Introducing Connection Messenger Sherry Woodcock, author, blogger, and spiritual teacher. This is an excerpt from her new book, Daily Spiritual Tools.

Sometimes I find myself too busy. It’s a tendency I learned in childhood, taking on too much responsibility for things to try to keep my world safe. I’m not complaining; I’m definitely not the only person in the world who believes at times that she can hold it up single-handedly. That particular part of my personality has provided me with a good deal of compassion and a desire to make things better in my own small way. I am grateful for the opportunity to learn what I learn from it, and I continue looking for balance in my life.

Last night I came home from work feeling stressed and really looking forward to my meditation time. I was aware that I needed to stop for a while, but more than that, I also felt that I needed some help with all of it. I was too burdened, in that moment, to even know what kind of help I was seeking. I was eager to just sit and rest, and let the answers come.

As I closed my eyes and grounded my body, the voice of God within me reminded me clearly to keep it simple and come as a child. I felt instantly eased as my body caught up with the fact that I could be very gentle in my attention to myself, because there was nothing else to be concerned about. As I sat in communication with the God of my heart, I was able to be the center of my own universe, knowing that all existed for my good, much like a child involved in some kind of wonderful, creative play. In my simple meditation, I watched as my own electric blue life force energy coursed through my body, aware at the same time of Father/Mother God standing over my shoulder, watching over me, shielding me, and orchestrating everything for good.

I know myself as a child of God, made in her image, creator without limit of my own sacred life. But I don’t think I’d ever perceived myself as God’s child, beloved, precious and safe, seeing myself as God does, without the need to do anything to earn my place here. I sometimes think that all human worry stems from the very common but flawed thinking that if we could just fulfill some role a little better we just might be allowed to stay.

There’s a part in Neale Walsch’s Conversations With God in which God says, “You can’t hear my truth until you stop telling me yours.” I believe that’s what happened last night in my meditation. When I finally released my own agenda, stopped trying to control the outcome of everything in my thinking, and just sat quietly waiting for the truth I sought, the voice of my knowing reminded me that we are, all of us, held in the benevolent hands of infinite good. I know in my head that I am safe and that divine intelligence is at work, but I really appreciate those times when I know it in my heart and my body as well. It’s balm for the soul of the scared child that exists as a part of me, and for the fairly capable grown-up who sometimes needs a very solid reminder that she, and the rest of this planet, are safe in the perfect design of ongoing creation.

May this tool be a blessing. . .

Sherry

[NOTE FROM ELIZABETH: Many are familiar with the verse from Matthew 18:3: "And he [Jesus] said, ‘I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.’” What is it about becoming like children that seems to resonate across so many different cultures and religious orientations? Share your thoughts below or join the conversation on our Heartspoken Facebook Page.]

Sherry Woodcock

Sherry Woodcock is a spiritual teacher, mother, grandmother, wife and author of Daily Spiritual Tools, the blog and the book (available in both paperback and e-book/Kindle formats).  Sherry is on a life-long journey to find God in daily life.  “If we are able to know God within ourselves, and as ourselves, in the midst of the day-to-day events of our lives, work, parenting, paying bills, doing our best and our not-so-best, we help to elevate others and our world.”  

Introducing Nature Connection Messenger/Artist: Jackie Catteron

Jackie Catterton, Watercolorist

Sometimes you come across a work of art that is so full of light and warmth and beauty that you just wish you could meet the artist. That happened to me last year when I bought some beautiful notecards featuring birds and flowers and country scenes that just…well, they just made me happy!

When you’re a notewriting evangelist like I am, unique and quality stationery is important, so on a whim, I decided to contact the artist of these beautiful notes and see if she had any interest in letting me sell them on my Heartspoken website.

Jackie Catterton turned out to be as lovely a human being as she is a talented artist, and imagine my surprise and delight when we met for the first time and realized very quickly that we were kindred spirits too! Jackie is a deeply committed Christian, and she loves nothing more than sharing her faith and joy from life with others. In fact, she has spent much of her professional life serving others too, first as a teacher, then as a certified nursing assistant, and later as an Activities Director certified by the Virginia Association for Activities Professionals (VAAP).

