Devotions based on Macrina’s Wiederkehr’s book, Gold in Your Memories

Sometimes we need a way to honor and name the sacred longings within us and seek new ways to ritualize our relationship with God and one another. A ritual is a way of celebrating who we are and to touch who we’ve been and who we’re becoming. On some of our ritual journeys we may discover pieces of forgiveness we didn’t know we possessed, or love and faith waiting to make their presence known.  A ritual doesn’t have to be complex but may be something as simple as a poem, a song, or dance in which we express our feelings. It could be returning to the grave of a loved one, but even memories of pain can show us how far we have come on our journey. As John O’Donohue says, “Nothing is ever lost or forgotten. Everything is stored within your soul in the temple of memory. Therefore, as an old person, you can happily go back and attend your past time; you can return through the rooms of that temple, visit the days that you enjoyed and the times of difficulty where you grew and refined yourself.”  We need to make use of the opportunities we have for ritual celebrations. The author herself celebrates her birthday once a month on the 28^th by spending time in prayer, time with beauty, time to reflect gratefully on her birth etc. She has written poems of important people in her life and gone to their graves and let her feelings flow. Every event in life can be ritualized. Times of ritual celebration can become moments of integration and healing, helping us to connect with both joy and sorrow.  Rituals have a way of living on in our memories.

Devotions based on Macrina Wiederkehr’s book, Gold in Your Memories

Books are important in our lives and help us understand who we are and how to live and die.  Through books we meet people that struggle with the same things we do.  We may receive insight into our own lives and they may help us open the door of our hearts wider to the gold in our memories. As we walk through the pages, the authors may call us to prayer, inspire us, challenge us, console us and encourage us. They can be a healing force in our lives. Sometimes we find a special book just at the right time in our lives and it is like finding water in a desert. Sometimes a book may waken dreams in our lives that need our attention. Sometimes we may feel invaded by an enemy and then unexpectedly a book comes along that is almost as good as a therapist.  A book can help teach us how to be in relationship with the wounds of our past in such a way that they become our teachers.  Books can have a powerful affect on us and we need to listen to the wisdom they offer.

Devotions based on Macrina Wiederkehr’s book, The Gold in Your Memories

The author had an impact on a woman who was dying and the family flew Macrina to be with this woman in her last days. She wrote a poem as she was touched about death being a gift. A few words of her poem are: “ Every day is a good day for living and every day is a good day for dying. I want my life to be a gift so that my death can be a gift.”  She quotes Anne Lammott, “ My deepest belief is that to live as if we’re dying can set us free. Dying people teach you to pay attention and to forgive and not to sweat the small stuff.”  The challenge for us is to live each day as though we are dying.  Marcina, herself, had a malignant tumor by her ovary and the experience helped her to know how to live. She saw everything from a new perspective and gave her a new outlook on life.   Let us also behold rather than merely look at one another and see others as a work of art.  In our beholding we will begin to understand the shadows, the rough places and the many experiences that are all part of the beauty of the mosaic of our lives.

Devotions from Macrina Wiederkehr’s book, Gold in Your Memories

As we open the book of our lives we will discover layers and layers of stories, and we need to listen to them with a depth. Even the painful memories can become gold. Some pleasant memories may come to us as a surprise and bring us a unexpected source of renewal. We can think of our memories as a mosaic, as it is suggestive of a work of art. And every person’s’ life is a work of art.  As we learn to be present to our experiences, each piece of the life that is ours eventually finds a home in our hearts. Sometimes there are pieces we would rather leave out as they are dark and we think they will ruin our mosaic. But to deny any of those pieces is to deny who we are. As we replace denial with acceptance we will begin to see our whole life as a beautiful painting of many colors. In the end the shadow and dark places of our mosaic may add beauty to the work of art that we are becoming.

What has happened in our past is not unimportant but is worthy of space in our present life.

Devotions based on the book, Gold in Your Memories by Macrina Wiederkehr

Each season of life contains unique memories. Sometimes painful memories can take center stage and force the golden ones to retreat.  If our heart was torn open by memories of things that should never have been, there will come a time when we will have strength and courage to lean into our painful story and allow it to be integrated into our lives and become one of our teachers. Occasionally we need a time of hibernation, which is not the same as hiding. We may hibernate until we grow strong and wise enough to let our painful memories harmonize with our lives and embrace them. Then we can begin remembering the flowers ( people, experiences, and moments that are beautiful) that have brought healing and joy to us. As we return to these moments they are like a sacred place in our spirit and bring us comfort and strength. Let us discover the gold in our lives, that which is able to soften our hearts and restore our hope. It can be the memory of loving people in our lives who have stood with us, or moments that have brought comfort, or a thing of beauty etc etc.  But let us claim all of life as our teacher even if we have to travel through a dark forest to reach the place of light and healing.

