To Live Simply

Richard Rohr is an incredible modern day mystic. He has a gift of speaking the truth in simple yet profound ways. He is truly courageous. Part of the ability to pay attention (one suggested GL new year's resolution) is in living simply. This topic seems to continually come up in our discussions as harried mothers. Friar Rohr sent this meditation out today that speaks to just this thing.
Paz.

You can sign up to receive his daily meditations here.

Prayer: Teach me to live simply.

"Living in the second half of life, I no longer have to prove that I or my group is the best, that my ethnicity is superior, that my religion is the only one that God loves, or that my role and place in society deserve superior treatment. I am not preoccupied with collecting more goods and services; quite simply, my desire and effort—every day—is to pay back, to give back to the world a bit of what I have received. I now realize that I have been gratuitously given to–from the universe, from society, and from God. I try now, as Elizabeth Seton said, “to live simply so that others can simply live.”

Daily Bread

Lord, bless what Thou hast given
Feed our souls with bread from heaven;
Guide and lead us all the way
In all that we may do and say.
Amen

simple bread recipe from allrecipes.com. Look here.

Paying Attention

It's easy to overlook the little works by children but I do try to take a good look at their efforts to put together colors and design that turn into rich fantasy. It comes so naturally to all children. They can see a story everywhere. A parent taking notice is life giving to a child, to anyone in need of a smile or recognition. A child's life of pretend is a marvel. They certainly do pay attention. Take note. Barbara Brown Taylor says she would like to apprentice herself to a child. Yes!

"To apprentice oneself to a child is to learn that the world is full of wonders, a world in which nothing is simply what it seems because everything is packed with endless possibilities of usefulness and meaning." The Preaching Life

What do you see in a child's life when you pay attention?
paz. 

Words for You

"As soon as the generals and the politicos / can predict the motion of your mind, / lose it. Leave it as a sign / to mark the false trail, the way / you didn't go. Be like the fox / who makes more tracks than necessary, / some in the wrong direction. / Practice resurrection."

- Wendell Berry

Give Thanks

One way to pay attention is to give thanks for our family spaces like the kitchen.  One of my favorite quotes is:

"Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in, where nature may heal and give strength to body and soul." - John Muir

Spaces in our homes should be beautiful.  I think that is a feeling all people share throughout the world. Even in the most humble of homes there is beauty lurking in the corners. The amazing site pinterest.com has the most incredible collections of beautiful, lovely, heavenly rooms and images - all good for the soul.
paz.

Get Organized!

If you're like every other mother in the world part of your new year's resolutions were to be more organized. Better Homes and Gardens might change your life..... Give it a try! Follow this link to the command center binder information. Here.
If anything, it gives you a reason to run to Target or the Container Store. Also, it fulfills an innate need to reduce chaos in one's life by buying pretty folders. Any other organizing tips?
paz.

A Site for Women

A mother from the Friday mom's group just passed this link on for us. Check out the site here. The site is called (In) Courage. It's really nice to browse the blog and see what the different writers share about their faith and lives as women.
Below are 20 questions for reflection for the new year by Tsh Oxenreider.  We know her from the book we read Organized Simplicity.

20 Questions for a New Year’s Eve Reflection

1. What was the single best thing that happened this past year?
2. What was the single most challenging thing that happened?
3. What was an unexpected joy this past year?
4. What was an unexpected obstacle?
5. Pick three words to describe 2011.
6. Pick three words your spouse would use to describe your 2011 (don’t ask them; guess based on how you think your spouse sees you).
7. Pick three words your spouse would use to describe their 2011 (again, without asking).
8. What were the best books you read this year?
9. With whom were your most valuable relationships?
10. What was your biggest personal change from January to December of this past year?
11. In what way(s) did you grow emotionally?
12. In what way(s) did you grow spiritually?
13. In what way(s) did you grow physically?
14. In what way(s) did you grow in your relationships with others?
15. What was the most enjoyable part of your work (both professionally and at home)?
16. What was the most challenging part of your work (both professionally and at home)?
17. What was your single biggest time waster in your life this past year?
18. What was the best way you used your time this past year?
19. What was biggest thing you learned this past year?
20. Create a phrase or statement that describes 2011 for you.

paz.

New Year's Blessing

A new year wish for you:

A New Year's Blessing
May all that is unforgiven in you
Be released.

May your fears yield
Their deepest tranquillities.

May all that is unlived in you
Blossom into a future
Graced with love.

- John O'Donohue

Paying Attention

The last post is giving me a good idea to think about some ways we can pay attention. There is a saying in our house: When you pay attention to something and to life, life will go slower. Not a perfect saying but almost. The sentiment is there. One way to pay attention is to create together as a family. Check out the wonderful blog You Know How we're an Art Family. The author posts art projects and this moment photos of her children to document their lives. I think life slows down when we do this.  Enjoy and maybe you can start your own blog with your own this moment photos.
paz.

Resolution: Pay Attention

So food and a good life do mingle. Yes, food is on my mind. Maybe because there is more time over the holidays to create and to take a moment to think and remember and engage actively in one's dreams, to plan ahead. Perhaps this is a recipe for a good year.
Begin with a pinch of resolutions.
There are many resolutions to come up with for the new year but I think this wonderful post from A Sweet and Savory Life sums up the perfect resolution:
But I have a different sort of thought for my year ahead. I want to pay attention, every day, to the moment I see a person doing their one small thing. If I don’t look for it, I won’t know it’s there. But if I pay attention, I believe I will see, every single day, that one moment given by one person to another.

You can read more of her blog here.
Peace and Happy New Year!

*the photo of the snow falling reminds me of all of those little deeds and acts of kindness that go unnoticed, but that make our world so beautiful, so full of God.

To the Table

Why does one write about food on a church blog? I think it has to do with the fact that yes, we are what we eat and we are also what we think about and consume in terms of media and poetry and works of both fiction and non-fiction.  We must always consider food to be nourishing our souls as well as our bodies. 


Christ welcomes us to the "table", the table of Christianity, humanity and the cosmos - I do think that big! We are a part of this magnificent world and God calls us to not only care for it but to enjoy its riches like food and family and the natural world that so generously shares her bounty. As mothers, fathers and caretakers, we can bring our family to the table and talk about the larger human family Christ brings together.


So, here's another food blog- the smitten kitchen (love the name and the photos are fabulous - not to mention the recipes).  Let us not take these simple things for granted.....like salted butter and the yellow of the egg; the smell of nutmeg tickling our noses; the magic of an oven at 450 degrees that brings out the sweetness of peppers and potatoes; and the rising of an apple cake that infuses the kitchen with such divine smells one becomes dizzy. Take time to make something for and with your children, your family and friends.  Bring them to the table....
Paz.

Back from Life......

Yes, it's been a long time since The Gathered Life has been updated.  Life happens. Motherhood doesn't stop nor does any life that has constant joys and challenges.  So, hello.  It's so good to be back.  Two books to consider in the New Year are The Message and The Voice.  Both are versions of the Bible written in simple everyday language.  They read like stories that everyone can understand not just the scholars. Check them out here and give us your opinion:

http://www.hearthevoice.com/

http://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/cms_sp?sp=65298

Peace to you in this time of great joy.