Pivot

 

Due to an unexpected death in her family,

The person who was supposed to lead the movement portion of our retreat last weekend was unable to attend. 

While she felt comfortable doing creative movement and liturgical dance,

Neither Jes, Heidi (Not The Librarian), or I did. 

 

Sometimes you have to pivot. 

 

On our way down to SC, 

Jes and I consulted YouTube videos and ChatGPT 

To find an activity that we thought would be appropriate for the weekend. 

With the help of the Holy Spirit, 

We were able to pull together a gentle movement meditation

That resonated with a lot of women.

 

Maybe it will resonate with you too.

 

Feel free to use this in your own personal quiet time

Or with a group.

The link to the stretches is at the bottom of this note. 

The pivoted meditation is here for you now. 

 

Opening

 

Begin by standing or sitting comfortably. Close your eyes or soften your gaze. Take a deep breath in… and slowly exhale. Again, breathe in deeply, filling your lungs with fresh morning air… and breathe out, releasing any tension. One more time… breathe in… and breathe out.  

 

As you move and stretch, let your heart settle into God’s presence and release your stress to God. God has given you this day, and God walks with you in it.  

 

Neck Rolls & Shoulder Stretches 

 

At shoulder rolls:

“Be still, and know that I am God.” – Psalm 46:10**  

 

Lord, in the stillness of this morning I acknowledge You. You are my refuge and strength. As I stretch, I surrender my worries and plans to You.  

 

Grinder

 

“Truly my soul finds rest in God, my salvation comes from him.” Psalm 62:1

 

God, as I step away from my work today, help me find rest in you. Release me from the burdens of my earthly tasks and let me rejoice in the freedom Of your salvation. 

 

Washing (sprinkle, twist, breathe the dirty water out)

 

After explaining the breathing out:

“Create in me a clean heart, oh God. And renew a right spirit within me.”

 

Lord, as I reflect on your grace, wash me and make me new. Cleanse me from unrighteousness and make me one with you. 

 

Side Stretches & Arm Movements 

 

Start during the overhead arm stretch

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” – Philippians 4:13

 

God, thank You for the strength You provide. As I move my body, help me remember that true strength comes from You.  

 

Torso Twists

 

“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning.” – Lamentations 3:22-23**  

 

Lord, I receive Your new mercies today. Whatever happened yesterday is behind me. Today is a fresh start in Your love. Thank you. 

 

Leg Stretches

 

“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” – Psalm 119:105

 

God, guide my steps today. May I walk in Your light, moving forward in faith, peace, and purpose.  

 

Shake it out

 

“This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” – Psalm 118:24

 

Lord, thank You for this day, this body, and this breath. May I glorify You in all I do. 

 

Closing

 

Please slowly Stand, planting your feet firmly, shoulder length apart. Stand still for a moment. Take one more deep breath in… and exhale slowly.  

 

“Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you.” 2 Thessalonians 3:16

 

Stay in this peace, carrying God’s presence with you as you move through the day.

 

Amen. 

 

https://youtu.be/laIWV6qJWbk

 

And Yet God Was With Me

 

I had the privilege of helping lead a retreat this past weekend. 

Around 40 Lutheran women from NC gathered in Isle of Palms, SC, to talk about 

Making a Joyful Noise through Music, Worship, and Dance. 

My friends Jes, Carolyn, and Heidi (Not the Librarian) met on Wednesday nights for a couple of months, 

Logging around 75 collective hours of

Brainstorming, texting, reading, writing, making handouts, making lists, ordering supplies, practicing, and packing 

In order to be ready for the weekend. 

 

And we were ready. 

 

I was even ready to lead contemporary worship,

Which I hadn’t done in years!

 

And then I lost my voice.

 

Again.

 

This time, I went to the doctor.

I had another upper respiratory virus that had once again settled on my vocal cords. 

 

I prayed and prayed that God would heal me. 

I prayed and prayed that I would get better. 

I prayed and prayed that adrenaline would kick in and that I’d be able to sing. 

I prayed and prayed and prayed for a miracle. 

After all, I was trying to do God’s work.

 

I took Thursday off work to rest my body and voice,

I’m on high powered cough syrup, Tylenol, ibuprofen, and a steroid, 

But I’m still not completely well. 

 

And the retreat is over.

 

I don’t know why God acts when God acts 

Or why God doesn’t act when God doesn’t.

