Responding to God’s Beauty: Create + Play
It’s time to move from making space into create and play. This is the rhythm we follow here. First, we pause, making space to sit with God, to reflect, to pray, to simply be in His presence. Then, from that stillness, we step into creating and playing.
So often, people think “create” must mean something artistic: painting, coloring, crafting. But creating is so much more than that! I like to think of it as a response, letting ourselves be moved by God’s beauty and then answering with action. It could be snapping a picture, chopping vegetables, lifting your voice in song, journaling, or dancing.
Sometimes this kind of creating flows naturally. Other times, we need to be intentional, and that’s where play comes in. Play loosens us, opens us, helps us practice noticing beauty. That’s why I share photo prompts, creative prompts, and prayer prompts—little invitations that are both playful and reflective.
Sometimes we are stirred by God’s beauty to create. Other times, we create as a way to train our eyes to notice His beauty more clearly.
So how do you want to play this week?
Practicing the Presence | Prompt 4: Open Windows and Doorways
Find and photograph an open window or doorway.
Today, notice an open window or doorway. Pause for just a moment before you move on.
What is this open space inviting you to?
What does it stir in your heart: rest, curiosity, longing, courage?
Where might God be saying, “Come in. Step through. Trust me here.”
If you’d like, take a photo. Not necessarily for show, but as a way to slow down and remember. If you do decide to share, tag your photo with #PracticingPresence so we can walk in His presence together.
What Is “Practicing the Presence”?
Practicing the presence means pausing to notice God not only in church or prayer but in the ordinary details of life. It’s not about chasing after God. It’s about remembering God is already here, in the simplest of things.
Making Space: Wordless Prayer
I’ve been taking a little longer with making space this month. September has felt like the right time to pause hereand notice what needs to be cleared away and what needs to be held close. Maybe it’s just me, but there’s something about the changing season that makes me want to breathe deeper and make room for God in new ways.
So here’s a simple practice to try:
Sit quietly for a minute with your hands open in front of you, palms up.
In one hand, imagine placing everything hard, sad, or scary that you’re carrying. Picture loading that hand up with anything heavy on your heart.
In the other hand, imagine holding everything you love—anything beautiful, fun, silly, or sacred that brings joy.
Then slowly lift your hands up, offering them to God.
You don’t even need words. The gesture itself becomes a prayer, an embodied way of saying: “I can’t hold all of this on my own. Please carry it for me.” and “Thank You for all this beauty and for being a God who gives good gifts.”
Sometimes, making space means letting go of so many words and simply being with God in a quieter way.
Try It with Kids
This hand-prayer works beautifully with children, too. You can guide them like this:
Hold out both hands in front of you, palms up.
In one hand, pretend to put anything that makes you feel sad, worried, or scared. You can “drop” it in your hand like a stone.
In the other hand, pretend to put things you love: something beautiful, fun, or silly that makes you happy. You can “pick up” these good things and place them in your hand like treasures.
After a moment, lift up both hands together. Tell God, “Here are the hard things. Please hold them for me. Here are the good things. Thank You for giving them to me.”
If children don’t want to use words, that’s okay. The simple action of lifting their hands is a prayer all by itself.
Learning to See Through God’s Eyes
Several years ago, I chose three words to shape the way I wanted to see the world: beauty, freedom, and abundance. They’re still words I come back to often. I don’t always live them out perfectly, but they continue to be a guide for me, a way of framing how I want to look at my life, my relationships, and the world around me.
The truth is, I don’t always see through that frame naturally. Most days I need the reminder to slow down, make space, and ask God to help me see differently. Left to myself, I get distracted, or I focus on what feels heavy or frustrating. But when I pause and pray, even a simple, quiet “Lord, help me see what You see”, it opens my eyes to what’s already there.
