"Whatever job we get and whatever task we are assigned can serve as a container for grace" (Eugene Peterson in "Practical Resurrection").
We pray that the words and sentences on this blog may also serve as "containers of grace" for its readers.
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Category Archives: Living as Apprentices
Expecting More from Technology and Less from Each Other
“We all need sacred spaces where we keep to ourselves and to the people close to us.” This statement by social scientist and psychologist, Sherry Turkel, on NPR this morning is a lament about our increasing tendency to being always “on” and … Continue reading
Posted in Living as Apprentices
Tagged Sherry Turkle, solitude, technology
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Making Memories with God
My son treated me to a concert of Simon and Garfunkel music yesterday by the Grand Rapids Symphony and guest vocalists who wonderfully channeled the songwriters’ music. It was a delightful musical experience, but more importantly it created a memory in our … Continue reading
Posted in Living as Apprentices
Tagged Apprentice of Jesus program
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God’s Greatest Blessing
A co-worker jolted me a bit today by mentioning that Thanksgiving is two weeks from today! We commiserated about how quickly the days go by. The conversation and some tasks at work got me thinking about counting our blessings – one of … Continue reading
Posted in Living as Apprentices
Tagged Apprentice Series, Count your blessings, James Bryan Smith
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“Live simply so that others can simply live”
I wish I could take credit for the profound quote above because it has been my philosophy for many years now. I read it in an article by Mark Hanlon called Stuff, an American Phenomenon in the Compassion magazine (Fall, 2012) … Continue reading
Posted in Living as Apprentices
Tagged child sponsorship, Richard Foster, simple living
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Living Every Moment
Back-to-back stories this morning on NPR about the play Our Town and about Pete Seeger brought me to tears – and reminded me of a vital practice in the “with-God” life: sacramental living. Our Town, the iconic play by Thornton Wilder, is about the Webb family, an ordinary family living … Continue reading
Posted in Living as Apprentices
Tagged Renovare, Sacramental living, the With-God life
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Holding all Things Loosely
A friend of mine keeps a small bowl of sand on her desk. Whenever she struggles to let go of a hurt or a worry or a problem that is not hers to solve, she holds some of the sand … Continue reading
Posted in Living as Apprentices
Tagged detachment, Ignatius of Loyola, Inner Compass, Margaret Silf, Richard Foster, spiritual disciplines
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Praying Psalm 23
Long ago, I learned Psalm 23 “by heart.” This means that I memorized it and it became part of my heart. I have said this psalm most nights for years. Recently I began to see how it can be used as a … Continue reading
The Kingdom Carpet
In The Good and Beautiful Life, James Bryan Smith reminds us that the Kingdom of God “operates only in the present moment. We can only live in the kingdom today. . . So worrying about tomorrow is a useless distraction. Just … Continue reading
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Living as Apprentices 