love and serve the world.
See how we are a hole in a flute, and a branch on the vine -- thankfully dependent on the breath and energy of Christ to supply all that we need to be a loving, healing presence for the world and those around us.
The effect of consciously focusing on even just one breath forces us into the present moment, and helps halt our incessant thinking, worrying, anxiety, and fear. When we create some inner space and a quieter mind, watch how God gladly enters that space to fill you with inner strength, hope, life, and peace.
We are taking a break from our regularly scheduled programming for the month of August but will be back with new content in September! In the meantime, we are looking back at a few of our favorite episodes.
Challenges are difficult, irritating at a minimum, but doorways into awareness of the power of our egoic mind to spin in negativity and unhappiness. They are also wonderful doorways into the experience of God’s amazing and gracious presence within our challenges, for when we are weak, we are strong in God.
We are taking a break from our regularly scheduled programming for the month of August but will be back with new content in September! In the meantime, we are looking back at a few of our favorite episodes.
How fortunate it is for a tree to be planted along a riverbank! Anchored deep into the soil, and with plenty of water to drink, this tree can withstand the most difficult of circumstances. We are that tree, anchored in God. We, too, can stand strong and resilient, bending but not breaking, flourishing and producing delicious fruit.
We are taking a break from our regularly scheduled programming for the month of August but will be back with new content in September! In the meantime, we are looking back at a few of our favorite episodes.
Sometimes we need reminders (and painful ones at that!) to wake up -- to be aware and conscious of what’s going on in our life. Being on autopilot, or worse, resisting things about our life, makes it hard to spot and surrender to God’s activity on our journey.
We are taking a break from our regularly scheduled programming for the month of August but will be back with new content in September! In the meantime, we are looking back at a few of our favorite episodes.
Today we examine scarcity vs. abundance, working from the Dr. Phil question of “How’s that working for you?” Our approach to life strongly influences our journey. The openness of the portals of our hearts and minds to the abundance of God and the universe makes all the difference in the world.
We are taking a break from our regularly scheduled programming for the month of August but will be back with new content in September! In the meantime, we are looking back at a few of our favorite episodes. Our inner life can seem a bit more hidden than our outer life. Actually, it can appear that all there is to us is the outer life. Enjoy a quiet moment to allow your heart and spirit to speak. There’s much to be learned by looking within.
The kingdom of God, or this presence of Christ -- this universal community and presence of beloved human beings -- resides in each of us, already, just waiting to be discovered and increasingly lived out . . . that’s an amazing thought!
It is not always a bad thing to lose something! When it comes to the inner life, there is much to be gained from losing things that weigh us down and obscure our inner vision from seeing our real and true self that is inside of us, hidden in the love and mercy of God.
Our world is walking through a challenging, even turbulent time. But as we listen carefully -- in the quiet, in nature, in the words of a caring fellow journeyer -- the words of Jesus rise above all the turbulence . . . “I came to bring you abundant life.
Hope, meaning, joy, and love -- all gifts of the Spirit that we spot as we look within at our spiritual journey. May your looking within turn into living it out through love for a hurting world.
It’s time to wake up, whatever that means for you and your journey. If we’ve learned nothing else during these past few months, it’s that life is uncertain, and for the good of the world around us, we can’t keep waiting to do or be what we’re meant to do or be. Wake up! God, and angels, and Love are ready to accompany you each step of the way.
Challenges are difficult, irritating at a minimum, but doorways into awareness of the power of our egoic mind to spin in negativity and unhappiness. They are also wonderful doorways into the experience of God’s amazing and gracious presence within our challenges, for when we are weak, we are strong in God.
I’m feeling like it’s time to be at my best, my most grounded and whole, so that whether my presence is needed in dialogue with others, or in action to help make our global community more livable, just, and life-giving for all, I’ll be ready, engaged, and able to offer my most loving and compassionate self.
Our thoughts, hopes, and dreams for a new world are not meant to replace outer actions, but their invisible, yet powerful presence can aid humanity’s endeavors to create a renewed and more just, loving, and inclusive world, for everyone.
If our inner journey does not lead to increasingly widespread love and inclusion of all people, and all of creation, then its worth is limited to our own comfort and pietistic needs. Jesus’ life and example calls us to a higher standard as we live in community with others.
How fortunate it is for a tree to be planted along a riverbank! Anchored deep into the soil, and with plenty of water to drink, this tree can withstand the most difficult of circumstances. We are that tree, anchored in God. We, too, can stand strong and resilient, bending but not breaking, flourishing and producing delicious fruit.
