Posted in Christianity, Contemplation, Quotes & Prayers by Denise Pyles, M.Div. | Tagged christian spirituality, Contemplative Prayer, detph of God, God's Fidelity, Room for God, spiritual life | Leave a Comment »
God’s mercy is not about fairness
but about generosity.
Denise Pyles, M.Div.
Posted in Christianity, Contemplation, Quotes & Prayers by Denise Pyles, M.Div., Soul Tending 101 | Tagged Christian spirituality and prayer, compassion, Contemplative Prayer, generosity, mercy | Leave a Comment »
What do you want?
What is at the heart of the matter for you?
What is at the depth of your soul?
What is the desire of your heart?
Are you willing to be changed by this desire?
Are you willing to see and to live
with a divine perspective of love for one another?
The spiritual quest is stirred by seeking the desire of your heart deep within.
Walk in the journey of these questions this day.
Denise Pyles, M.Div.

Posted in Christianity, Contemplation, Quotes & Prayers by Denise Pyles, M.Div., Spirituality | Tagged desire, God Quest, heart, love, questions, seeking faith, spiritual direction, spiritual journey | Leave a Comment »
Life is a feast of invitations.
We must choose wisely.
Denise Pyles, M.Div.
Posted in Contemplation, Quotes & Prayers by Denise Pyles, M.Div., Soul Tending 101, Spirituality | Tagged Choices, Christian spirituality and prayer, Contemplation, Contemplative Prayer, discernment, Faith Journey, Feast, Invitation, life, Responsibility | Leave a Comment »
A friend of mine recently posted on his Facebook page that 200,00 people will die by the end of the day. (See Joe Hage). He ended the statistic with a non-rhetorical question, “Are you still unprepared? Why?”
The question got me thinking, not only about the end of life, but also about the living of life now, fully – this day. If 200,000 people will die by the end of this day, that means the rest of us will have lived by the end of today.
Are we still unprepared to live life fully? Wholeheartedly? This moment? This day? Why?
Denise Pyles, M.Div.
Posted in Contemplation, Soul Tending 101, Spirituality | Tagged Christian spirituality and prayer, Contemplative Prayer, Death, End time, life, Present Moment, soul tending, wisdom | Leave a Comment »
Celebration of life is not optional but necessary.
Living a life of love is essential.
Denise Pyles, M.Div.

Posted in Contemplation, Quotes & Prayers by Denise Pyles, M.Div., Soul Tending 101 | Tagged Beauty, Celebration, Contemplation, Contemplative Prayer, Joy, life, love | Leave a Comment »
In my current work environment, there are free drinks available in the kitchen – anything from pop and juices to coffee and tea. I usually drink tea at work, and recently I started drinking Plantation Mint Tea from Bigelow. One day as I was sipping a cup of tea, the brand and aroma of the mint tea took me back to the days in the Novitiate several years ago when I was learning to live my life as a nun. During that time, I would meet with Rosemary, my novice director – an older sister who had lived the life for many years and came to the conversation with incredible life experiences.
Nearly every time we met, usually on a weekly basis, both of us would have a cup of Bigelow’s Plantation Mint Tea, along with 2 packets of Equal. There seemed to be endless soulful and spirited conversations with Rosemary over many cups of tea. We would talk, laugh, pray and talk more deeply of the spiritual life. And oh how we laughed throughout these conversations and moments of solidarity by sipping tea together. How I savored and treasured those soulful conversations with Rosemary.
We became really good friends and stayed connected even when I was no longer living my life as a member of her religious community. Several years ago, Rosemary died suddenly of a ruptured aneurysm. As time went on, I stopped drinking Plantation Mint Tea. Somehow in my new job this year, I drifted toward drinking this brand of tea again. I smile inwardly whenever I have a cup of tea now, and I go back to those days with Rosemary where we talked about how we see God in the ordinary moments of our lives, and where we pondered the mysteries of the Spirit while trying to live concretely the love of God for others.
I still miss Rosemary. I miss those spiritual conversations. The tea reminds me to continue the search for God in all of life.
Denise Pyles, M.Div.
Posted in Contemplation, Quotes & Prayers by Denise Pyles, M.Div., Soul Tending 101 | Tagged Christian spirituality and prayer, Contemplation, Friendship, soul tending, Soulful Conversations, Tea | Leave a Comment »

God longs to make a home in our hearts.
God desires to dwell within the depths of our very being.
In what ways are we listening to God’s longing?
Denise Pyles, M.Div.
Posted in Christianity, Contemplation, Quotes & Prayers by Denise Pyles, M.Div., Soul Tending 101, Spirituality | Tagged Christian spirituality and prayer, Contemplative Prayer, God Quest, longing, love, soul tending | Leave a Comment »
On June 16, 1988 I attended the National Anti-Apartheid Action and Lobby Day in Washington, DC. Speakers included the Rev. Jesse Jackson, Senator Paul Simon of Illinois and Senator Ted Kennedy of Massachusetts. This was a rally in support of HR 1580 – an Anti-Apartheid Amendment. This bill was passed by the House in September of 1988. Apartheid ended in South Africa in February, 1990. I don’t remember the speeches but I remember being inspired by the speakers, especially Senator Kennedy. He spoke with such a passion for justice and with an energy of hope. He empowered you to believe that change was within our grasp if we only took action together. May we have the courage to act for justice in our world with that similar passionate energy and hope. Rest in peace Senator Kennedy and thank you for your witness of service to others.




Posted in Contemplation, Soul Tending 101 | Tagged Anti-Apartheid, gratitude, Justice, Senator Ted Kennedy | Leave a Comment »











