‘Quiet’ workshop to soothe holiday hysteria

December can be hectic, so don’t miss this opportunity to savor a little peace and quiet. “20 Minutes of Quiet” await you at Halifax next Tuesday, December 7.  A fan of quiet, Ami Hudson, M.Div. is hosting the free event. 

“Our spirits long for unfilled space,” said Hudson. “So we’ll make believe we have nowhere to go and nothing to do. Hopefully we’ll come away more centered, peaceful and calm.”

That may be harder than it sounds. Even when we’re still and quiet, our minds stay busy going over to-do lists or this morning’s awkward conversation. “We’ll share some ways of quieting our busy minds,” said Hudson. “We want to stay in the ‘here and now’ instead of being constantly onto the next thing.”

Practicing some quiet has always been important “to clear my mind and to help me sleep,” said Sharron Warren of South Boston–a nurse and owner/designer of Beach Babe’s Jewelry. “With the holiday season upon us we all need to take a few moments to just be quiet. Take time to sit with your eyes shut and think about what is important to you. I feel when I take care of myself I can better take care of others,” said Warren.

“20 Minutes of Quiet” will be offered at noon and again at 7 p.m. Participants in the noon workshop may feel free to bring their lunch. “I’m hoping people who work nearby may be able to join us around their lunch break,” said Hudson. 

Hudson is a Christian spiritual director which she described as “your personal chaplain to help you navigate through life.” Her website is www.AmiHudson.com and her office is in Halifax. She has taught religion and lifelong learning courses at the Southern Virginia Higher Education Center and has served as career coach at Halifax County High School.

This event follows November’s “Balance Your Life” workshop and is the second in a monthly “Best Self” workshop series hosted by Hudson. Topics for upcoming months include: Power Thoughts & Affirmations, 5 Things for Couples, Getting Serious about Laughter, and Making Sense of your Dreams. “I chose topics that have benefitted me, and I hope they will contribute to others’ well-being too,” said Hudson. 

“20 Minutes of Quiet” is set for Tuesday, December 7 at Hudson’s office on North Main in Halifax with a choice of times, Noon-1:00 or 7-8:00 pm. Participants should register by Friday, 12/3 by calling Hudson at 476-4111 or by email to ami@pure.net, indicating a preference of noon or 7 p.m. Leave an e-mail address if you want notification of upcoming workshops, which run through April.

Click here and subscribe to our newsletter

“Balance Your Life” workshop to focus on important things

How balanced are the important things in your life? A free one-hour “Balance Your Life” workshop hosted by Ami Hudson, M.Div. in Halifax on Thursday November 11 lets you focus imaginatively on what’s important to you.

Looking at areas of life such as family & friends, career, health, money, personal growth, and fun & recreation, participants can see where things are going well and where things might be out of balance. “If you’re focused on career but missing out with friends & family, you can set goals to give more attention to that. On the other hand, if family responsibility is primary, maybe you’d enjoy some focus on your own personal growth, or fun & recreation,” said Hudson.

Familiar with the workshop, Jenny Hochstein of Pick-A-Pine Plantation said, “It was a real motivation to me to discover what the priorities were in my life, the percentage of fulfillment I was experiencing in my goals, what was interfering, and what I could change. This helps you put your life into perspective. I really enjoy working with Ami– she gently leads you through the process and encourages you to think things through.”

Hudson is offering the workshop at noon and again at 7 p.m. Participants in the noon workshop may feel free to bring their lunch. “I’m hoping people who work nearby may be able to join us around their lunch break,” said Hudson. 

Hudson is a Christian spiritual director which she describes as “your personal chaplain to help you navigate through life.” Her website is www.AmiHudson.com and her office is in Halifax. She has taught religion and lifelong learning courses at the Southern Virginia Higher Education Center and has served as career coach at Halifax County High School.