It takes courage to walk into an uncertain and unknown future. Thankfully, this courage and connectedness -- this ability to walk together in the joys and challenges of life -- is already inside of us through the presence of the always-connecting Divine Spirit.
Our resistance to life creates a constriction in us, both physically and spiritually. We become locked up, and closed off to the present moment -- the moment in which God resides. But our welcoming, our letting go and letting God can create a healing sense of peace, freedom, and an expansiveness which allows new possibilities to arise on our journey.
The Welcoming Prayer reminds us to welcome everything that comes to us in this Moment. We welcome thoughts, feelings, emotions, persons, situations, and conditions, knowing that the things that come into our hearts, minds, bodies, and daily schedules are in some way meant for our healing, growth, and transformation.
We work so hard to independently acquire security, affection, and control. When our efforts are thwarted, we experience frustration and unconscious behaviors and reactions. But there’s a visceral sense of freedom when we can let go and let God be the source of all that we need.
During these days of isolation, fear, uncertainty, and new normals, let your breath be a place where you find God. Imagine Jesus appearing before you as he did to the disciples on the evening of his resurrection. Share in their joy of seeing him and feeling his immediate Presence. Hear his words of peace and encouragement. And breathe in the breath -- as they did -- the life-giving breath of the Divine.
It’s the day after Easter, but fear, anxiety, uncertainty, feeling totally off balance due to the new normals of different routines and daily patterns . . . these move front and center into my mind and heart. I can forget that the Divine is holding all of us, and is always on the ready to be relied upon through thick and thin. Perhaps, at times, you forget this same thing.
Today is the final episode of our Lent Experience. It’s been wonderful to travel through these weeks with you. I hope you’ve enjoyed pondering some of the sections of Henry Nouwen’s book Life of the Beloved. I pray that you’ve come away with a renewed sense of God’s love for you personally, and with new eyes to spot the belovedness in others and all of creation.
Tomorrow is Maundy Thursday, the night when Jesus and his disciples gathered in the Upper Room to eat a final meal together. Jesus’ first sharing of the bread and wine (the Lord’s Supper) took place at this meal. The love of Jesus for his disciples -- and for all of us -- was on full display.
We begin the final week of our Lent Experience with an eye on what these weeks might mean for our lives: How will I carry out my personal mission to live as God’s beloved? How will being chosen, blessed, broken, and given show up in my words and actions, in my thoughts and motives? How will I love others, myself, creation, and God in my own unique way?
This week we’ve been pondering how each of us is given for the sake of others. This can happen through both our life, and through our death. We are called to live for others, but also to die for others. How is this possible?
There are many wonderful ways that we can give to others through our talents and skills or through our finances. But the greatest gift of all is our life. “Who can we be for each other?” is the core question. Being given is not so much what we can do, but who we are for others.
In a society that speaks more about having than giving, we find our deepest fulfillment by being given as a gift for others. Jesus’ entire life modeled this, and now more than ever, we are called to give our very lives to one another. Our lives truly do find final significance in being lived for others.
Each Friday’s bonus episode will include a Lovingkindness meditation. The meditation begins with words of self-love and self-compassion, spreading from there to express love for all others and creation. Acknowledging and welcoming our experiences of brokenness cracks open our hearts, and compels us to share loving kindness with others, and with all of creation.
Accepting and embracing our most challenging and painful experiences can crack our hearts open in ways that can be of help to both us and others. As we look back at things we’ve come through, we can spot lessons that we’ve learned, inner strength and perseverance that’s developed, and empathy that we’ve gained as we walk alongside others in their struggles.
You are beloved and perfect just the way you are! Both our perfections and imperfections are all meant to bless us, to provide us with greater wisdom and opportunities for inner healing, and to enable us to help someone else because of the lessons and strength that we’ve gained.
Each Friday’s bonus episode will include a Lovingkindness meditation. The meditation begins with words of self-love and self-compassion, spreading from there to express love for all others and creation. As the beloved of God, we can vulnerably name our areas of inner suffering and brokenness, and share compassion and lovingkindness with all of Humanity and creation.
Our struggles and brokenness carry clues for our healing. As we give these parts of our life to God -- letting them go -- we can break negative patterns and emotions, and find the peace of releasing something that is keeping, or has kept, a tight and life-draining hold on us.
I’ve heard it said that our struggles don’t define us, they refine us. Like the refining of gold, the fires of suffering and brokenness can make us stronger, more beautiful, more unique, and more priceless.
