The Abundant Life

"I came that they might have life and have it abundantly."
John 10:10b

That quote is on a wall in the dining room at Our Lady of the Pines retreat in Fremont and that is what i am preaching on this week.

And that is what I am experiencing.

Last night was the my graduation from the wellstreams program and now I am officially a licensed spiritual director. And I have very mixed emotions about it.

There is certainly a sense of satisfaction and amazement that the program is over and that we have accomplished what we set out to do. I have read many books, prayed, sat with people in direction, processed with my supervisor, been part of peer groups and triads. And written reflection papers and evaluations. And now it is over. Completed. And I know that i have been changed by this experience.

At the same time, it is over and I would do this all over again in a heartbeat. I loved going to class and sitting with other spiritual seekers and having wise teachers and mentors teach me and care about me. And it is over. And there is certainly a sense of loss.

But this is all part of that abundant life. To take a risk, to learn, to love, to grow and also to leave, to grieve and wait for the next thing.

This verse from John has been an important one for me for over 15 years - I came that you might have the ABUNDANT life. And because the abundant life spiritually is so different from abundance materially it is hard to capture in a sermon.

It is all of what i mentioned above - risking, trusting, learning, growing, loving, leaving, grieving and waiting.
full and rich
abundant

My life.