Excerpt from I'd Say Yes God, If I Knew What You Wanted

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Speaking of lemons

Who would you rather have make the lemonade; you or God? How a person acts on the adage, "When life gives you lemons, make lemonade," can tell a lot about their relationship to themselves, to others, to the world, and to the Source of our Being. On one extreme are those who want to, or believe they have to, handle life alone. At the other extreme are people who believe that they are powerless pawns of a God who manipulates them for his or her own amusement, without caring for them.

There is a broad middle ground. Those who live here often have had some experience of Holy Mystery, something beyond themselves that does care. They may have experienced this many times or just once. It may have touched them during worship, while walking in the woods, or while looking into the eyes of their newborn child. During a time of confusion or pain, they may have had "just the right person," or book, or dream, or awareness, come to them, to clarify the path to healing or growth.

This book is for those who do not believe we live in a random universe. It is for those who wish to make lemonade with God. For, once we have been touched by this Higher Power, it is natural to ask, "What then would you have me do?"

Spiritual practices are relationship builders. Each person may have different goals when they seek to develop a stronger relationship with the divine. For example, you may be looking for one or more of the following from your spiritual practice:

a growing sense of connection
deeper understanding of God's nature and presence in the world
healing for yourself or for others
transformation of blocks and restrictions that keep you from being the person you were meant to be

You may also engage in a spiritual practice as a way to

express love and gratitude
listen for and clarify your role in the divine plan

Although this book focuses on the last goal, discernment, the others are interrelated and some of the stories touch on them.

God speaking through creation

I asked the earth, the sea, and the deeps, heaven, the sun, the moon and the stars. My questioning of them was my contemplation, and their answer was their beauty. They do not change their voice, that is their beauty, if one person is there to see and another to see and to question. Beauty appears to all in the same way, but is silent to one and speaks to the other They understand it who compare the voice received on the outside with the truth that lies within. --- St. Augustine

Some people experience the divine presence most potently in the world around them. Aboriginal, Celtic, Wiccan, and Franciscan spiritualities are particularly known for cherishing creation as sacred. Celtic spirituality suggests we become aware of how we receive divine guidance from the "Big Book of Creation," as well as the little book of holy scripture.

J. Philip Newell in The Book of Creation: An introduction to Celtic spirituality, speaks of the gift of our creatureliness.

"This is not to say that what is shown in a creature is the essence of God, for God is essentially unknowable. Rather, what is manifested is an expression of God's essence. Nothing in creation exists in and by itself. The soul of every creature is derived from the one Soul. God, therefore, is not simply in every creature but is the essence of every creature. At heart, creation - including our creatureliness - is a showing forth of the mystery of God." pp67-68

HENRI'S STORY

I caught up to Henri in late summer as he was coming in from the garden, one of his passions. This was a transition space for him. Soon he would be gearing up for another passion, being present for the spiritual needs and issues of young people as part of an interfaith university chaplaincy.

"I am often invited to the path where I can more fully live divine will through nature. An example is the process by which I knew God wanted me to accept the university chaplaincy position. Traveling to the job interview by airplane and ferry took most of a day. I am generally sensitive to and delight in God's presence in nature. This day, however, the divine was "singing" to me through the land and ocean, the sun, and the sky. The sunset sparkled with vividness. Nature's colors were brighter and richer. God was reaching out to me with increasing beauty as I drew nearer to my destination. As my mind turned to the upcoming interview, I felt a dynamic rightness and a click deep inside me that affirmed this decision.

My discernment process involves starting on a path or decision that seems right and them being as receptive as possible, trusting that I will be shown whether this is truly the way. I know the correct path for me at that time because it is the one with the most beauty. Connecting with the divine so strongly through nature, I feel my vision is then closer to God's way of seeing. At that time, I usually experience the affirming 'click

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