What Energizes You?

As a Benedictine Oblate, I focus on maintaining balance with work, study, prayer and leisure.  This past Saturday I led a retreat helping men and women develop a life-giving balance within their particular circumstances.  The one area that seems to often be lacking is that of leisure, rest, refueling.  It can be hard to carve out seemingly "nonproductive time" for something that is fun and infuses fresh air into our schedule.

With our recent move and all of the details that flow from such an undertaking, I have become very aware of my need for leisure.  Last Friday, my husband and I continued our annual tradition of almost 9 years attending a local festival, Lily Fest. Because we had such a full day of things still to complete, we were only there a few hours.  It was a challenge to keep this commitment in the midst of other tasks grabbing at us.   But those few hours, well spent, were incredibly life-giving.  Visiting with artists amidst the beauty of these beautiful gardens filled the dry places in my soul from these recent months of intense work.

Part of this annual visit always includes listening to the music of Mark Thunderwalker whose concert takes place in a garden surrounded by water lilies and dancing dragonflies.   Mark is a gifted musician who plays the Native American Flute as well as crafts them.  His wife, Sheila, is also a gifted artist.  I purchased one of her pieces in addition to a few of Mark's CDs as gifts.  To listen to some of Mark's music, here are a couple of  YouTube links 

Following Spirit 
Today We Begin

You can order his CDs by visiting Mark Thunderwalker.

Identify those activities that energize you and get them on your calendar.  In those places where you may feel limited in what you can do, where you can go, etc. ask God to show you what is within your means for refueling.  Lily Fest is always one of those "big" things.  I also have smaller activities like sitting in my favorite chair and listening to quiet music that energize me throughout each day.

May you make space in your day today to "waste time with God" by simply inviting the Spirit to nourish you.

Faith and Patience

Poet Mary Oliver shares the poem, "Black Swallowtail" in her book, Red Bird.

The caterpillar,

  interesting but not exactly lovely,

humped along among the parsley leaves

  eating, always eating.  Then

one night it was gone and in its place

  a small green confinement hung by two silk threads

on a parsley stem.  I think it took nothing with it

  except faith, and patience.  And then one morning

it expressed itself into the most beautiful being.

~ Mary Oliver

When we choose to learn the lesson, waiting teaches faith and patience.  As my husband and I settle into our long-awaited new home in the woods, this poem takes on a deeper meaning.  I can recall so many instances of "caterpillar life" in new circumstances requiring a new expression.  Some of those circumstances were particularly harsh and very unwelcome intrusions.  Some, like this move, carried their own form of harshness in all of the upheaval and change but were welcome at the same time.  Transition is a process of releasing what is known and comfortable and trusting that new life is on the horizon - always beginning again.

For some interesting tidbits about this metamorphosis (and the source of the above image), and to view a time lapse slideshow of the birth of a swallowtail butterfly visit

http://www.pbase.com/rcm1840/lifecycleofblsw

If this image speaks to you, I invite you to take a few minutes to wonder how the life stages of the black swallowtail may have something to say about your life stages.  There are seasons of life where it seems I am crawling, hanging, or anticipating flight for a painfully long time.  Recalling an image like this reminds me that the one place in which I feel stuck is not all there is.  Something else is coming.  If I can hold onto faith and patience rather than trying to take control, God will bring the new thing at just the right time.  It may not be what I expected.  It is not always I wanted.  But, God is good and will help me to fly within that new place.

As you look at these web images and reflect on the words of Mary Oliver, what most resonates with you?  

~ "munching" along at a very slow pace feeling somewhat unlovely; or 

~ dangling from a barely present thread as your old home breaks open wondering "when, if, how …"; or

~ acknowledging the place you are in and embarking on a new way of being fully present in that life.

If you would like to share your own experience for the benefit of others, post your thoughts below.  

October Event - Expressive Art as Healing Process

Expressive Art as a Healing Process

An Introduction to Touch Drawing

A fund raiser to benefit the programs and services of AWBA

Friday, October 3, 2014

10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Gilgal Farm Retreat Center

"Springs of Living Water" - Judy Smoot

Since posting preliminary information about this fund raiser open to the public, we have received quite a few requests for further information.  As a result, all details have been finalized and we have chosen to open registration.  Directly from our website ~

Gift yourself with a day of healing art in the countryside of Fairfield County at Gilgal Farm. Rest, refuel, and refresh as you experience expressive art as a healing process while helping raise funds for those served by the ministry of Always We Begin Again. This event is open to the public.  You will be invited to experience the simple expression of Touch Drawing and visit with the horses of Gilgal Farm in the quiet and peace of this sacred space on the outskirts of Lancaster, Ohio. 

