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News + New Good Things from Tia Norman

“When you get your,'Who am I?', question right, all of your,'What should I do?' questions tend to take care of themselves”

-Richard Rohr

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Peaceful, Centered + Connected

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A couple of months ago I took my daughter and her friend out for pizza. My daughter is of the age where she is exploring her independence and I am of the age where sometimes I just need to not pay attention to anything that requires deep thought or processing...like what I'll cook for dinner.

The girls and I shared a table. They sat next to each other chatting. I sat both nearby and far away giving most of my attention to whatever was happening on my cell phone.

In an attempt to get my attention, my daughter called out.

"Mom."

I didn't answer.

She repeated herself.

"Mom!"

I looked up. We made eye contact.

A smile found its way to her lips.

"What do I call you?" she asked.

I paused for a moment and the three of us shared a laugh at the contradiction in the question.

"You know what Ken," I said. I was wondering that same thing the other day. I guess you call me 'mom' since that's how you just got my attention."

More laughter.

We both know that's not it.

The question was funny and the funnier thing may be that neither of us knows what the answer is.

"You don't usually have to call me anything to get my attention Ken because we are always together."

She agreed.

And it made me wonder, maybe that's how it is with God too.

Maybe in Presence, what you're called doesn't matter so much. Maybe it's more about who you are.

​​A New Way to See the Good News

A new way to see the Good News is a short passage that may offer a fresh perspective or insight into the ancient collection of poems, letters, and stories known as the Bible. This section is currently dedicated to exploring identity.

Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.”

- Matthew 4:8-9

And this is where our over idenitication for the desire to have power and control is illumated, completing the trifecta of temptations that unconsciously motivates many of our actions and creating a false sense of self - the ego.

Pause for a moment and think about things that have upset you recenlty? Does any of that upset come from wanting to control an outcome, a response, a person...anything?

When my desire for control bumps up against your desire for control then what?

How do we allow space and awareness to grow out of the perpetual cycles that have us clinging to things that we really have no control over at all?

In Matthew 6:6 Jesus illuminates how to pray (also known as the method of Centering Prayer) in a way that helps unravel the holds of these temptations.

I am unpacking this in-depth and sharing accessible language and questions that have helped me pause and become aware of when my ego has taken the drivers seat during my Course on Growing Closer to God Through Centering Prayer. (Whew! It's called a "Spiritual Journey" for a reason ya'll).

Thank you to those that have joined and those that sent messages my way sharing that you'd like to take the course but have schedule conflicts. The course runs through April and I'll share some options on how you'll be able to learn in a schedule friendly way soon. ​​​​​​

Until next time.

Grace + Ease,

Tia

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a Way to Connect One-on-One + an online mini retreat in April

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Would you like to connect One-on-One? I have space for that. Here's how.

I've been invited by my friend Keith over at Closer Than Breath to share with his commuity on April 6th. I designed this time to focus on how the subtle inner movements of Centering Prayer take you from resistance to receptivity, frustrated to free and open to a world of possibilites that lead to transformative action.

Learn more and join here.