Scripture reminds us that God is the source of all three:
“One thing I ask from the Lord… to gaze on the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple.” (Psalm 27:4)
“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.” (Galatians 5:1)
“I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” (John 10:10)
Making space for this kind of noticing doesn’t have to be complicated. It can be as simple as:
Looking out the window for a few minutes and asking, Where is the beauty here?
Taking a walk and asking, What freedom is God inviting me into today?
Sitting at the table and asking, What abundance am I overlooking today?
A Making Space Practice
This week, take five minutes each day to pause and ask God to show you beauty, freedom, and abundance in an ordinary place. Write down what you notice, or share it with someone else. Over time, these small moments of noticing can gently shift the way we see our lives and help us point others toward the goodness of God at work all around us.
Tree of Beginnings
September has always felt like a fresh start. The air shifts, school begins, routines re-form, and even nature seems to whisper: something new is growing.
But here’s the thing about beginnings: not all of them last. Some are here just for a season, like leaves that blaze with color before drifting to the ground. Others stay, rooted and steady, shaping us for much longer than we expect. But both matter and are part of the tree.
Today’s invitation is to create a Tree of Beginnings.
The Creative Practice
On your page, draw or paint a tree. It doesn’t have to be realistic! Keep it simple if you’d like: a trunk, a few branches, and plenty of space for leaves. (Or use this coloring page.)
Now, imagine this tree as all the beginnings in your life right now. As you draw leaves, imagine them all as the new things, the big or small, serious or silly. If you’d like, on each leaf, draw, paint, or write something that you’re starting this season (or hope to start!). Otherwise, just hold them in your heart.
As you look at your tree, remember that some leaves will fall away. They may have been important for a moment, but they’re not meant to stay. And some leaves will remain, steady and green. These are the beginnings that will continue to grow.
Let your tree hold both, the fleeting and the lasting. Then ask God to bless all your leaves and to give you peace about the ones that fall away (or the courage to let some fall away).
Wondering Questions
I wonder what new beginnings are stirring in you this season.
I wonder which ones will last, and which ones may gently fall away?
I wonder how it feels to notice that both are good, and both belong?
Kid-Friendly Version
Draw a giant tree full of leaves. Talk about all the things going on in your life, whether new or continuing, like school, sports, friendships, or even snack time!
Some leaves will fall off the tree later (and that’s okay!). Others will stay and grow bigger. Which ones do you think will stick around? Thank God for all the leaves.
If you feel comfortable, I’d love to see what you create. When I share these prompts, I’ll always try to share what I’ve made too. Tag me on Instagram or comment below with a photo or reflection.
An examen for the end of summer
The examen is a simple way of prayerful reflection—remembering, noticing, and receiving God’s grace in the ordinary. As summer comes to a close, take time to pause and look back over these months with God.
Remember
What moments from this summer stand out most vividly to me?
Where did I feel most alive, most myself?
Where did I feel God’s nearness?
Give Thanks
What gifts did summer hold for me, big or small?
Who am I especially grateful for this season?
How did play, rest, or joy find me?
Notice
Where did I feel weary, restless, or distracted?
Where did I sense God’s absence—or my own distance from God?
What have these moments taught me about myself?
Look Forward
What do I want to carry with me from summer into fall?
What might God be inviting me to let go of?
What blessing, prayer, or grace do I need for this next season?
Close
Rest for a moment in God’s love. Imagine God’s blessing resting on you as you step forward into what comes next.
Draw Near: The little book for color and wonder
I’m so excited to share something new with you: my brand-new coloring book, Draw Near: the little book for color and wonder.
This isn’t just a coloring book. It’s an invitation to slow down, to notice, to play, and to wonder. Inside you’ll find over 50 hand-drawn illustrations paired with gentle wondering questions. As you color, you’ll be invited to pause and reflect, letting the simple act of coloring become a practice of contemplative play.
Contemplative play is what happens when we let ordinary moments—like picking up a crayon, pencil, or marker—become space for quiet reflection and openness. It’s not about creating a perfect finished page. It’s about showing up with curiosity, being present, and letting yourself wonder.