 

I don’t know why I had to experience a retreat, 

One of my favorite things in the world, 

On music and worship, 

Two of my favorite topics in the world, 

Not feeling my best and not having full voice. 

But I did. 

 

And now it’s up to me to respond.

To celebrate teamwork and compassion and sharing the load and silence and humility and movement—

All things of God that came to light and remain even in the midst of

The sadness and frustration that, 

If I’m honest,

I feel

Over not being at my best to lead.

 

God did not heal me of my upper respiratory infection in record time. 

God did not fix my voice so that I could sing.

But God was with me. 

And God, through time and medicine and rest, 

Is making me well. 

 

And God is doing the same in you too, friend.

Wherever you are, 

Whatever you’re going through,

God is with you.

And God loves you.

So very very much. 

 

Amen. 

Dirty Car

 

I spend a lot of time in my car.

Despite my best efforts to keep it clean,

The mess inside sometimes gets out of control.

This has been the case recently.

 

It started back in March when I went on a weekend retreat.

I took my keyboard, keyboard stand, guitar, and guitar stand,

And then I was too lazy to unload them when I returned home.

After a couple of days, knowing that I was going to need the instruments again in a month,

I decided to just leave them in the car,

This decision meant taking down the trashcan from the back of the passenger’s seat and

Not having access to the back passenger’s-side seat at all.

This reality meant cramming everything into the back driver’s-side seat

Or into the cracks of the cargo space.

And boy did I have it crammed with

Papers, hats, shoes, clothes, tins, bags, programs, a French horn, trash, and more.

 

Thankfully, after my April retreat,

A friend came to the house to help me unload.

She knew that I would be exhausted and not want to do it,

So she showed up and propelled me forward.

We unloaded all the big instruments and did a quick clean of accumulated trash,

But we left the little stuff—

Papers, hats, shoes, clothes, tins, bags, programs, and more.

We also returned the trash can and put up the backseat.

 

On Saturday, my parents rode with me to my nephew’s soccer game.

Before we left, I consolidated all the “stuff” into the back driver’s-side seat.

Little did I know that when we’d get to the game,

My brother would walk to the car to greet us,

It would begin to pour down rain,

And we would need to make a place for my brother to sit.

 

As he was throwing a field day change of clothes, my bookbag, a hat, a raincoat, a stuffed animal, a world map, and seven pages of French horn music to the cargo area,

My brother joked, “My goodness, Dee. Are you living out of your car?!”

I was slightly embarrassed because I knew the car was dirty,

And I hadn’t been prepared to take in a passenger.

 

I think this is how it is with our lives sometimes.

We get so busy and accustomed to living with our messiness  

That we aren’t prepared to offer help when someone outside us needs help.

…

 

May this week be the week that we clean out our cars

And hearts

And minds

And make the space for others

When they need us.

 

Amen.

God Still Is

 

I was away at a retreat this past weekend,

But I got to go home for a few minutes on Saturday.

While I was there, I took off my shoes.

As I was getting ready to leave,

I thought to myself,

“What color shoes did I have on? Blue or green?

That’s right. It was the green.”

(I have multiple pairs of the same shoes—just in different colors.)

So I put my shoes back on,

Got the stuff I’d gone home for,

And went back to the retreat.

 

When I got there and started talking to a friend,

She said,
“I see you changed shoes while you were home.”

Thinking to myself, “Oh. I must have put on the blue shoes after all,”

I looked down to see a blue shoe on my right foot…

And a green shoe on my left!

“Oh goshk,” I said. “I put on two different shoes.

And I even stood there and debated which ones to wear!”

We both laughed.

And then it was my turn to speak, so

I totally, 100% forgot about my mismatched shoes until someone later said,

“Umm, Deanna? Is there a reason you have on two different shoes? 😊”

 

Friends:

There I was, delivering a 25-minute talk about grace,

Playing my guitar,

Speaking about communion,

And serving communion to everyone in the group…

In totally mismatched shoes!

 

What a beautiful picture of proof that

I don’t have it all together!

Sometimes, I am a total mess.

Sometimes, I overthink.

Sometimes, I doubt.

Sometimes, I say or do stupid things.

Yet God still is…

 

Working to create good from my worst mistakes,

Working to create life from my deepest grief,

Working to create light in my darkest nights, and

Working to create hope in my anxiety-producing fears.

 

When I seem to have it together,

And when I clearly don’t,

God still is…

 

And God still is…

With you, too.

 

Thanks be to God.