CONTEMPLATE THIS

Sacred Flip Flops

After my first year with Belly of the Whale Ministries, I got all jazzed up about offering a full slate of creative prayer programs for the fall of 2015. I enthusiastically put together these "Creative Pray-dates" and spread the word through Whale Spouts, social media, flyers, pamphlets and direct invitations. This was going to be great!

Then, an amazing thing happened... no one signed up! Not a single solitary person! I couldn't decide if I should be devastated or if maybe, just maybe, this was a hint that God was nudging me in another direction. I tried not to take it personally and prayed hard for clarity about what to do.

I had previously led a few programs on coloring mandalas as a way to pray and folks had responded quite positively. So, rather than spend my energy planning for programs that it appeared no one was interested in attending, I decided to cancel the fall programming schedule entirely and threw all my energy into creating a little resource that I called, "Praying with Mandalas." I ran off a few copies at the local printer and used them for a few small retreats (see pic above of the original cover).

Before I knew it, Praying with Mandalas took on a life of its own. Upper Room Books got on board and offered to publish a print edition, create an on-line eCourse and even requested a second manuscript that became Mandalas, Candles, and Prayer: A Simply Centered Advent. Had my "best laid plans" not been a complete flop, I would never had had the time or space to flip my focus and follow God's nudge toward writing, coloring and praying.

Now when my "best laid plans" seem to fall apart, I pray for eyes to see if there just may be a sacred flip flop afoot - a chance to be surprised by the holy spirit blowing in new and fresh ways that I would have never expected. Who knew that as I entered my fifth decade of life, my kindergarten passion for coloring would re-emerge!?

Are there sacred flip-flops happening in your life as well - moments when your "best laid plans" seem to unravel right before your eyes? If so, I pray that the wounds from these slamming doors may be healed by the refreshing breeze of the Holy Spirit blowing in through an unexpectedly opened window.

Thanks be to God for the blessings of sacred surprises and faith-filled flip-flops.

- SOLD OUT -

BELLY OF THE WHALE

SILENT RENEWAL RETREAT

3 days & 3 nights

July 7-10, 2019

Please hold us in prayer as we rest, pray and draw closer to God in the belly of the whale during our time of retreat. Consider joining us next summer for 3 days and 3 nights of silence and renewal. Summer of 2020 dates will be released soon!

Praying with Mandalas:

a colorful, contemplative practice

Have crayons - will travel! Enjoy this creative, relaxing summer sabbath practice. At the great deal of 20% off, order a new copy for yourself and several more to share with friends!

Thanks to my mom for this photo of the way she likes to pray with mandalas at the beach.

Spiritual Direction

It has been a blessing to companion others through the ministry of spiritual direction which is really the heart and soul of Belly of the Whale Ministries. I currently see 17 folks for spiritual direction on a regular basis. Beginning this fall, I will be making 3 additional spaces available for spiritual direction. If you have been considering whether you might find it meaningful to meet with someone on a regular basis for spiritual direction and companionship, please let me know. Additional details (fees, frequency, location, etc) are available on our website. Click here for more information...

Prayer from the Belly of the Whale

(Sharon's paraphrase of Jonah 2:2-9)

I called out to God in the midst of my pain,

and God answered!

From the very depths of my despair, I wept, 

and you heard me.

I felt like you had abandoned me 

in a place where the storms of my life threatened to drown me.  

Waves of sorrow and anger 

washed over me. 

I said, “I feel so far from you that I fear you may not be able to find me.

Will I ever be in your holy presence again?”

The weight of the storm is holding me down.

I want to give up.  

Complicated circumstances make my head ache 

and I am as low as I have ever been.   

I cannot see a way through this pain,

ever…

But you see a way where I do not, 

O gracious God.

When all felt lost,

I remembered that you are with me always.  

So, I prayed,

and I felt your holy presence again.

Those who waste their time chasing after material riches 

are missing out on the true meaning of life.

But I with the voice of thanksgiving 

will always put you first. 

I promise to honor you 

and to be who you have called me to be.

For it is your love and grace

that will deliver me safely

from today into all my tomorrows.