Some of the illustrations trace the seasons of the year. Others are small and simple shapes, easy to fill with color. All of them are paired with questions that create space for noticing—questions like:
Where did you see beauty today?
What are you longing for right now?
What feels like home to you?
My hope is that Draw Near becomes a companion you can return to again and again, on quiet mornings, in waiting rooms, on a Sabbath afternoon, or whenever you need a moment to rest, breathe, and be. It’s small enough to carry with you everywhere and the illustrations are simple enough to hand to a child, if they need a small project.
✨ You can find Draw Near: the little book for color and wonder in my Etsy shop here: PaperArtWhimsies.
I’d love to know how you use it, whether you color alone, with a child, or with a friend. However you choose to use it, I hope it helps you slow down and draw near.
When Rest Feels Hard
Lately, rest has been feeling harder than I think it should. I sit down to nap, to read, or even to pray, and instead of stillness I feel anxious, fidgety, or distracted. Escapism often comes easier—TV, scrolling on my phone—but that doesn’t leave me feeling truly refreshed.
What I’ve been noticing, though, is that play can be a pathway into rest, one that feels more accessible. I used to think of rest and play as opposites. But really, play is a kind of rest. There are so many ways to rest, and when the traditional ones (the ones that require keeping my body still) don’t work, play is often an easier way to enter. When I paint, color, doodle, or take a slow walk outside, my body and mind relax in ways they don’t when I try to force myself into “being still.”
And here’s something important: the kind of rest that truly quiets our bodies takes practice. It doesn’t always come naturally. Some seasons of life make it harder than others. That doesn’t mean we’re failing at rest, it just means we might need gentler doorways in.
Not every kind of play is equally restful. Some is active or noisy, which is good and refreshing in its own way! But other kinds of play are gentler. I call this contemplative play: the kind of play that refreshes the body, softens the heart, and brings the mind into a quieter rhythm.
Here are some of my favorite ways to practice contemplative play:
Watercoloring
Journaling (especially in my coloring journal)
Digital art (lately I’ve been playing with the idea of making stickers)
Swinging in the hammock
Sitting in the grass with the dogs and letting them tumble around me
Playing fetch with the dogs
Listening to audiobooks (often while doing one of the above)
After these kinds of play, I try to pause and notice what I’m feeling. Often the first feeling that surfaces isn’t the truest one. (Once I sit with it for a few minutes, I usually realize I’m just sad about a lot of things.) Then I gather up all those feelings and lift them to God with a simple prayer: “God, I don’t know what to do with all of this. Will you hold it for me?”
This month, I’m remembering that rest isn’t only stillness. Sometimes the most restful thing is to follow the thread of play until I arrive at the calm I was seeking all along.
Practice Invitation
Think about the kinds of play that feel restful for you. Try one this week, like coloring, baking, daydreaming, humming, swinging in a hammock. As you do, notice how your body and spirit shift. Then, take a moment to name what you’re feeling and lift it up to the Lord.
The Hidden, Blessed, and Sacred Work of Children’s Ministry
Yesterday I had to lead a meeting with our Sunday school volunteers and honestly, I wasn’t really feeling it going in. As the date of the meeting crept closer, I noticed a little bitterness rising inside about children’s ministry, which is very unusual for me! I knew God would meet me in the meeting and in my words, but I wanted to be able to stand in front of our volunteers and speak authentically about how much I love them and love this ministry. So, I reached out to a few close friends and asked them to pray.
And of course, God showed up. As I sang during worship, listened to the sermon, and came forward for communion, my heart shifted. I felt His joy rising in me again, even while I carried my sadness, fear, anxiety, even my bitterness to Him. By the time I stood before our volunteers, I was able to share from a place of honesty about the work, the struggle, and the beauty of what we do together.
Here are some of the things I tried to put into words:
Children’s ministry is hidden.