The workshop is the first in a monthly “Best Self” series hosted by Hudson. Topics for upcoming months include: A Quiet Retreat in 20 Minutes, Power Thoughts & Affirmations, Five Things for Couples, Getting Serious about Laughter, and Making Sense of your Dreams. “I chose topics that have benefitted me, and I hope they will contribute to others’ well-being also,” said Hudson. 

The “Balance Your Life” workshop is set for Thursday, November 11 at Hudson’s office on North Main in Halifax with a choice of times, Noon-1:00 or 7-8:00 pm. Participants should register by Tuesday , 11/9 by calling Hudson at 476-4111 or by email to ami@pure.net, indicating a preference of noon or 7 p.m.  Leave an e-mail address if you want notification of upcoming workshop details in the monthly “Best Self” series, which runs through April.

Click here and subscribe to our newsletter

How to lay out your fleece (jacket)

              Before the weather started changing, my buddy Brooke and I talked about laying out our fleece.  Brooke has quite a fleece jacket collection, dutifully photographed in her Georgia back yard for this article at my request. I still get very tickled picturing her doing so. The e-mail she sent along with the photos said, “Not sure what you had in mind, so I had my jackets do a little modeling in the back yard.”

               Something serious was in question, however: ”Laying out our fleece” in terms of seeking discernment, like Gideon in the book of Judges. When we’re faced with an important decision or potential big change, how do we figure it out?

                Here’s how I first became acquainted with laying out my fleece.  In my 20’s I had been meeting regularly with my cousin Laura and a few other friends about the possibility of going to Panama to do youth evangelism.  I didn’t want to let the others down, but I was considering backing out.  My reasons were pretty sound: I don’t speak Spanish.  I’m not much of an evangelist. The project involved clowning, singing and mime but I tend to be reserved.  Plus, I was in a new job and didn’t have leave time.  The time for respectably backing out was approaching but I felt torn about the decision.             

                Seeking guidance I phoned a campus minister I respect, halfway hoping she’d ease my conscience about quitting. “Why don’t you pray about it and ask God for a sign.  Lay out a fleece like Gideon did,” she counseled. I hadn’t thought of that. I was unfamiliar with Gideon’s story and she had to explain.  But I looked up Judges 6:36-40 and figured, why not try it? I asked God for a sign please, about whether I should go to Panama, confessing I didn’t know what to do. Then I had some dinner, went to bed and kind of forgot about it.

                The next morning was a Saturday, and there was a knock at my door. It was my friend Heather, smiling broadly like she had a surprise. “Ami, I want you to meet my friend Desiree.  She’s originally from Panama and she’s in town visiting me today.” How timely, I thought casually–and told the pair about my present Panama predicament.  

                That’s when Desiree began to tell me some of the things I would love about Panama.  “You should go!”  Her energy and enthusiasm were palpable.  When they left, I felt more confident about Panama and lighter. My dread about going had more or less lifted.  It wasn’t until a few hours later that I remembered asking God for a sign the night before.  

                My experience in Panama was very significant. It impacted the course of my life and I know that I was supposed to be there.  Now I often encourage people to ask God for a sign– whether it’s about a specific decision, or rather for a sign of God’s presence and care. You see, God wants to be in relationship with us, and when we ask for some communication God readily grants it. 

                While I know that Gideon set his own terms about how God should respond (make the fleece wet, now make the fleece dry), I haven’t felt called to do that– it feels too much like “testing” God. I prefer to make the asking more general and let God get through to me God’s way.  Surprising and refreshing, it comes in a way I would not have predicted (an enthusiastic Panama native on my doorstep within 12 hours, really?). 

                Sure, I could rationalize what happened as coincidence.  Desiree would have visited Heather whether I asked for a sign or not.  But why did Heather decide to share her guest with me?  On the day after I prayed that?  And for me to be home when they dropped by?  And for Desiree to be so naturally exuberant?  I am certain that God knew exactly what would counter my hesitation and orchestrated things accordingly.

                See below and consider whether you might be invited to ask for a sign.

