Whale Spouts - July 2020
Seeking Spiritual Vitality in Everyday Living
Greetings my beloved friends,

When the stay-at-home orders began a few months ago, I entertained the foolhardy notion that I would begin training for a half marathon! (What was I thinking - running a 5K already felt like a herculean feat??!!) I ignored the fact that my foot was aching from plantar fasciitis and went racing full steam ahead.

However, the more I pressed on, the more my foot ached. Reluctantly, I came to the humbling realization that in order to move ahead, I actually needed to slow down and take time to rest.

Over the past few months, we all have been racing full steam ahead - pause, learn, pivot, change, adapt, act, react, repeat. We have been pressing on through it all and I sense that we are collectively aching and exhausted.

We may need to face the humbling realization that in order to move ahead, we need to create space for rest, prayer and spiritual sustenance for our weary souls?

What might a little soul-care look like for you this summer? Maybe it is something as simple as...
  • giving yourself a single minute of silent prayer between activities.
  • allowing yourself to claim a moment of joy by reading the comics.
  • taking a 10 minute nap in the middle of the afternoon.
  • posting a favorite scripture someplace you will see regularly.
  • playing music that soothes your soul.

I encourage us all to embrace a little summer soul-care and take the opportunity to slow down, rest and prepare for the marathon ahead.

God is good... all the time. May we pause long enough to have eyes to see and ears to hear.

With strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,
Sharon

Sharon Seyfarth Garner
Director, Belly of the Whale Ministries
A Summer Soul-Care Opportunity
PRAYING WITH JONAH
an on-line spiritual renewal retreat

It's not too late to sign up! Join me as we dive deep into how the book of Jonah can help us nurture spiritual vitality even amidst the storms of life.

Join us live via Zoom or at your own convenience through the online resources.

Pay-what-you-can, participate-when-you-can and create space to rest and pray.

Each 45 minute session will include a short lesson, time for sharing (small & large group), creative prayer practices (including just developed, brand NEW prayer mandalas!!) and soul-provoking journal prompts.

Click on the button below for details and registration information.

I can't wait to share this deep dive into spiritual renewal with you this summer!
Black Lives Matter Resources

I believe it goes without saying that all people are precious children of God and that all lives do matter. However, at this point of time in history, it is appropriate to turn our attention toward a specific group of people who have been historically abused, excluded and deeply harmed - our black brothers and sisters. As a white woman who seeks to be an ally in the quest toward racial reconciliation and justice, I find it critically important to listen, to learn, and then to figure out what I am called to do. As part of my commitment to continue learning, I want to share the following video about Race in America by Phil Vischer. It is only 17 minutes long and clearly just the tip of the iceberg, but it is an excellent first step toward deeper understanding. I invite you to listen, learn and then pray for clarity about what it is you are called to do.

Flourish - Early Bird Registration
Deadline Extended
Flourish 2021
an experiential contemplative retreat
February 19-21, 2021

Great news - the early bird registration deadline has been extended to September 15. By next February we may all be in need of some serious soul care. What a joy it would be to have you join us in Atlanta to Flourish together for this special retreat full of creative prayer, silence and spiritual renewal with four beloved Upper Room authors.

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