A friend of mine gave me this word recently about this ministry, and it stuck with me. Children’s ministry doesn’t usually get the spotlight. We’re not up front, we’re not getting applause. In fact, most of the time it feels pretty thankless.
Part of my job is to make sure our volunteers feel seen and valued, but I also reminded them that there’s something holy about the hiddenness itself. In God’s upside-down kingdom, the hidden jobs are the important ones. When the kids aren’t listening, when you’re tired and sweaty, when no one says “thank you” — God sees. And He delights in you.
Children’s ministry is a blessing to us.
We also read together from Matthew 19:14: “Let the little children come to me…”
The truth is, we don’t just serve the kids, we also receive from them. Their honesty, their joy, their questions, even their struggles — they all bless us. Week after week, these little ones show us what humility, trust, and openness to God look like.
Children’s ministry isn’t just about helping kids grow in their faith; it’s about us growing, too. We get to see, right in front of us, the kind of childlike faith Jesus said was the model for His kingdom. Serving in this way is not just a responsibility, it’s a blessing.
Children’s ministry is sacred.
One of the holiest truths about this work is that we are not only telling kids about Jesus, but we are also we are creating spaces where they can encounter Him for themselves. That happens through relationships, through the way we listen, through play, through stories, and through the wonder we make space for. And once you truly encounter Jesus, you are never the same.
When a child feels loved and seen by us, they are experiencing the love and welcome of Jesus. When we invite them to wonder about God’s story, they are encountering His presence in real and lasting ways. This is sacred work, holy ground where God meets His children through the simple faithfulness of His people.
Children’s ministry may not always feel glamorous, but it is holy. It’s hidden, yes, but hidden in the way seeds are hidden before they grow. It’s a blessing to us, because we are shaped by the very ones Jesus told us to learn from. And it’s sacred, because here children encounter the love of Jesus through us, and we encounter Him through them.
So if you ever find yourself tired or discouraged in this work (like I did this week), remember: God sees you. And through you, Jesus is making Himself known.
sacred story time (watch the clouds)
Last time, Pooh had an idea to get honey from the bees. This week is the execution of that plan!
As we read this week’s passage, I hope you’ll let it stir up what plans you had for your life that may have gone in a different direction. Come play, pray, and wonder with me.
They both went out with the blue balloon, and Winnie-the-Pooh went to a very muddy place that he knew of, and rolled and rolled until he was black all over; and then, when the balloon was blown up as big as big, and Christopher Robin and Pooh were both holding on to the string, Christopher Robin let go suddenly, and Pooh Bear floated gracefully up into the sky, and stayed there—level with the top of the tree and about twenty feet away from it.
“Hooray!" Christopher Robin shouted.
"Isn't that fine?" shouted Winnie-the-Pooh down to him. "What do I look like?"
"You look like a Bear holding on to a balloon," Christopher Robin said.
"Not," said Pooh anxiously, "—not like a small black cloud in a blue sky?"
"Not very much."
"Ah, well, perhaps from up here it looks different. And, as I say, you never can tell with bees."
There was no wind to blow him nearer to the tree, so there he stayed. He could see the honey, he could smell the honey, but he couldn't quite reach the honey.
After a little while he called down to Christopher Robin.
"Christopher Robin!" he said in a loud whisper.
"Hallo!"
"I think the bees suspect something!"
"What sort of thing?"
"I don't know. But something tells me that they're suspicious!"
Perhaps they think that you're after their honey."
"It may be that. You never can tell with bees."
There was another little silence, and then he called down again.
"Christopher Robin!"
"Yes?"
"Have you an umbrella in your house?"
"I think so."
"I wish you would bring it out here, and walk up and down with it, and look up at me every now and then, and say 'Tut-tut, it looks like rain.' I think, if you did that, it would help the deception which we are practising on these bees."
Christopher Robin laughed to himself, "Silly old Bear!" but didn't say it aloud because he was so fond of him, and he went home for the umbrella.
