Spirituality – Page 2 – I and Thou Reflections

When We Feel Scattered

A Series of Sacred Belonging

Scripture for Today:

He gathers the lambs in His arms and
carries them close to His heart…

— Isaiah 40:11

Reflection:

Some days, we feel scattered.
Due to demands.
In the workplace and at home.
Too much stress.
Too much on our plates to juggle.
Too much change in a short time.
Disconnection from others.
Or ourselves.
Ambiguous loss or grief.

We may not even know what scattered us.
A conversation that left us uneasy.
An uninvited memory.
A season of time.
Sometimes we just don’t know.
And yet—God gathers.
Because He knows.

He gathers us with tenderness – not force.
With compassion – not shame.
We who may have gone astray.
He gathers us all.
The weary.
The wandering.
The souls who feel they are far too gone.

God carries us.
When we can’t carry ourselves.
You are not forgotten.
You are not too far.
You are not alone.

God scoops us up.
And in His arms, we remember who we are.

One of Sacred Belonging.

#SacredBelonging #Faith #SpiritualJourney #Grace #Thanksgiving #ThankfulHeart #Spirituality

Sacred Belonging

A Series for November

We all long to belong.
Not just to fit in, but to be known.
To be received.
To be held in the quiet spaces of grace.

This series was born from that longing.

It’s for the scattered heart, the questioning soul, the weary caregiver.
It’s for those who have wandered, waited, and wondered.
It’s for those who are seeking.
Those wishing to open the door.

Each reflection is a gentle invitation—
to pause, breathe, and listen.
To create space.
To welcome the stranger.
To receive grace and offer it freely.

You won’t find quick fixes here.
But you will find:
Presence.
A sacred space.
Scripture.
Questions that stir.

Because sacred belonging isn’t earned.
It’s received. It’s the place we were always meant to be.

One of Sacred Belonging.

#SacredBelonging #Faith #SpiritualJourney #Grace #Thanksgiving #ThankfulHeart #Spirituality

Finding Calm in a Chaotic World – Part 12: Peace Beneath the Stars

Endless Universe

*Image Source:* *“Open Star Cluster NGC 6791”*
*by HubbleColor {Zolt} is marked with Public Domain Mark 1.0.*

Last time, we imagined an endless universe filled with shimmering stars. We heard the silent symphony of wonder and grace. And some of us were bold enough to step outside, look upward, and reflect on our Divine Creator.

Today, we conclude this series by letting go of our worries and feeling the vastness of the stars that shine.

Stars

Stretching east to west.
Silent.
Sacred.
Majestic.

And utterly captivating

Let Worries Fade

Let the stars light your path.
To lay your burdens along the way.
Let their twinkles pierce your heart,

As you say goodbye to them.

A Benediction

May you find calm in the living water in a well that never dries.
May you find strength in the roots of trees standing tall.
May you rise with the mountains and conquer the chaos within.
May your worries effortlessly be carried off by the winds of time.
May you hear the songs of flowers that soothe your soul.
May the sun shine and melt your troubles away.
May you find eternal calm in the twinkling of each star.

Thank you for journeying with me in this sacred space.

#April #StressAwarenessMonth #Calm #GodsPeace #Nature #Water #Trees #Mountains #Wind #Gardens #Sunlight #Stars

Finding Calm in a Chaotic World – Part 11: Shimmering Stars

What better way to end a blog series on finding the calm in a chaotic world than to look up to the stars? Because there, we will find peace in the night sky.

Each Star Has a Name

He determines the number of the stars and calls them each by name.
Psalm 147:4

*Image Source: publicdomainpictures dot net*

Peace Beneath the Stars

Stars shimmer in the sky,
Whispering an endless universe.
Silver rays stretch across the heavens.
A gentle hush.

That only you can hear.

A Love Whisper

Shhh.
Take a moment.
In the darkness of the night,
Go outside and take a peek.
Look up.
Gaze at the twilights in the sky.

What do you see?

Can you feel it?

The celestial quilt wraps around you,
A symphony of wonder and grace.
The stars glimmer in unison,
Whispering that the day is done.

Action

Step outside in the night sky.
Breathe in its stillness.
Reflect on God’s unending care.
Let go.
Feel the calm.
Let awe settle in.

Reflective Question

Where do I need to surrender to the vastness of God’s plan? Perhaps in your struggles, dreams, or anxiety?

Join me next time as we lay our burdens beneath the stars to find calm in a chaotic world.

