When I talk about Big Prayer, I the kinds of big prayers that seem impossible on your own. And they probably are, because God alone can grant them. Because when God gives you a big prayer, He’s going to give you the way to achieve it. Mind you, it may not look like what you think it will look like. The will of God WILL be done, but He usually doesn’t detail step by step. So, listen. Watch for the light just ahead. And follow. This isn’t about goal setting and achievement, even though that is useful when you have a big dream. It’s about the heart of the matter…

Have you ever lost something that felt like everything? I don’t ask that casually. For some of you, the question immediately brings faces and memories to mind. A marriage. A child. A dream. A home. A career. A future you were certain God had promised. For me, it happened twenty years ago, and the experience shaped my life. At the time, I lived in Southern California. I had a home I loved, a young son, and a life that looked good from the outside. Behind the scenes, however, everything was unraveling. My husband and I were going through bankruptcy. The house was headed toward foreclosure. Our marriage was ending. I…

Two days ago, I was hit with a monster anxiety attack. I have generalized anxiety disorder, and I normally manage it just fine with an SSRI. But my prescription unexpectedly ran out before I could get in to see my provider. I needed to see him fast, because I was already experiencing withdrawal symptoms: extreme irritability, restlessness, unable to concentrate—really great habits for a contemplative spiritual director! And even if I got my refill within a week, the med would be out of my system, and I’d have to start over again—6 weeks of taking it before it started to work. I was NOT happy about this. On top of…