Following the Bread Crumbs
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A Meditation on Birches I did not see the birch trees when I first arrived at the Martin de Porres Center. I was too busy navigating unfamiliar territory – my GPS says it’s right here, but I don’t see the entrance. Where should I park? Which building is where we are meeting? I had come to a gathering for Shalem grads and friends in Columbus, Ohio, feeling the need to reconnect with my Shalem peers and rekindle my passion for contemplative practice. When we took a brief, mid-morning break, I walked outside to bask in a few moments of long anticipated spring sunshine, and there they were. A grove of birch trees, some with roots exposed, all with bark peeling, buds hinting at leaves beginning to unfurl. It was lovely. In the afternoon, I attended a workshop on finger labyrinths, and part of the resource material told of “releasing” as you enter the labyrinth. “Let there be a shedding, a letting go of the details of your life, let go of control or expectations, allow your mind to become quiet,” it said. A self-directed prayer station was listed as “Decluttering,” although the handout heading was “Making Room for God.” I was invited to examine my life and notice the clutter that gets in the way of my being with God and to let it go. Are you sensing a pattern here? Shedding, releasing, decluttering…letting go of my details, noticing God’s details, making room for more of what I truly need. The Spirit and the birches showed me what I needed that day. Is there something you’re being called to shed to make room for something new? What newness might fill that space?
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About the Book
The meditations in Following the Bread Crumbs are concise enough to read in one sitting, but their rich content will lead you to savor them over a longer period of time. The accompanying photos complement the writings, and their universal appeal will also provoke thoughts, memories, and musings about your own life and our life together. “A stunning compilation of images and words that convey wisdom, wit, and wonder. A beautiful threshold into reflection and prayer.” —Jan Phillips, author, God Is at Eye Level “Shirley shares beautiful moments of meaning and digs deep into them to uncover and articulate their significance. She uses scripture to take the lessons from personal to universal. Her words, coupled with her wonderful photographs, create a visual and verbal window through which to glimpse the divine.” —Dewitt Jones, photographer and author “Shirley prays not only with words but through her eyes. Her book is a testament to the transformative nature of connecting to one’s higher power.” —Connie Post, journalist and photographer
About the Author
Shirley Weyrauch served as the Christian Education Coordinator at Christ United Church of Christ for more than twenty years and learned contemplative practices through the Shalem Institute for Spiritual Formation. She studied photography with a number of skilled photographers. Enjoying time with family and friends, travel, photography, and reading are her favorite pastimes.