No Glass Ceiling, an audio blog with Carla Waterman A spiritual desert affords the undistracted time and space to recognize and confront temptation, whether from cultural messages, our own vulnerabilities, or in the enemy of our souls. But the desert provides another opportunity: it is a fiery place where our desires can be purified. Jesus… Continue reading No Glass Ceiling
Tag: desert
The God Who Sees
Hagar fled from Sarai when her mistress's treatment was too hard to bear. David and his servants fled Jerusalem after Absalom stole the people's hearts. Elijah fled from Jezebel with her threats ringing in his ears. And I have tried to flee from the enemies lodging in my mind. Sometimes the wilderness is the only… Continue reading The God Who Sees
Transformed by 40
They wandered forty years in the desert, those Israelites who failed the test of belief in the God who raised up Moses, delivered them from the hand of Pharaoh, made bitter water sweet, fed them with manna, gave them the Law and instructions for a Tabernacle so they would know precisely where they could find… Continue reading Transformed by 40
Kindred Temptations
I spent a delightful evening last weekend with a new friend. We found we had many things in common, but huge among them was a particular vocational path. Both of us had started adulthood driven and quite successful. And all these years later our lives were much simpler, and not particularly impressive by cultural standards.… Continue reading Kindred Temptations
Desert Dwelling
There are those who dwell in the desert, not as yearly discipline, or as the unlooked for invitation when life becomes a dust bowl, or even as a place of refuge from whatever or whoever is nipping at our heels. The actual experience in the desert is nearly always hidden from observation. Others perceive, instead,… Continue reading Desert Dwelling
No Swinging During Lent
This Lent I can’t abstain from caffeinated coffee because I am not drinking it at all. But for years it has been a not so trivial way to help me step into the season of Lent. Not being a "morning person," my cup of coffee in the morning helps me wake up, and offers comfort… Continue reading No Swinging During Lent
Food Freedom
During my New Year's week in the hospital for gut issues I was seen by several doctors. Each of them had a different set of instructions on if and/or what I could eat or drink. I would have orders reversed more than once in the same day. One meal I ate what I wanted. The… Continue reading Food Freedom
Gritty Love
Many years ago I entered into a memorable silent retreat. During this time I was a busy college professor, loving my students, loving my church. But early on in the retreat I found my mind defaulting to two other people in my life: my husband and toddler son. "Well, Lord, I love them, too. But… Continue reading Gritty Love
A Subtle Battle
Spiritual desert dwelling emphasizes the kind of interior simplicity Jesus taught in the Sermon on the Mount--a freedom from being ruled by one's body, one's possessions, or one's spiritual self-adulation. The goal for them, as for us, is to love others as God loves us. If I want to learn to love, I try to… Continue reading A Subtle Battle
Mountains, Valleys and Deserts
And I was wondering if you had been to the mountain,Looked at the valley below;Did you see all the roads tangled down in the valley?Did you know which way to go?Well, the mountain streams run pure and clearand wish to mv soul could alwavs be hereBut there's a reason for livin' way down in the… Continue reading Mountains, Valleys and Deserts
Carla Waterman 