I did begin writing about my childhood experiences and must get back to writing about the rest of my life. When we began packing for our move to the Lake I put my diaries etc away so will have to get them out again. Two friends have written of their life experiences and it was enlightening to read. Each life is so different and even how we write about it.

Devotions based on Macrina Wiederkehr’s book, Gold in Your Memories

All of us need to discover the gold in our lives by mining the memories that have been lost and forgotten. These memories need to be received, accepted and integrated into our lives so healing can take place. They come all mixed up and not just “Joyful Memories only” or “Painful memories only?”  It is even possible to have happy and sad ones at the same moment. As we gather our memories we will feel alive, renewed, fulfilled, and full of hope. As we remember the gold, it can continue to bless us today. Our souls are the keeper of our memories and even the painful memories can work for our good when we are in touch with our souls. Memories matter and they are a part of who we are. We don’t live our lives in the past, but we need to gather all the pieces and “like beads of life gathered together to create a beautiful necklace of experience.” Hidden in even our painful history are lessons waiting to be learned as they contain seeds of wisdom. As we return to these remembrances they can be for us as a school of life. We learn from both pain and joy. “In the underground river of our unconscious all of these memories wait for us. “

A friend wrote a book of her life and in it she quoted Joyce Rupp. I would like to share what she wrote on Gratitude.
                            Gratitude

        “To be grateful for what is,

    instead of underscoring what is not.

To find good amid the unwanted aspects of life,

 without denying the presence of the unwanted.

   To focus on beauty in the little things of life,

 as well as being deliberate about the great beauties

     of art, literature, music, and nature.

To be present to one’s own small space of life,

 while stretching to the wide world beyond it.

To find something to laugh about in every day,

even when there seems nothing to laugh about.

   To search for and to see the good in others,

rather than remembering their faults and weaknesses.

To be thankful for each loving deed done by another,

    no matter how insignificant it might appear.

       To taste life to the fullest,

    and not take any part of it for granted.

  To seek to forgive others for their wrongdoings,

  even immense ones, and to put the past behind.

To find ways to reach out and help the disenfranchised,

    while also preserving their dignity and self-worth.

        To be loving and caring as possible,

   in a culture that consistently challenges these virtues.

          To remember to say or send “thank you”

          for whatever comes as a gift from another.

                      To be at peace

             with what cannot be changed.
                         ——————————–

                                   Joyce Rupp

Devotions based on James Smith book, The Good and Beautiful Community

From James’ book, we are made aware of how much we need community on our spiritual journeys. It is within community that we can share the excitement  of discovering God’s kingdom at work in our lives.  It is within community that we can celebrate the new insights we receive and challenge one another.” It is within community that we realize the gifts God has given to us personally and to our brothers and sisters in Christ. It is also within community that we uncover the wounds and issues the Holy Spirit is bringing to light. What a wonderful gift community really is!”  May we all be blessed with a loving community in which to belong and to see His kingdom in our midst!

Devotions based on James Smith’s book, The Good and Beautiful Community
The author gives some practical ways of making our worship experience more meaningful. So often we may be running late or get distracted or frustrated with our worship experience. But it is good to remember that it isn’t all about meeting my needs as much as shaping our souls.

One way is to create some margin in terms of time and begin with the right attitude. Instead of rushing into church at the last minute, it is helpful to arrive before the service starts and become fully attentive, lifting our heart up to Him!

Come with holy expectancy. It may be something as simple as offering a prayer that the Lord would speak to us. We might start with focusing on one particular aspect of worship this week. For example if we choose singing, pay attention to the words and notice what is happening to us as a community as we sing.  Another way is to apply one thing.  Worship transforms us and leads us into new patterns of living. We need to pay attention to what God might be asking us to do this week. “Just as worship begins with holy expectancy it ends with holy obedience.” Let us try to discern what one thing God may be asking of us and put it into practice this week.