Asking For A Word – Christine Valters Paintner
“I often ask for a word as I take my daily walks. I listen for what the trees and pigeons might have to offer me.”
—Christine Valters Paintner, PhD, Give Me a Word: The Promise of an Ancient Practice to Guide Your Year
What word of guidance or inspiration do you hear when you explore nature?
Pastor Michael Moore's Blog 
My own reflection from this spiritual exercise — My word for the year is Hope… to be honest, it is proving to be difficult to find hope right now. What is happening right now in this country and specifically in my home state of Minnesota is… well, I am at a loss for words other than the sweary ones! I do find hope in my classmates from High School (Austin, MN) and Seminary (United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities) along with colleagues and friends who are on the front lines. Their voices are loud and clear. In their voices and actions I find hope.
I go out into the cold every morning to ground myself. Just a few minutes feeding the birds… listening… just witnessing — not thinking… in doing so and I’m reminded that all is ‘God’s will’ (honoring my Christian audience 😉). I often join you, pastor Michael, in proclaiming ‘hope’, but in my heart it’s ultimately ‘trust’ that pulls me through these trials (like none I’ve ever before been given). History shows, when our knowing fails, that great darkness gives way to a greater light. Until then, we abide. We pray. We feel deep compassion… we help where we can… we add our light to the world and we will rise as part of The Greater Unseen Plan revealed in God’s timing, not ours…
Thank you for your heartfelt response, Donna. And thank you for walking with me on this journey. It means a lot to me.
… as so it does to me ✨️