 Asking for a Sign

• You can ask for a sign about an important decision you’re making, or for a sign of God’s presence and love.
• God wants to communicate with you and be involved with you (and already is!)
• Sometimes you have two good options and God is okay with either decision–you get to choose. Have confidence in your ability to make sound decisions; enjoy your choices.
• Let God communicate how God will, and be open to the unexpected (vs. you making demands or setting the terms of God’s sign).
• If you ask for a sign, watch for it and expect it (a.k.a. faith).
• When you receive your sign, do so with gratitude. Deciding it was “just” coincidence is less than gracious (in my experience however, God communicates in unexpected ways that leave less room for doubt).
• If something seems “off” or does not seem of God, don’t take it as your sign. When it is God you will know and it will feel peaceful and right.
• Let the experience you receive build your trust in God’s everyday involvement, care and delight in you.
• Keep communicating and keep watching for God’s continual presence and activity in your life.

 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine…to him be glory. (Ephesians 3:20, 21).

Click here and subscribe to our newsletter

Staying close to your siblings?

I’ve been starting a lot of conversations on this topic lately. I’m finding, sadly, that when it comes to sibling relationships, a lot of us don’t expect much once we no longer live under the family roof. That’s too bad. It turns out that many of us think our siblings are terrific people, yet we find our relationships limited for the most part to small talk at extended family gatherings. With the addition of spouses and children, there are always lots of people around when we get together, and it’s busy.  

My husband recently met his brother for dinner just the two of them, and they talked for hours. He said it was the longest they’d talked since they lived at home as teens. But back then the dialogue was more along the lines of “Your breath stinks! Move over!”  They are now ages 40 and 42, and he valued this visit differently.

I was a mean big sister to my little bro. I called him names, put him down, and pushed him away every chance I got –I suppose it was due to my own insecurities and desire to keep friends and activities to myself. When we were both in our early 20’s though, I missed him. Really missed him. I couldn’t believe what a great guy he’d become, and probably had been all along while I missed it due to being enormously self-absorbed.

My friend Ruth makes a point to spend time with family members one-on-one when she visits, and I asked her about this recently. She’ll go to their home or workplace or their kids’ activities, rather than just relying on them seeing her in the big group at mom and dad’s. She pointed out that sibling relationships are on average the longest lasting relationships that we have–longer on average than Read more

From the prayer tree

In my last post I was getting ready for Halifax Earth Day. I brought along a ”prayer tree” and some clothespins, inviting people to post a prayer for Creation, in thanks or in hope.  I had hoped that at least a few would participate and I was thrilled that many actually did.  Below are some of the prayers that were posted, without names and omitting those of a more personal nature. 

A word about the tree: the young red bud tree cut down for this project came from a farmer’s fence row.  If you know farmers–particularly Red Bank Hudson farmers– then you know that a tree along a fence row is out of place and would have to be dispatched with eventually.  Thanks to my father-in-law for the set-up, Laura for the idea, Jenny and Sharron for encouraging me to be part of the event.  Photos are from the Halifax Earth Day facebook page.

A drawing and a winner: After the Earth Day event I decided to have a drawing for a free individual session among the people who came by my table and left their names.  Congratulations to Linda Unroe of South Boston: I am putting something in the mail to you.

And now for the PRAYERS.  Some are from children so I left the spelling and grammer natural/as written.  Thanks, everybody, for coming by and participating.  God bless each one of you abundantly.  You are invited to post more prayers or comments at the end.

• Please let us be good stewards of your creation!
• Pray for our world and protect it please.
• grow big and blom pretty flowers. For the world.
• Prayer for a cleaner place to play
• Thank you God for a  B E A U T I F U L  Spring– May we conserve our world for our future
• Dear God, thank you for this great world you’ve given us. Please guide us to take care of it, and each other.  Amen.
• Pray for our future generations to Read more
  

  Filed under Happenings, everyday theology, pages · Tagged with

  « Previous Page — Next Page »