We meet Jill Poole in a moment not unlike Martha’s first encounter with Jesus. While controlling Martha encounters an unmoveable Lord, foolish Jill encounters an unmoveable Lion. Her offence? Showing off at the end of a cliff until her friend, Digory, fell over trying to rescue her. A huge, bright coloured animal bounded up and blew with his… Continue reading There is No Other Way
Author: Carla Waterman
I am a former Christian spirituality professor, a mentor, ponderer, musician and writer. I am owning my creative life blog upon blog, and as I learn the craft, I will add a podcast. I live in a northern suburb of Minneapolis, back in my roots with my husband and dog. I'm a new grandmother, and when I'm not reading, writing or playing piano, I often have a crochet hook and some good yarn in my hands.
Those Little Beasties: A Theological Reflection on Ticks
Samwise at the beach My rescue puppy, Samwise, is now a year old. His coat has grown into something between a Poodle and a Maltese-very thick and curly. His personality is marked by much creative mischief and an insatiable desire to roll on his back in our backyard. I can deal with the missing slipper… Continue reading Those Little Beasties: A Theological Reflection on Ticks
Thoughts on Regret
In the attempt to make my market-appropriate bland walls inhabitable, I went in search of some cheap, decent art that went with beige. I kept running into posters with the slogan "Live without regret." Live without regret? Everywhere I go, including the recesses of my own heart, I find plenty of regret lurking in the… Continue reading Thoughts on Regret
Tolling Wisdom
A tolling buoy in the Atlantic Ocean. I just spent a week on an island off the coast of Maine, as close to the water as was physically possible without living in it. I saw sea gulls and sunsets, waves and rocks. But what I heard was a bell. A small rocky island just off… Continue reading Tolling Wisdom
Uninvited Solitude
I've had an uninvited visitor in my home for the past several days. She isn't visible to anyone but God and me. Her visit began with a rather unwelcome, but much needed, departure. Nearly two weeks ago my husband dropped everything to be with his ailing mother across the country. My son is here, but… Continue reading Uninvited Solitude
Walking in What Is
This weekend I am leading a retreat based on Psalm 86:11. This verse is the heart of this intense psalm of supplication: “Teach me your ways, O Lord, and I will walk in your truth. Unite my heart to you that I may fear your name.” I’ve spent much time reflecting upon the flow of this small, powerful prayer: first from instruction… Continue reading Walking in What Is
Wisdom’s Sister Susannah
I picked up a compilation of prayers throughout the ages tonight, and found this prayer by Susanna Wesley. It sounds a great deal like my discussion of fantasy lives (p. 112ff), and I had to smile at finding such an articulate description of a similar challenge 250 years ago. Susanna writes,“Save me from leading an imaginary life in the… Continue reading Wisdom’s Sister Susannah
Wisdom’s Words
I am taking on an extended study of practical Christian wisdom this fall with the same trepidation that I experience when I teach on faith, hope and love. Has not everything to say about wisdom already been said…over and over again? There are certain themes that never leave the human conversation for long. Wisdom is… Continue reading Wisdom’s Words
Pondering
Having described myself as a ponderer, I thought I'd offer an explanation of what that is for me, and why it is important enough to become a descriptor of my vocational life. The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines the act of pondering as "to think or consider especially quietly, soberly or deeply." To ponder is hold an… Continue reading Pondering
Carla Waterman 