#April #StressAwarenessMonth #Calm #GodsPeace #Nature #Water #Trees #Mountains #Wind #Gardens #Sunlight #Stars

Finding Calm in a Chaotic World – Part 10: Sunlight

Healing Sun

But for you who revere my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its rays. And you will go out and frolic like well-fed calves.
Malachi 4:2

Holy Sun

Photo Credit: “Sunbeams Streaming through Leaves” by
Yoshikazu TAKADA is *licensed under CC BY 2.0.*

Its holy glow surrounds the globe and comforts us with warmth. Golden rays nourish nature and encourage her to grow.

Just as we need air to breathe and daily bread.

A Love Dance

Shhh.
Take a peek.
Don’t look up.
Instead, look at a sunbeam.

What do you see?
Do you see it?
A thousand rays of light
dancing all around you.

Dancing just for you.

Sun shines down from heaven and hears our prayers one by one.
As if to listen and then respond with the perfect dance.

A love dance only for you.

Sunlight

Extending across the sky.
Converging to the ground.
Rays dance as they entertain.
Stunning.
Elegant.

And so beautiful.

Let Worries Vanish

As sunlight soothes your soul, cast your worries into its beam, where they will vanish at twilight.

Action

Spend time outside in natural light. Soak in the warmth. Reflect on God’s healing presence.
Let go.
Feel the warmth.
Let peace settle in.

Reflective Question

Where do I need to invite more of God’s light into my life?

Maybe in your thoughts, heart, home, or relationships?

#April #StressAwarenessMonth #Calm #GodsPeace #Nature #Water #Trees #Mountains #Wind #Gardens #Sunlight

Finding Calm in a Chaotic World – Part 9: Flowers

Flowers appear on the earth; the season of singing has come,
the cooing of doves is heard in our land.
Song of Songs 2:12

Flowers Calm the Soul

Close your eyes for a moment and imagine a garden of wild, blooming flowers swaying in the breeze. The colors are vivid yet gentle. As if to paint a beautiful landscape right before your very eyes.

Now, take a deep breath and smell the fragrant air. Crisp and carrying whispers of hope and inspiration.

Flowers have a calming effect on the soul. If we let them. Their petals seem to want to gently embrace our souls.

And they seem to sing a song.

A Love Song

Shhh.
Take a moment.
Listen.
Hear the soft rustle of petals in the wind?
A melody of peace, mercy, and grace.
Let the flowers sing.

A love song only to you.

Flowers

A rose of many layers.
A daisy, simple yet resilient.
Wildflowers dancing in the wind.
Each one shares a gift.

A gift of calm.

Let Worries Go

Cast your worries in the garden, where they will churn with the soil.

Let them twist and turn until they die.

Then, next season, seedlings will poke through the ground. And in the place where your fears once lay, hearty stems will rise.

Of new beginnings.
Of resilience.
Of joy rising from the earth.

Flowers don’t cause chaos.

They whisper peace into our chaotic world, telling us to slow down and smell the flowers.

Action

Step outside. Find a flower—any flower. Observe it closely.
Its shape.
Its fragrance.
Its color.
Then close your eyes and breathe deeply.

Let God meet you in that sacred stillness where you are
growing,
blooming,
and deeply loved.

Reflective Question

Where in my life do I need to slow down and allow peace to bloom?

#April #StressAwarenessMonth #Calm #GodsPeace #Nature #Water #Trees #Mountains #Wind #Gardens #Sunlight #Stillness

Finding Calm in a Chaotic World – Part 8: Trust the Wind

Last time, we explored the gentle nature of the wind.

This time, we will look at how even the fiercest winds can become an invitation to trust and surrender.

Whipping Icy Winds

I remember a February day in 2011, right in the middle of a nor’easter. Snow and ice pelted my face as I tried to shovel a path to my car. It felt impossible. Each time I threw snow to the side, the wind blew it back.

I was cold.
Tired.
Frustrated.
And then, like so many times before, I surrendered.

And just like that, a song filled my heart. I started to hum it. Then, quietly, I began to sing it to myself. By the time I finished the song, the sidewalk was clear.

I was still cold.
Still tired.
But something in me had shifted.

Because once I let go and let God, the wind seemed to go away.

Whispering Warm Winds

Other times, the wind feels like a warm embrace. Can you imagine that? Sitting on the front porch, feeling a breeze through the screen.

I close my eyes.
I breathe.
And in the stillness, I sense a nearness to God.

It’s funny how wind can stir up chaos or bring a deep calm.

Sometimes, it’s in the fierce gusts that we learn to trust.
Sometimes, it’s in the gentle breeze that we find peace.

Action

Step outside. Feel the breeze against your skin.

Take deep, slow breaths—
Inhale peace.
Exhale stress.
Invite God’s presence to move through you like the wind.
There, you can cast your worries to the wind.