Each Friday’s bonus episode will include a Lovingkindness meditation. The meditation begins with words of self-love and self-compassion, spreading from there to express love for all others and creation. Our awareness and affirmations of being God’s beloved creates the starting point that propels us to share loving kindness with others, and with all of creation.
A beloved child of God, as we all are, is not immune to the challenges and uncertainties of life. And yet, knowing that we’re blessed and affirmed by God as a much loved son or daughter, we can feel certain that God “takes us by the hand and holds us fast.
Despite outward appearances that may lead you to feel somewhat more cursed, alone, and out of control than blessed, may you remember and hear God’s voice saying to you: “I am there”.
Each Friday’s bonus episode will include a Lovingkindness meditation. The meditation begins with words of self-love and self-compassion, spreading from there to express love for all others and creation. As we take in words and signs of blessing and affirmation of our true identity as God’s beloved, our sense of being blessed leads us to share loving kindness with others, and with all of creation.
Our Wednesday bonus episodes bring our topic for the week a little closer to home as I Invite you to examine something about your own life and journey a little more closely. This week, we reflect on what it means to be “blessed”.
To give a blessing is to affirm, to say “yes”, to a person’s belovedness. A blessing touches the original goodness of the other, calling forth his or her belovedness, and can provide the encouragement we need to keep going when life is hard and filled with challenges and uncertainties.
Each Friday’s bonus episode will include a Lovingkindness meditation. Like God’s love, the love offered in this meditation is unconditional. The meditation starts with the self, for once we start experiencing self-love and self-compassion for ourselves, we can offer the same to others, and to creation itself.
Our Wednesday episodes bring our topic for the week a little closer to home as I invite you to examine something about your own life and journey. a little more closely. This week, we reflect on what it feels like to be chosen, but also, to not be chosen.
To grow into becoming the beloved of God, we acknowledge with our whole being that we’re God’s chosen ones -- chosen just like Jesus was. It’s powerful to deeply absorb the feeling of being special, unique, precious, and treasured by God.
What does your own particular brand of ministry look like? You have unique gifts, talents, and life circumstances that create opportunities to love and serve others. How does ministry already show up in your life, or -- how might it show up?
Never underestimate the power of the smallest act of kindness and care. For when our words and actions flow from loving connection with God and others, then the world becomes an increasingly loving place filled with ministry, where the needs of all are noticed and tended to.
Perhaps someday there will be a world where all will know they’re the beloved of the Divine, and where caring community will exist and continue to grow through the momentum of this love. For now, don’t lose heart! Be assured of your belovedness, and then keep practicing helping others to hear that same voice sounding in them.
Community. It’s a wonderful part of life to be accepted and loved, and taken into a caring circle of friends or family. It’s truly a space in which our belovedness in God meets up with the same in others, and then a flywheel of love, acceptance, and inclusion is set in motion.
Communion, or connecting with God, provides time and some open space when God can tell you who you are, and how much you are loved. It’s a wonderful starting point for each day, and for each task that we encounter, filling us with enough love to give the same to others.
There is nothing better than a deep, inner knowing of the reality of being the beloved daughter or son of God. No matter what life brings your way, being in relationship with the Divine is living the good life!
2020 will certainly have its ups and downs for you and me, just like any year does. But we no longer need to be searching for our identity in outer things. Our relationship with God flows from a deep knowing that we are the beloved daughters and sons of God.
Like the wisemen in the Christmas story, we’re on a journey into the unknown. Though we often shy away from acknowledging and embracing our fears, we can befriend our most difficult moments and expect God’s light to shine brightest in those times when we lack hope.
May you complete this Christmas season deeply knowing and trusting in your immense value and belovedness. Let Love discover you, be filled with this Love, and experience the hope, joy, and peace of living in your true identity: a beloved daughter, or son, of God.
Perhaps I’m living in a fantasy world to think that we could possibly find any peace right smack in the middle of the Christmas season! But I believe that we can, that we can carve out even just a few minutes here and there to quiet our minds and hearts.
When we look to the world around us to bring us joy — looking to our activities or to other people — we tend to live in constant frustration, for often life is not giving us what we think we need. Joy actually comes from inside of us — from a conscious presence to the present moment, and from a renewed inner awareness of Christ’s presence.
Optimism is a great start! But the person of hope lives in the moment with a general knowledge and trust that all of life is in good hands, and without the need to know exactly how everything will turn out.