For a detailed brochure, registration information, and links to additional information,  visit the Upcoming Events page of our website.   Space is limited so early registration is encouraged if you are interested.  Myself,  Chris Harnden and Deb Aichele will be your guides for the day.

I have found Touch Drawing to be a meaningful practice for myself and have enjoyed introducing it to others.  If you know someone impacted by a Parkinson's diagnosis, read about the  September pilot program for Touch Drawing, "Listening Beneath the Words."   It is fund raisers like the October event that make this September series available to the Parkinson's community at no cost.

Any questions or wonderings about either of these?  Email me at director@myawba.org.

AWBA Happenings ...

Typically,  I try to get a few posts uploaded before a newsletter goes out and did not make it this month.  Life is very full for myself personally and for AWBA right now.  If you receive our newsletter (register on the AWBA home page at www.myawba.org) or visit our Facebook page, you will already know about this.  If not, below are the highlights.

We have been raising funds to cover expenses connected to an upcoming pilot program for those impacted by Parkinson's.  Thanks to our generous supporters, we have met that goal and details are now available for "Listening Beneath the Words."  Visit our website events page at Events to learn how to register.  Space is limited to 10 participants.  If you must miss a session, you will not find yourself out of the loop.  Just let me know when you register.

Listening Beneath the Words

Introduction to Touch Drawing

A Pilot Program for Those Impacted

by Parkinson's

Saturdays, 10 a.m. - noon

Sept. 6, 13, 27, Oct. 4, 2014

Gender Road Christian Church

Canal Winchester, Ohio

In addition, we are finalizing details for a fund raising event open to the public and tentatively scheduled for Friday, October 3, 10 a.m.  - 2 p.m.  Registration information should be available in July.  To receive advance notice of registration as soon as it is available, email director@myawba.org.  Space for this program will be limited to 15.