Noticing Prompt
Does life ever go in a different direction than you planned? How does that feel? Do you try to correct the course, or do you go with the flow? What would it look like to grow in contentment?
Play Prompt
With a friend or a child, go outside, lay down, and observe the clouds. What shapes do you see? What color are they? What’s inside them? How do they taste? Feel? Do you and your friend see the same things, or something different?
Imagination Prompt
What would you do if you could hold a balloon and float? Would you see how high you could go? What would you like to see from above? What friends might you make up there?
Prayer
Faithful God, sometimes we feel discontent or discouraged, with our lives, ourselves, our friends, and even sometimes with you. But we know that you are the God of good gifts, of friendships and laughter, and we trust that you always know what’s best for us. Help us to grow in contentment and joy, whatever our circumstances.
Download a PDF of this content for a Winnie-the-Pooh coloring page!
Creative Prompt: Draw your name as a vine
Draw Your Name as a Vine or Tree — What’s Growing From It?
Imagine writing your name and letting it grow, like branches, vines, or roots. Does it look strong and sturdy, or light and twisty? Is it full of leaves, flowers, or fruit? Or maybe it’s resting for a season, waiting for new growth.
This is more than just a drawing exercise, it’s an invitation into contemplative play. That means slowing down, paying attention, and letting your imagination open a window to what God might be showing you. When we create without rushing, we make space to notice the connections between our inner life and the image taking shape on the page.
Wondering Questions
What kind of tree or vine would your name become?
What season is it in: spring, summer, fall, or winter?
What’s growing from your life that others can see?
What roots are keeping you steady?
What new growth might be starting, even if it’s small?
How to Try It
Write your name in large letters. Turn each letter into part of a vine or tree, adding roots, branches, leaves, or fruit. You can color it or keep it simple. You might also write words on the branches, things that are part of your life right now. Or use this coloring page by adding your name and words or pictures that describe what is growing.
Kid-Friendly Option
Invite your child to write their name and turn it into a tree or vine. Ask:
What’s growing from your tree?
Who or what helps your roots grow strong?
Does your tree like sunshine or shade?
Encourage them to add animals, flowers, or anything else they imagine living in or around it.
If you feel comfortable, I’d love to see what you create. When I share these prompts, I’ll always try to share what I’ve made too. Tag me on Instagram or comment below with a photo or reflection.
Sacred Story time: Behind the Scenes
Creating the Sacred Storytime prompts is one of my very favorite parts of what I’ve been doing. They do take a lot of time, though, so last month I shared in my Instagram stories a bit about the process and the heart behind them. In case you missed it, here’s a look at how they come together and why I love making them.
First, I pull the next section of text from Project Gutenberg, a free e-book site that houses many beloved classics in the public domain. Right now, we’re making our way through Winnie-the-Pooh (for reasons I’ll share another time!). I read through the passage carefully and then create three prompts and a prayer to go along with it.
The first prompt is what I call the Noticing Prompt. This is at the heart of what I mean when I talk about using children’s stories for contemplative play. It’s the simple act of reading a sweet story and letting it stir something inside us. The prompts are there to guide you, but honestly, you can do this without them too! My hope is that as you read (or listen, through the Instagram reels), you’ll pause to notice what’s happening in your heart. Afterward, take a moment to offer that noticing to God in prayer. That prayer piece is essential; it shifts our focus from ourselves back to Him. I usually provide a simple prayer you can use, or you’re always welcome to pray your own.
The second and third prompts are a bit more playful. These are things you can do on your own, with a friend, or with a child—something lighthearted, creative, and intentional. Even when they seem silly, they often spark meaningful reflection too.
And then comes the prayer, which may look like an afterthought, but really it’s the center of the whole practice. Reflection is valuable, but the goal isn’t just self-awareness. It’s connection with God. The prayer is our chance to lift up our hearts, remember who He is, and invite His help and presence into what we’ve noticed.
