Light jazz. Autumn leaves. Gentle afternoon sun. Sleeping cats. Not too full; not hungry. Know what to cook for dinner. No one is expecting me to do anything. Craved beef. Had hamburger. Great conversation with sis. Anticipating breakfast with daughter tomorrow. Grateful.

By God's grace, a true director is someone who "...can never get over the awe (s)he feels in the presence of a person, an immortal soul, loved by Christ, washed in his most Precious Blood, and nourished by the sacrament of His Love." (p. 34, Spiritual Direction and Meditation by Thomas Merton)

Isn't spiritual direction like car wash In some ways? You put yourself on neutral and allow yourself to be carried and moved forward by Love. All the while noticing the movements In and around you. You have some feelings for sure. The session may feel short or long, depending on your mood and what's happening Inside of you. Your director Is like the guy at the entrance, signaling to you to steer In such a way that your wheels are on the track. The analogy breaks down here

After studying watercolor for a while, I no longer see things the same way; they are not what they seem. A fire pit becomes shades of gray. Sunset becomes a spectrum of color, blending and creating. I began to ask different questions. What colors blended together to make that color? Which lines are soft and which ones hard? I wonder when the evening comes, how would the colors change then? I think less about my worries. When I “study” God enough, painting him, choosing him