Jesus grew

It is so easy for me to forget Jesus was completely human. Because I believe in the mystery of the trinity, because I believe he is the son of God, I just assume things about Jesus, Yeshi, that are not so. Like Jesus did not just miraculously behave perfectly and maturely. (But I also believe that Jesus was without sin.) Jesus learned to perfectly submit to His Father's plans and purposes. Jesus was fully human and therefore experienced the natural human development and growth of a human boy child (and man) such as hormones, getting along with his parents and siblings, figuring out his purpose in life. Just to name a few.

I don't believe that the boy-child Jesus knew he was "special", except perhaps in the eyes of his parents who spoke of hope and a future for their son. I'm thinking that Jesus was a very ordinary kid growing up in a Jewish home in Palestine. He played games, he got bumps and bruises, and he had chores and responsibilities around the home. He went to school and synagogue. He didn't always listen to his parents or get along with his siblings.

This deeper understantind of Jesus as fully human, encourages me to learn and grow. If boy Jesus didn't "just get it" neither will I! It encourages me to actively seek a more intimate relationship with the Father with the help of the Spirit. I too can experience the intimacy that Jesus experienced with the Father. This knowledge gives me peace and hope.

Time works it out

Lately I've been noticing that time takes care of most of my concerns. One day I am so concerned about this or that thing that needs to be done. My natural personality is driven to "fix" it, take action, make it right (I think I have less anxiety if I am doing something) but I'm learning that when I put things into perspective they have a way of working themselves out. I know that may not sound spiritual, but I've begun to recognize the Spirit's presence and work in these situations.

I believe that God requires a response from me. He gives and I have to receive and/or act upon what he has given. But lately receiving and acting feels more like a space of waiting and anticipation. . .

My strength will come from settling down in complete dependence on Him. . . God is not finished. He's waiting around to be gracious to me. He's gathering strength to show mercy to me. God takes the time to do everything right --- EVERYTHING (Did you get that point, Lori Ann? I do everything in right in my time. You have everything you need to be and become the woman I created you to be. You have everything you need to be wwKids' journey designer.) Those who wait around for God are the lucky ones.

Thanks Father for reminding me of what I have - EVERYTHING. I lack for nothing!

What Grace do I Seek?

What do I desire to receive from God today, what is the grace I seek? Peace. All shall be well. Contentment. Faith. Confidence.

To see thee more clearly, follow thee more nearly, to love thee more dearly. . . day by day. Moment by moment. Step by step. (Draw me into your Friendship, pp 91)

This is my prayer.

An integrated Life

In the last 4 years or so I quit reading a ton of books because I felt like I kept stuffing more info into my brain and I did not need more to think about. My reading was focused on my spiritual formation/direction coursework.

Recently I began to pick up some leadership books like “Choosing to Cheat” by Andy Stanley, “The Fish & the Monkey” by Dave Gibbons and “Unleashing the power of the rubber band” by Nancy Ortberg. I’ve been surprised and pleased to see much of their thoughts and teachings have been reflected in my spiritual formation readings.

As I previously noted, I have known that my leadership style was needing some adjustments. Along with the leadership tune up, my time management skills had also become obsolete. Over the years I have made adjustments from the Franklin Planner, to 2 week plans, to one month calendars and goals.

Over vacation I was reading David Allen’s book “Making it all Work.” (I read other stuff too!) Once again I was kinda surprised but pleased to recognize Allen’s “working in the zone” seemed almost identical to “walking in the Spirit”. I’m definitely going to finish Allen’s book because I need somre fresh practical tools and practices that I can daily implement to make it all work.

Again and again I see how all of life is integrated. All is sacred, all is holy. The Spirit is working in and through my life. I pray that I have eyes to see and ears to hear.

Dancing in the Fog - a paschal mystery

I sensed a change in me beginning back in May – Mother’s day, the last weekend of my spiritual direction practicum, the weekend Conrad came. It marked the beginning of transitions, a paschal mystery, liminal space. Nothing necessarily good or bad, just is.

Leadership I: I knew for a long time that my leadership needed to be strengthen and my style changed. I saw my journal entries for the last 6-8 months and then I heard confirmation of those thoughts through various voices.

For 10-15 years my leadership approach was saturated in John Maxwell’s teachings. Set the goal, build the team, work the plan, and work your butt off. I’m not making fun of Maxwell’s teachings, there lots of great wisdom and understanding, but for me I was always left feeling inadequate (my life’s re-occurring story) and the unspoken need that I just needed to work harder or try harder to accomplish what my goals. At one level this approach worked when I was single and my time was more flexible.

These past 4 years I have been saturated in learning about the Spirit with the Dominican Center friends. As I grew in my understanding of the Spirit’s work, my day-to-day leadership reflected this difference. I was more apt to watch where the Spirit was leading and join in. I was less stressed about the end results, knowing and trusting the Spirit presence to be at work all along the process. I became less plan oriented (not that I don’t plan) and became more aware and dependent on the Spirit’s movement, both for myself and the ministry I lead.

The Spirit is already at work. I don’t bring her along with me to minister to others. She’s there working prior to my arrival. That is such a powerful concept and profound understanding. She, just like God our creator/Father, invites, encourages, prompts me to join her and Shadow God for the work already in process.

Somehow these two different leadership approaches need to merge and blend, creating a leadership style that is unique to Lori Ann Tate – follower of Jesus, wife, mother, daughter, minister, gardener. A style that blends my strategic, activator, focus, learner, intellectual strengths (taken from Marcus Buckingham’s StrenghFinder inventory) with the spirit-led woman I am becoming. A style that blends my natural thinking-striving personality with the newly cultivated heart sensitive side that is becoming me. Because my natural thinking-striving personality seems so strong, I resist against it more strongly.

My prayer:

Spirit let me embrace all that is me.

All aspects of my personality, all aspects of who You are calling me to be and become.

Help me not resist the aspects of my personality that frighten me,

(like my desire to please others)

but let us journey that path together

so that I can become my True-Self,

your beloved daughter.

All shall be well.

Kids Amaze Me

K6 Music & Motion Studio
. . .is really a lot of fun. It's not like "school", if you know what I mean! The kids here really enjoy themselves and they are very respectful and curious. Their ideas and questions floor me sometimes. During our May studio I asked the kids why the Bible said that God kept the disciples on the Emmaus road from recognizing Jesus, i.e. Why wouldn't God want them to know that it was Jesus right away?

One little first grader said, "Because maybe God wanted them to LISTEN to Jesus first. If they knew it was Him, they would be too excited, and He had a lot to teach them." Wow! I am constantly learning and being challenged by these kids' profound insight into the heart of God. I used her answer to help inspire all the following classes.

Comments from K6 Studio Director: Janet Deaver