Once the prompts and prayer are finished, I choose an image from the original book to turn into a coloring page (always available as a free PDF in the blog post). Then, I paint a watercolor version of the same page. That watercolor becomes the backdrop for the Instagram reel. I bring it into Canva to add text, then into LumaFusion where I record the voiceover. My goal is always for the reels to feel like you’re being read to as a child—gentle, cozy, and full of wonder.
It’s a fair amount of work, but I truly love it. And I’m dreaming bigger: eventually, I’d love to gather a whole story, with prompts, prayers, and coloring pages, into a printed booklet you can hold in your hands. Something you could take with you, write in, color in, and share with a child or a friend.
Thank you so much for being part of this journey with me. It means the world.
Book Recommendations from Apostles Kids
Last week, I had the privilege of hosting the book club from our church and what a special gathering it was! The theme? Spy School by Stuart Gibbs, my son's pick, which brought together readers of all ages, from Apostles Kids to youth and adults.
Spy School follows the adventures of middle-schooler Ben Ripley, whose knack for sarcasm and love of gadgets unexpectedly land him in the clandestine world of espionage. As he trains at the CIA’s spy academy, he must navigate teenage drama, mysterious plots, and thrilling missions. Author Stuart Gibbs has several middle grade series, several of which I have recommended on this blog before.
It was a joy to see everyone animatedly discuss favorite books and share suggestions. Children and adults recommended beloved classics from their own childhoods, but these were some of the favorites by those kids in attendance:
I Am a Bunny by Richard Scarry
Hope in a Jar by Deborah Marcero
Tree Castle Island by Jean Craighead George
Paddington by Michael Bond
I love children’s literature and believe that adults benefit from them just as much as kids! So, we paused before the discussion of Spy School to dive into I Am a Bunny and Hope in a Jar.
I Am a Bunny by Richard Scarry
This charming, whimsical picture book is tailor-made for toddlers. It follows a little bunny navigating the seasons: playing in snow, spotting migrating birds, and exploring spring flowers. Scarry’s gentle rhymes and vivid illustrations captivate emerging readers and offer a cozy sensory experience for adults to rediscover the simple joys of nature and change.
Hope in a Jar by Deborah Marcero
In this picture-book gem (the latest in Marcero’s “Jar” series), a bunny named Llewellyn and friends gather their hopes, whether small (like ice skating or visiting a friend) or grand (going to the moon or becoming a wildlife photographer), and tuck them safely into jars. It’s a touching reminder of the power of hope and imagination.
Thank you to everyone who participated—your warmth, laughter, and enthusiasm made this book club truly memorable. I hope you feel inspired to revisit your earliest favorites or discover new ones together. Whether you're cuddled up with a picture book or sneaking in a spy tale, may the magic of reading fill your home.
Happy reading—wherever your stories take you!
Sacred Playtime
Each month in our rhythm, we move from Make Space into Create + Play.
Make Space is about clearing the noise and slowing our pace so we can be present to God. Create + Play takes that presence and gives it room to stretch and move through our hands, imaginations, and senses.
This isn’t “creative time” in the usual sense, it’s not about producing something beautiful or impressive. It’s about entering into contemplative play: a way of being with God that engages curiosity, creativity, and presence. It’s a posture of wonder that says, “I am here, God, and I am listening,” even when our hands are busy and our minds are open.
It might look like coloring slowly, not to fill the page but to be present to your breath. It might look like walking through your neighborhood and wondering about the stories behind the trees or houses as a prayer. It might look like arranging scraps of paper or string on your table, not for a finished piece, but to explore what your hands are drawn to today.
Contemplative play helps us loosen our grip on control and perfection. It shifts our posture from striving to receiving. In this playful, spacious presence, we become like children again, which is exactly how Jesus invites us to approach the Kingdom.