Fortunately for us, Jackie felt inspired since her retirement in the Shenandoah Valley and decided to develop her natural artistic talent by capturing the beauty she sees in God’s creation all around her in her amazing watercolors. “If my work can bless someone in any way, then that is what motivates me,” says Jackie.

I consider Jackie a Connection Messenger for at least two reasons. By having the courage to connect with her own inner gifts and talents, Jackie inspires others to do the same. Age is irrelevant when it comes to letting your light shine! Jackie’s artwork also connects us to God’s creation and the beauty of Nature. I find myself noticing the way light plays on a flower or tree or bird and appreciating it all the more because of thinking how Jackie would capture it in one of her vibrant watercolors.

I am grateful not only for Jackie’s gift with light and color, but I am grateful for her kindness and friendship. Many times, she has sent me an encouraging email or a Scripture quote just when I needed it. Now that I appreciate Jackie’s inner beauty, I get even more pleasure out of using her beautiful cards. Here are two below,  but be sure to visit the Heartspoken Gifts pages to see more of Jackie’s creations.

Floral Bouquet and Specimen Notecards

Bird and Country Landscape Notecards

Forget Me Nots by Jackie Catterton

In His Light by Jackie Catterton

There are times in our lives when we’ve got to summon untapped reserves of strength, courage, and resolute endurance in the face of adversity. If we’re lucky, these times are few and far between, but sometimes we face a chronic or long-term situation–terminal illness or disability in ourselves or a loved one–in which these reserves run dry.

What miracle of faith, hope and spirit keeps people from giving up? Can we build up these reserves when times are easier? Can the love and concern of others be a well from which we draw encouragement when our own supply is low? Can we practice leaning on a higher power in times of plenty so that it seems natural when we are in want?

I believe we can…and we must.

I was touched and inspired by a recent short post from The Rev. Alexander D. MacPhail in his blog A Way Through the Wilderness. It was called “Don’t Give Up.” I hope you’ll read the whole piece, but it ends with these encouraging words:

My father says that reciting a verse from Rudyard Kipling’s poem “If” over and over again was the only thing that got him through his Army Air Corps training (running with a backpack in the Arizona desert) when he was preparing for WWII combat:

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The hymn Rock of Ages is a touchstone for me when I need to overcome fear. In my mind’s eye,  I can still see the beautiful illustration for this song in a children’s hymnal:  a youth with a serene expression on his face, crouched in the safety of a rock crevice while lightening and storm surround him.

What words have encouraged you in the hard parts of your life?

Introducing Connection Messenger: The Rev. Alexander D. MacPhail

Life does seem like a wilderness sometimes, doesn’t it? We’re blown by winds that are beyond our control. We’re scratched and bloody from making our way through thorny issues and prickly people. Sometimes we hear siren songs. Sometimes we hear banshees. When we’re genuinely seeking God, why can it feel as though we’re in the center of an empty echo chamber? How can we integrate things as elusive as Faith and God into the woof and warp of our ordinary, everyday lives?

I find comfort and inspiration from men and women of faith who are honest about their own spiritual journey and can offer encouragement and guidance. One such Connection Messenger is the Rev. Alexander D. MacPhail. Alexander is the Rector of Beckford Parish, which consists of two Episcopal congregations in the Shenandoah Valley. My husband and I are among his loyal congregants.

I commend to you Alexander’s blog, A Way Through the Wilderness.  Insightful, spiritually authentic and articulate, this blog is a well for drawing cool, clear inspiration that is written for real people with real lives. He shares his weekly sermons on this blog, along with other reflections on the intersection between real Life and real Spirit.  “I’m that priest you hear about who is half monk, half scholar, and half regular feller. At least two halves are always present.”

Alexander’s post called “The Mystery of Surrender” speaks to the human need for connection: “Your life has dignity and meaning and value. Choose to love and to be kind. Surrender to that. Trust in God for everything else.”

Surrender…Let go…Trust in God…all worthy goals that I will continue to keep before me. Oh, but they chafe against my nature to do…and accomplish…and understand!