Gratitude has a powerful effect on our bodies, minds, and spirits. Appreciating even the little things, and seeing the good that is already in your life, helps us stay present to the present moment, and creates a tendency for even more good things to come into your life.T
Am I living my life in the way I’m meant to? Have I rehearsed enough, have I explored enough, have I nailed down some core values and a sense of what I’m called to at this present moment enough that I can say I’m ready for “opening night”?
Today we look at a final aspect of the transition curve: yielding to, rather than opposing the flow of life. This is surrender, a stance we can choose which greatly affects our next beginnings, and our ways of interacting with life and with God.
Liminal space -- a “threshold,” in-between time of “what was” and the “next”. Simultaneously we may experience excitement and anticipation mixed with lots of uncertainty and confusion. It’s a natural time to say, “I’m lost here. Help me, God!”
Beginnings. They end up being just as life-giving, or challenging, as endings. Life is restored, but different. It may even take time to recognize the new beginning, but we’re encouraged to just be where we are, learning to stop seeking control, being okay without figuring everything out... allowing our hearts to be cracked open to God’s presence and leading.
Every transition has an ending, and often the lack of choice is involved, making endings even more difficult. Naming things inside of you like fear, anger, disappointment, and unforgiveness is an important first step. Then this inner processing can lead us to the point of realizing that our minds will never fully understand our endings.
In every area of your life there is transition. The question is: are you willing to go deeper? Are you willing to examine your thoughts and feelings about your transitioning life situation that go below the surface of the superficial facts? It’s in these deeper places that we most readily find God.
Notice ways to travel more lightly on your journey -- to discard and let go of things and ways of thinking that no longer serve you. Live as that image and likeness of the Divine that you are.
Life can be wonderful when it’s full and busy, but we do well to also include some times to allow our souls to catch up with our bodies. Doing is wonderful, but being is key to your spiritual journey.
Sometimes we need reminders (and painful ones at that!) to wake up -- to be aware and conscious of what’s going on in our life. Being on autopilot, or worse, resisting things about our life, makes it hard to spot and surrender to God’s activity on our journey.
Today we examine scarcity vs. abundance -- Part 2 of a two part series on the Dr. Phil question of “How’s that working for you?” Our approach to life strongly influences our journey. The openness of the portals of our hearts and minds to the abundance of God and the universe makes all the difference in the world.
(Part 2 of 2, continued from Sept. 9)
The letters B-E-V stand for bitterness, entitlement, being a victim. Life doesn’t feel or work very well when we frequently live in the darkness of BEV. These three letters can be a helpful diagnostic when we find ourselves angry, offended, or miffed at something or someone. (Part 1 of 2, continued on Sept. 16)
Today we’ll consider Part 2 of a two part series on what it looks like to contemplatively experience God’s presence and activity in our lives. See how these first-hand, “heart” encounters with God can bring comfort and direction into your daily life. (Part 2 of 2, continued from Aug. 26)
Contemplation is a deeper way of being in relationship with God. It’s a way that goes beyond “head” information or a set of beliefs to having “eyes” to see and experience God everywhere. We can experience comfort, direction, and new meaning when we have these first-hand, “heart” encounters with the Living God.
(Part 1 of 2, continued on Sept. 2)
Today we’ll consider Part 2 -- the giving end -- of a two part series on “blessing.” As there are those in our lives who bless and encourage us, may we be this loving presence in the lives of others.
In a world of uncertainty, negativity, and fear, we can easily become discouraged, losing heart on our journey. Words from another -- the gift of a blessing -- can renew your courage, and draw a circle of light around you to protect, heal, and strengthen you. This is part one of a two part series that will conclude with part two on August 19.
Like an eagle soaring on the currents of the wind, life can be more of a “relaxing into” than a stress-filled pressing and pushing to make things happen.
How do you tend to spend your daily supply of inner spiritual energy? Today’s quiet moments of looking within can help you to be mindful of how you use and conserve the precious and finite inner energy that you’ve been given each day.
Both “looking within” and “living it out” are essential on your journey. The natural and human worlds desperately need our sense of God’s presence and love to be lived out in very tangible, hands-on ways.
Looking Within is a podcast for the spiritual explorer in each of us. Weekly episodes, led by Julie Stevens, invite the listener to explore the inner life using a contemplative lens. Through contemplative practices and ways of looking at the spiritual journey, we hope you gain a sense of hope, meaning, joy, and love.
Looking Within is a podcast for the spiritual explorer in each of us. Weekly episodes, led by Julie Stevens, invite the listener to explore the inner life using a contemplative lens. Through contemplative practices and ways of looking at the spiritual journey, we hope you gain a sense of hope, meaning, joy, and love.