It helps us grow in intimacy with God because it slows us down enough to notice God noticing us. It makes room to hear God’s voice not just in Scripture or prayer, but in color, movement, silence, texture, and breath. It helps us be with God, not just talk about God.
If you find yourself longing for more of this gentle, spacious presence, I’d love to walk alongside you. In spiritual direction, we make room together to notice God’s invitations, pay attention to your unique story, and explore how God might be speaking through your creativity, questions, and play.
Practicing the Presence | Prompt 4: Shadow
Take a picture of the shadows.
Practicing the presence means remembering that God is with us, not just in church or during formal prayer, but in the ordinary and embodied parts of our day.
This is not about doing more. It’s about noticing what’s already here.
Brother Lawrence, a humble monk and kitchen worker in the 1600s, called this way of life “a continual conversation with God,” where every task and every moment became a doorway into communion.
Even (especially) the small ones.
Try This
Today, notice the shadows. What are they? Where do they come from? What is their purpose?
Let this be a moment to practice the presence of God.
If you’d like, take a photo of the shadows that you see as a visual reminder that God meets us here, in the light and the dark.
Ask yourself:
Where is God in this moment?
What am I receiving right now?
What does it feel like to let this be enough?
Tag your photo with #PracticingPresence or simply carry the peace of this moment with you through the rest of your day.
You are not alone. You are held in the shadow of his wings.
Lift Up Your Head: Noticing as a Spiritual Practice
Every month, we begin by making space and I try to offer some prompts to help us do just that. Last month, many of those prompts invited us to notice. But why is it important to make space? And why bother noticing, especially when what we’re noticing seems so small or even silly?
Making space, slowing down, noticing—it’s all about giving God room to move in our lives. Remember Elijah hearing God in the whisper? (I Kings 19:11-13) The thunder and storms that came before were loud, powerful, dramatic. But God wasn’t in them. It was the stillness where he could finally hear. The same is true for us. The thunder and storms are the busyness of our lives. Slowing down helps us hear the whisper.*
Often, I pray for “eyes to see” what’s really there, but that kind of seeing takes intention. It takes slowing down. It takes a shift in perspective.
Three years ago, I wrote a blog post about this very thing: about how I was trying to move away from just pushing through the hard moments in my day. Because I really don’t believe that’s what God wants for us. Every moment is a gift, and I don’t want to squander them by merely surviving.
With the help of my spiritual director, I came up with a breath prayer for those moments:
Inhale: Lord, lift up my head
Exhale: To see your beauty
This, my friends, is an act of surrender. It’s saying: “I have nothing, but you give me everything. Help me see it.” And in that surrender, I have been surprised by the freedom I’ve found. I've begun to see more of the beauty around me, more of the abundant life He promises.
Taking that breath often requires a literal shift in posture: I have to lift up my head. But it’s also a metaphorical shift. I am choosing to change how I approach the moment. I am asking for eyes to see, even in the middle of the mess.
That’s what I’m inviting you into. Doing things that feel purposeless (making “ugly” art, noticing silly things) isn’t wasted time. It’s sacred time. It’s a way of slowing down, of receiving.
And somehow, taking time when it feels like there isn’t any actually multiplies time. This is God’s economy at work. This is abundance.
*And this is what spiritual direction is for! If this practice feels hard or foreign to you, I encourage you to give spiritual direction a try.
Creative Prompt: If your mug had feelings
I decided it was time for a silly creative prompt, and this one won the vote on Instagram:
If your coffee mug had feelings… what would they be?
But, as in all things, there can be so much meaning found behind the silliness.
Silliness for its own sake is beautiful and holy. So if you want to just be silly with this prompt, please do! Consider this your full permission slip.
But if you're up for some gentle reflection, take a few moments with these wondering questions. And then, as always: take what you notice to God. That last step is the most important; it’s what invites us into deeper communion with Him.
Do you have a favorite mug you reach for each day? Why do you choose it?
How would your mug feel about being chosen—proud? familiar? a little overworked?