Reflective Question

Where do I need to invite God’s breath of renewal into my life?

See you next time.

#April #StressAwarenessMonth #Calm #GodsPeace #Nature #Water #Trees #Mountains #Wind #Gardens #Sunlight #Stillness

Finding Calm in a Chaotic World – Part 6: Rise Up With The Mountains

Last time, we talked about the mountains we climb every day. We experienced the struggle of the climb. And explored how climbing the mountain can lead us to a higher perspective.

Today, we lift our eyes to the heavens as we calm the chaos of the mountains in our lives.

Lift Our Eyes to the Heavens

Mountains remind us to lift our eyes.

Lift them upward to God.
Our Guide.
Our Shepherd.
Our Redeemer.

Mountains call us to pause.

To breathe.
To rest in the presence of something greater than ourselves.

Mountains call us to reflect.

Where you stand.
What you’ve been through.
Where you’re going next.

Mountains are symbols.

Of strength.
Of ruggedness.
Of rock solid certainty.

Mountains represent accomplishment.

The climb.
The endurance.
The moment you stand at the top and breathe in the vastness.
To take it in.
To be.

Mountains serve to remind us.

Even in the climb, there is peace.
Even in the struggle, there is clarity.
Even in the chaos, there is calm.

A Love Song

Shhh.
Take a listen.
Hear the mountain? It seems to sing, doesn’t it?
A love song just for you.

Mountain

Rugged.
Strong.
Resilient.
It sings a mighty song.
Yet, graces us with majesty.
As if to say, I am one with you.

A Place of Perspective

Shhh.
Take a moment.

Imagine yourself standing atop a mountain, looking out over the landscape below.

What do you see?

A new perspective? A challenge overcome? A glimpse of what’s ahead?

The mountain does not move.

Yet, from its peak, everything looks different. Even you!

Thanks be to God.

Action

Find a high place—a hill, a balcony, a rooftop. Stand and look out over the landscape. Take in the view. Breathe deeply.

Reflective Question

How can I shift my perspective to see my struggles through God’s eyes?

#April #StressAwarenessMonth #Calm #GodsPeace #Nature #Water #Trees #Mountains #Wind #Gardens #Sunlight #Stillness

Finding Calm in a Chaotic World – Part 3: Trees

Trees Calm the Soul

They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green.
Jeremiah 17:8

Trees Sing with the Wind

Let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them; let all the trees of the forest sing for joy.
Psalm 96:12

Strength in Roots

Have you ever considered a tree as a source of calm? Take a moment. Picture one in your mind.

What do you see?

Trees are majestic. Even young trees exhibit strength as they grow each year, getting taller and taller. They provide us with fruit, shade for protection and rest, and a place for birds to call home.

Much like the roots of trees, our faith can provide us with strength.

Trees Teach

Through storms and seasons, trees remain deeply rooted and unwavering. And in their quiet strength, they teach us many things.

To stand firm.
To bend and not break.
To reach for the light as we stay rooted.
And to drink deeply from the waters of life.

Trees protect us.
Like gentle guides, they lead us. If only we pause to listen to their sway, whispers, and song.

Next time, we’ll pick up from here and listen to the love song of a tree.

Image Source: “Spring Trees” by bcmom is licensed under CC BY 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/?ref=openverse.

#April #StressAwarenessMonth #Calm #GodsPeace #Nature #Water #Trees #Mountains #Wind #Gardens #Sunlight #Stillness

Finding Calm in a Chaotic World – Part 2: Water

Water Calms the Soul

He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters.
Psalm 23:2

Let Worries Flow Away

Close your eyes and imagine water. Cool. Flowing. Endless.

Let it take shape in your mind. Hold it. What do you see?

The water that runs out of a faucet? Or the water that gently falls as raindrops on a spring day? Or the pelting rain against a wind-chilled face? Or the water that bubbles around rocks in a brook?

A Love Song

Shhh.
Take a listen.
Hear the water flow, or drop, or gush. It seems to sing, doesn’t it?

A love song only to you.

Water.

It glistens.
It flows.
It’s almost invisible.

Yet, it is so beautiful when it is crystal clear.

As the song soothes your soul, cast your worries into the water, where they will wash away.

Action

Find a body of water (even a fountain or bath) and spend five minutes observing or listening to it.

Reflective Question

What anxieties can I release and let flow away today?

Image Credit: “babbling brook” by bato93 is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/?ref=openverse.

#April #StressAwarenessMonth #Calm #GodsPeace #Nature #Water #Trees #Mountains #Wind #Gardens #Sunlight #Stillness