Expressive Art as a Healing Process

An Introduction to Touch Drawing

Gilgal Farm, Lancaster, Ohio

A fund raiser to benefit the programs and services of AWBA

~~~~~~~~~

Lastly, my husband and I are relocating to the Hocking Hills region of Ohio, about 50 miles from where we currently reside.  This has been a long time coming.  Our new home enables us to live in a natural environment that more nearly  matches who we are and carries the additional bonus of opportunity for AWBA to more easily expand into Southeastern Ohio for some of our in-person events.  As anyone knows who has built a home not in the area where they presently reside, it is chaotic on a good day.  We have begun our moving process with a plan to be reasonably settled by July 6.  As I prepare to move the AWBA office, my blog posts may be silent until July.  Just know that we are still here, still serving, still planning and still receiving emails at director@myawba.org.

Thank you for being here, for listening, for your comments and feedback, for your prayers -- simply for your presence.   

"Listen to yourself and in that quietude you might hear the voice of God." - Maya Angelou

I suspect that bloggers everywhere are taking note of the passing of Maya Angelou today.  This woman of beauty and wisdom is one of five poets and authors who have a dedicated file on my computer for their words that I want to remember.

A favorite gem,

What is a fear of living? It's being preeminently afraid of dying. It is not doing what you came here to do, out of timidity and spinelessness. The antidote is to take full responsibility for yourself - for the time you take up and the space you occupy. If you don't know what you're here to do, then just do some good.

Some of you may remember that I have been an early morning walker at a nearby park since last spring.  Mid-winter was a bit of a challenge and I am thankful to be back with my  rhythm.  This morning, however, I had trouble getting out of the house and away from my office even at an early hour.  I was thinking about everything I had to get done this day.  It seemed there was no time for the "quietude" in  which God speaks to me.  I forced myself into the woods and things settled for me just a bit bringing the clarity I needed to fully live into the particular space that I occupy.

This act of "always beginning again" takes a lot of courage some days. It is one of those phrases that sounds so great when you hear it and, yet, takes considerable intention and prayer to make it a reality in one's life.  Those impacted by a chronic diagnosis that demands to be tended to every minute of every day must make a choice to begin again in each of those minutes.  I do not fall into that camp at this point in time but I have been there often.  It is never far from my memory.  

To take full responsibility for ourselves is no easy task and is not for the faint of heart.  We are here for such a short time.  Some of us become prolific and well known like Maya Angelou. Others of us engage in the simple daily activity of "doing good."  It is all important and carries impact for the world at large.

Take a moment today to bring to mind Ms. Angelou and any other writer or poet who has inspired you.  Their words carry such potential but if not put into practice for our own unique story, they are simply words on the page.  The potential is unrealized.  What can you do this day, in the midst of your current life story, to begin again and make a choice to do good somewhere for someone?  May you hear the voice of God in that act of doing good.

Our Newest Blog - Ebbs and Flows

We are so excited to share with you AWBA's newest blog, "Ebbs and Flows."  Blog author Michelle Rogers writes.

I’ve had years of experience as a caregiver in both my professional and private life. I consider myself blessed and challenged by the lessons I have learned while being with others in that way. In recent years though I have found myself on the other side of good health. Diagnosed in 2008 with the first of what would be several chronic illnesses, I have found myself facing many new challenges. And what I have come to believe is that the journey of life, whether as caregiver or care-receiver, involves a back and forth movement of body, mind and spirit. Sometimes I fight it and sometimes I can just go with it…either way there are things I learn and things yet to be learned. As a grateful member of the AWBA community, it is my hope to share some of my thoughts and feelings and to hear also from you, as our lives continues to ebb and flow…

Stop by to visit at Ebbs and Flows to read Michelle's first post, "Dragonflies and Fairies."  You can receive automatic notification of new posts by registering your email address on the blog's home page.  If you would like to comment to any post, simply click the comment link at the bottom of the post to which you wish to reply.

Michelle, thank you for sharing your story with the AWBA readers and helping us widen and deepen this community of compassionate and supportive listeners.

To Communicate Without Words

When words seem ineffective, creativity makes visible the inexpressible.

(copyright 2012, Judy Smoot)

Those who have been following this blog for a while may recall that I am a student of the expressive arts and will finish my training in 2015.   I deeply believe that when the timing is right in a person's journey, creative expression has the power to move us beyond the walls we build around ourselves into an expansive place where the unspeakable can be heard in some manner - first by ourselves and then, as we desire, by others.  We trust our stories into the safe hands of a few chosen kindred spirits where we are listened to and honored without judgement.   Whether through movement, voicing, visual art, clay, sand play, collage, music-making, and other forms of expression our deepest and most authentic voices are heard.   

As AWBA continues to explore all of the ways of providing spiritual care to those we serve, expressive arts is one avenue for our programming.  If you do not receive our monthly newsletter (to receive this email visit our website), I want to share with you that AWBA is developing a pilot program directed toward those impacted by Parkinson's.  Below is information about this new program.  Currently, we are seeking funding for supplies so that we can make this series of workshops available to participants at no cost to them.  We are off to a great start and continue to seek your support.  I invite you to visit the links shared below to learn more about this simple and meaning-filled form of expression.

Introduction to Touch Drawing

(A Pilot Program For Those 

Impacted With Parkinson's)

(copyright 2014, Judy Smoot)

Using non-toxic, water-soluble oil paints, a brayer, tissue paper, and fingertips, participants will be invited to explore this visual form of expression.  No art experience is necessary in this casual, nonjudgmental creative space.  Touch Drawing has been very successful in the Sarasota, Florida community and you can read one person's experience here.  The facilitator for this AWBA event has received in-person training from the creator of Touch Drawing, Deborah Koff-Chapin.

It is our desire to offer this four or five-week pilot program to participants at no cost.  This is where you come in.  We seek your support for purchase of art materials.  Every dollar donated goes directly to this program.  It is our hope to expand this offering in the future to include other diagnosis so that we can tailor each program to those particular needs.

Your contribution of: 

$40 - purchases all supplies for one participant for the series

- or - 

$5 - purchases one paint board
$8 - purchases one paint brayer
$10 - purchases tissue paper for one person for the series
$17 - purchases paint for one person for the series

Paint brayers and boards are reusable for future Touch Drawing workshops. To make a donation in any amount, click here to be directed to our website.  

We anticipate offering this pilot program in late summer if not before.  We are also seeking a site for this event if you have access to a space with few or no steps or an elevator and, preferably, an uncarpeted floor with easy access to a sink.  Email us at director@myawba.org if you might know of a location for this series.