Dear friends,
Blessed Eastertide greetings to all who share in this celebration!
Thank you for allowing me the privilege of journeying with you through these last few days of Holy Week. I want to share one last reflection with you and then will stop flooding your inbox with emails!
This season of
Eastertide (the 50 days between Easter Sunday and Pentecost) is a reminder that Easter is more than just one day. God is still alive! God is still present in our lives every... single... day!
There is no doubt that we are facing some very real and gut-wrenching challenges in the days to come. There will be uncertainty. There will be hunger. There will be heartache.
However, even during our darkest hours, one thing is certain - God is still alive! God lives and dwells in each and every one of us. God fills our lives with light, hope and love. Eastertide is an invitation to stay focused on this living, vibrant presence of God in our midst.
I must confess that I all too easily get distracted from this reality. To help me stay focused I need to surround myself with compassionate people (at a safe distance these days!), spiritual practices and meaningful prayer.
So, I wanted to share a few resources that have helped me to find focus along the way. I pray they might be meaningful to you as well.
- Praying with Mandalas eCourse - Upper Room has made this available for FREE until April 14. You will have unlimited access to the course materials any time after you register. Hurry though, the offer ends TOMORROW! Click on the highlighted link here or use coupon code COLORNOW at check out.
- Upper Room eCourses - All of the Upper Room Books online learning opportunities are being offered at half price. Use coupon code URHALF at check out.
- Spiritual Direction - During this time of sheltering in place (and the financial challenges that accompany it), I have chosen to suspend my usual fees and offer spiritual direction for whatever free will offering you feel called to share. I am currently seeing all of my directees using Zoom or FaceTime. Please do not hesitate to reach out to me or any other spiritual director to reflect on all that is happening in your life through the lens of faith.
- Poetry - I struggle to find words to share the groaning of my soul during these days. Poetry helps me. I have posted some of my pandemic poems on the Belly of the Whale website. Perhaps these words will help you find your own words that are bubbling up from your heart and soul. If so, I would love to hear the poems and words that are rising in you.
Eastertide blessings and hope to you, my friends!
With strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,
Sharon
Sharon Seyfarth Garner
