LUTHERAN |
Spiritual Development |
Do You See Me?
The dark cloud lingered for days… then weeks… then months… and into another year. It robbed her of energy and joy in living. Every morning, upon waking, there would be a little hope, a brief feeling that maybe today the dark cloud wouldn’t come… that maybe today there would be energy. Then the heavy darkness would descend and it would be another day of struggling to not slip into the deep pit of despair and darkness. Who would notice the heaviness she carries? Jimmy’s mother would often say, “We should’ve been able to help Jimmy.” Jimmy, diagnosed with schizophrenia, died by suicide. Who would help his mother grieve? Crazy thoughts jumbled her mind, thoughts of ending her life came uninvited. Now she found herself in a room without anything that she could use to harm herself…cold and alone. Who would visit or even send a card offering a reminder of love and support? Mental health issues affect all of us. It may be our own, a family member or a friend. While we’ve come a long way with medication and treatments, there is still much we do not know or understand. Stigma, The other reality is that many people, often ourselves included, are hesitant to reach out to people struggling with mental health issues. Perhaps due to our own discomfort, feeling incompetent (this isn’t my area of expertise), concerns of safety or just not knowing how to show up in a helpful manner. When I think of Jesus and the way he interacted with people in need of healing (including frightening people with demons), he doesn’t shy away. He sees people and looks upon them with compassion and a desire to offer them healing and wholeness…. and I wonder, how healing was it, simply to have one’s pain and suffering acknowledged, to be looked upon, seen in a world that easily shuns people in pain. |
Resources for Spiritual Growth and Development
Welcome to the Prayer Ventures resource page. These petitions are offered as guides to prayer for the global, social and outreach ministries of the ELCA, as well as for the needs and circumstances of our neighbors, communities and world. Thank you for your continued prayers for the life and mission of this church.
Click here to link to the monthly list of prayer intentions: https://www.elca.org/Resources/Prayer-Ventures
Center for Action and Contemplation Fr. Richard Rohr is a Franciscan of the New Mexico Province and the Founder of the Center for Action and Contemplation in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Joyce Rupp This is a wonderful spiritual resource from author and retreat and conference speaker, and spiritual "midwife". Joyce has a B.A. (Bachelor of Arts) in English, a M.R.E. (Masters in Religious Education), and a M.A. (Master of Arts) in Transpersonal Psychology. She is a member of the Servite Community (Servants of Mary) and was a volunteer for Hospice for fifteen years. She currently resides in Des Moines, Iowa. To sign up for her monthly newsletter go to joyce@joycerupp.com. Daily Grace from Women of the ELCA (WELCA) Daily Grace is an on-the-go companion for your journey, offering a faith reflection every day. Encounter God’s extravagant, boundless and often surprising grace by signing up for a daily email message. You can also download the newly updated app for your IOS and Android devices. | God Pause Daily Devotion Looking for spiritual refreshment? God Pause email devotions are short, meaningful reflections on the following Sunday's lessons and gospel delivered directly to your email box. By Sunday, you'll be ready for an extra meaningful worship experience. Melissa's Prayer Journal: The Power of Prayer in the Face of Cancer Lectio 365 If you are drawn to Lectio Divina as a prayer practice, Lectio365 is a daily devotional virtual resource that helps you pray the Bible every day. Written by leaders from the 24-7 Prayer movement, this resource helps you engage with the word, fix your eyes on Jesus, and connect with God in prayer. TEXT & AUDIO – Read or listen to every devotional. The app is free and is available through the Google Play store. |
Spiritual direction is, in reality, nothing more than a way of leading us to see and obey the real Director — the Holy Spirit hidden in the depths of our soul. (Thomas Merton, Trappist monk, USA)
Some of you may wish to seek a spiritual director as a way to nurture your own spirituality. Spiritual maturity and growth is critical for the parish nurse. As you support others in body, mind, and spirit, tending to your own soul is important. Spiritual Direction is only one way of keeping yourself centered and grounded spiritually. You perhaps have other disciplines and practices that meet this need for you.
Contact Carol DeSchepper for a more in-depth discussion of Spiritual Direction, including access to a web site to locate a Spiritual Director.