About Me
- Dana Goodman
- Speaker, author and grief counsellor Dana Goodman lives in Kamloops British Columbia. Dana has a passion for helping people navigate through their grief journeys. Her memoir, In the Cleft Joy Comes in the Mourning, written four years after the deaths of her husband, son and mother-in-law to cancer, recently won top novel at the Wildsound Writing Festival in January. Dana's heart's desire is that In the Cleft will help her readers embrace their own profound losses and find hope in the midst of their pain. Renewal, meaning and purpose can be unearthed even after unthinkable tragedy. Dana loves being outside with her family and especially loves mountain biking, running and listening to worship music. She feels content in her everyday life if she has read an inspiring story, connected with her husband, son and friends and spent time in the outdoors with her dog.
Friday, November 14, 2014
Sunday, November 2, 2014
Prayer Changes Heart
November 2, 2014
Also posted on FEBC Gospel Blog
"Prayer is taking time to let God recreate us, play
with us, touch us as an artist who is making a sculpture, a painting, or a
piece of music with our lives." (Don Postema)
Sometimes, when I really take time to ponder the thought of
being able to talk to the God who breathed life into being, I cannot fathom the
mystery and wonder of it all. He cares when I can't find my car keys, or
the dog throws up on the white duvet or I spill coffee all over myself on the
way to an important appointment. Every detail matters to him. Even
in the ugly moments of dirty looks, compulsive sighing and complaining and eye
rolling he somehow takes it all and creates music with our lives. He
takes the stupid "wish I could take it back" moments of our day and
reshapes us, transforms us and makes us want to do life differently the next
day. At the end of the day, I whisper "Jesus we need to talk,"
and he comes with grace filling the room and connects to my heart.
Prayer is simply talking things over God, It is honest
and vulnerable. When I don't pray, I become agitated, restless,
perpetually frustrated and self-absorbed. I stop caring about the hearts
of others around me. I become frazzled and hurried and life becomes a
terrible bore. Pray recalibrates my heart to the things of heaven.
Prayer is also about being vulnerable to one another. It
is honest sharing, which is risky business. Exposing our hearts to
another feels uncomfortable and unsettling at times. It is easier to
hide, but hiding contaminates our souls. We long to be fully known and
accepted by our friends, yet to be fully known we must be vulnerable.
Theologian Henri Nouwen says, "when I ask myself who helps me most,
my answer is that it is the one who is willing to share his or her life with
me" (Life of the Beloved p. 113). Sharing our time, our hearts, our
prayers and our life with one another are gifts we can give away each day.
Christmas is just around the corner, my favourite time of
year. I was up at Chapters this week and bought Ann Voskamps new
book, The Greatest Gift: Unwrapping the Full Love Story of
Christmas. Although it is meant to be read during advent, I couldn't
help but immerse myself in it as soon as I got home. In it, she talks
about sharing ourselves as gifts to others. "The greatest present is
His presence and the greatest present you always have to give is His
presence--looking into someone's eyes as you listen, refusing the wrong of
rushing, lingering long enough to really listen--to everything." (p. 42)
During our prayer time, God unwraps his love to us without holding back and
then, as we are filled up with his love, we can't help but touch others around
us with that same love. Without resting in His presence daily, we will
only be shrivelled up versions of who he intended us to be.
A few thoughts to ponder: What can you do today to
touch someone's life? How can you take greater steps toward vulnerablity?
Can you share something hard with someone you trust so that your heart
can be healed? Can you take time to pour your heart out to God so he can
touch all the broken places and restore you?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)