Does it ever get left behind?
How does it feel when it’s pushed to the back of the shelf or left with cold coffee at the bottom?
Take a moment to sit with your favorite mug.
What does it see when you wrap your hands around it in the morning?
What feelings are stirred up for you as you imagine this?
You might:
Color your mug and draw a face on it to show what it might feel.
Use this coloring page to label emotions you notice in yourself or imagine in the mug.
Write a few sentences from the mug’s perspective.
Journal about what choosing that mug says about what you need right now.
Wondering Questions:
What would it feel like to be chosen for just who you are?
What do the other items in your home see about your life? Can they tell what’s in your heart, what matters to you?
What does this small ritual reveal about what your heart is holding?
Kid-Friendly Option:
Ask your child to choose their favorite cup, water bottle, or lunchbox. What would it say if it could talk? Is it excited to go to school? Tired of the same sandwich every day? Have them draw a comic or write a letter from their cup to them!
sacred story time (hide outside)
Last time, we continued our journey with Pooh deciding to visit his friend Christopher Robin for help.
As we read this week’s passage, I hope you’ll let it stir up what you may be hiding (or hiding from!). Come play, pray, and wonder with me.
So Winnie-the-Pooh went round to his friend Christopher Robin, who lived behind a green door in another part of the forest. "Good morning, Christopher Robin," he said.
"Good morning, Winnie-ther-Pooh," said Christopher Robin.
"I wonder if you've got such a thing as a balloon about you?"
"A balloon?"
"Yes, I just said to myself coming along: 'I wonder if Christopher Robin has such a thing as a balloon about him?' I just said it to myself, thinking of balloons, and wondering."
"What do you want a balloon for?"
Winnie-the-Pooh looked round to see that nobody was listening, put his paw to his mouth, and said in a deep whisper: "Honey!"
"But you don't get honey with balloons!"
"I do," said Pooh.
Well, it just happened that Christopher Robin had been to a party the day before at the house of his friend Piglet, and he had balloons at the party. He had had a big green balloon; and one of Rabbit's relations had had a big blue one, and had left it behind, being really too young to go to a party at all; and so Christopher Robin had brought the green one and the blue one home with him.
"Which one would you like?" He asked Pooh.
He put his head between his paws and thought very carefully.
"It's like this," he said. "When you go after honey with a balloon, the great thing is not to let the bees know you're coming. Now, if you have a green balloon, they might think you were only part of the tree, and not notice you, and, if you have a blue balloon, they might think you were only part of the sky, and not notice you, and the question is: Which is most likely?"
"Wouldn't they notice you underneath the balloon?" Christopher Robin asked.
"They might or they might not," said Winnie-the-Pooh. "You never can tell with bees." He thought for a moment and said: "I shall try to look like a small black cloud. That will deceive them."
"Then you had better have the blue balloon," Christopher Robin said; and so it was decided.
Noticing Prompt
Is there anything in your life that you are trying to keep hidden? Is there something you are trying to hide from? Take a minute to name it out loud. Does it feel too big to hold on your own? Do you need a friend or someone else to help you?
Play Prompt
Hide somewhere outside and observe the nature around you for a few minutes. Try not to move and see if any birds or insects will come close to you. Or bring a paper and pen with you and record the movements of the birds or insects. What does your paper look like when you are done? Is it full of movement?
Imagination Prompt
If you were to disguise yourself as something in nature, what would it be? Would it be a stationary tree? A busy bee? A beautiful flower? Imagine what it would be like to be a tree, bee, or flower. How would you feel? If you are with a child, make it into a game and switch pretend disguises every minute!
Prayer
Omnipresent God, there is nowhere I can hide from you, yet with you, I find a safe place to hide when I need it most. Thank you for the gift of your constant presence and your sheltering grace. Teach me to turn to you in every moment.
Download a PDF of this content for a Winnie-the-Pooh coloring page!