Greetings Beloved Friends,

Blessings to you on what is a chilly February morning here in Cleveland. The beginning of the Christian liturgical season of Lent is only about a week away. I love that Ash Wednesday and Valentine's Day fall on the same day this year. It seems like a fitting way to remember that the story of Jesus is ultimately an incredible love story that reminds us of how deeply beloved we each are.

I am especially looking forward to sharing the Lengthening Silence Lenten retreat together with so many of you. I have been delighted by how this seems to be resonating with such a broad group of folks - all of us longing for a bit of simplicity and stillness in our lives. As a self-guided retreat, we will each be on our own personal journey, yet still connected with one another in shared community from Scotland to Seattle and beyond. If you would like to join our growing Lenten community it's not too late to register. Just click on the link below to sign up and receive the short daily emails of inspiration & encouragement. Cost is pay-what-you-can so all who want to can participate.

I hope some of the resources in this edition of Whale Spouts will help you remember your own sacred belovedness ...

• Spouting Off Blog: "My Memorial Service" Playlist
• 40 Days of Lengthening Silence for Lent
• Silence & Presence - April 20 (led by Kristen Vincent)
• 3 Night Silent Retreat - July 7-10
• A Day of Sacred Silence - July 13
• Introducing Kayla Mravec of Wild Grace Writings & Spiritual Direction
• Prayer for the Season - A Valentine from Dad

Remember how deeply loved you are!

With strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,

Sharon

Sharon Seyfarth Garner, Founder & Director

Belly of the Whale Ministries

sharon@bellyofthewhaleministries.net

Please feel free to forward Whale Spouts to anyone you feel would find it meaningful.

Thank you so much for helping to spread the word!

SPOUTING OFF BLOG

"My Memorial Service" Playlist

"Ashes to ashes and dust to dust," are the words that Christians around the globe will hear on Ash Wednesday as we begin the 40-day liturgical season of Lent. We begin our journey toward the Easter celebration of new life with a reminder of our own death.

I find it ironic that we live in a culture that is so saturated with violent imagery, movies and video games that in many ways we have become numb to death. And yet, when it comes to speaking about our own death, we avoid this conversation at all costs!

But what a critically important conversation this is to have with those we love. Not because we are morbidly wrapped up in thoughts of dying, but precisely because we appreciate the tremendous gift of life that we are given with every single breath we take. I don't ever want to take that gift for granted.

Remembering my own mortality (on Ash Wednesday or any day), helps me remember to give thanks for every... single... breath... I... take. I want to live each day as fully alive as possible, because I know that when my moment of death does come (and trust me, I am in no rush!), there is the tremendous promise of resurrection.

I have recently started keeping a note on my phone that is entitled "My Memorial Service." It includes favorite songs, scriptures and quotes that bring me joy and remind me to celebrate life every day. My kids think I have lost it to be talking about my own memorial service at my tender young age! However, I find that it is life-giving (at any age!) to consider what music helps me celebrate this gift of life and the privilege of living it.

One of the songs on "My Memorial Service Playlist" is Gathering of Spirits by Carrie Newcomer. What a stunningly beautiful song! It brings me tremendous joy to listen to the lyrics that are an invitation to celebrate life together both in this moment and one day in the future when we all meet again. (I am including a video of this song for you to enjoy!).

What songs might be on your "Memorial Service Playlist" and how might they bring joy to your life in this moment?

One day we will all return to dust and ashes, but in the meantime, let us find what gives us life and celebrate that with each and every breath we take.

40 Days of Lengthening Silence:

A Lenten Practice of Simplicity and Stillness

(virtual retreat)

Silence & Presence with Kristen Vincent

April 20, 2024 (virtual retreat)

3 Day/3 Night Silent Retreat

July 7-10, 2024 (in person)

A Day of Sacred Silence

July 13, 2024 (in person)

INTRODUCING: Kayla Mravec of Wild Grace Writings & Spiritual Direction

If you are looking for a spiritual director, let me highly recommend my friend, Kayla Mravec. Kayla recently graduated from the Phoenix Center for Spiritual Direction and is looking forward to companioning folks on their faith journeys. I have known Kayla for over 5 years and she is a wise and gentle spirit. See her contact information below to set up an introductory conversation and discern where the wild grace of the Holy Spirit might nudge you!

PRAYER FOR THE SEASON

A Valentine for Sharon

2/14/78



I have shared many of my dad's poems with you over the years and a few of them have become a bit of an annual tradition ... like this Valentine's Day poem and his Easter poem (that will be coming soon!). I hope you enjoy these powerful and loving words that my dad wrote for his 10 year old daughter as she learned about pink trombones, attractiveness confirmed, bursts of glitter and suffering unto life...

Love is a pink trombone.

Love is a risk and a celebration.

Love is a huge toll house cookie

of attractiveness confirmed.

Love is a burst of glitter.

Love is suffering unto life.

Love, Dad