Divine Ordinariness

By Catherine Scott

Seeing people through God’s eyes is a very humbling experience. Listening to people face their life’s challenges has taught me to attend to the soul work that so enhances one’s understanding of self and one’s deepest understandings. The body has simply to release the barnacles we’ve gathered from our life experiences...leaving us free to create a life we truly want. That’s not always fun, but it’s worth it (after the dust settles!). The stories within this book explore both the divine and ordinary moments of our lives, where they intersect and how that shapes our souls.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Catherine Scott
• Release date: Mar 3, 2014
• ISBN: 9781310459269

Catherine Scott

I believe I was born wondering, a mystic. The spirit of animals and nature and people and clouds and mountains – I stop and listen. I live now in a cabin with a view of Colorado meadow and mountain, a contemplative’s dream - the gift of time, to listen for God, the birds and trees and earth.The way here was an interesting journey. I married in 1962 and had 2 kids. There were Head Start teaching and social work in the 60’s, and feminism, a coming-of-age time for me. In 1972 there was a decade of pottery (I was mediocre at that). 1976 brought a divorce.1983 - A turn in the road led to a counseling Masters’ degree. I learned the art of psychotherapy, which grabbed on with a rightness and held. Desire and gift aligned. I practiced for 26 years, which taught me that it would always be practice, ever new and fresh. That led to spiritual direction training, watching for the movement of God, the magic of deep listening that allows us to find our own way.Books were always dear friends; a thoughtfully crafted one is a treasure that unfolds in the heart. I’m learning by writing that one finds the book within, or maybe the book finds us. Then the discipline of craft work. My first book, Divine Ordinariness, came like a foot in the middle of my back, nudging, until not doing it ruined my sleep. Persistent pressure that gave profound joy in its making.

Book preview

DIVINE ORDINARINESS

By

Catherine W. Scott

SMASHWORDS EDITION

*****

Copyright 2005 by Catherine W Scott.

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the written prior permission of the author.

Typesetting and layout by Double Dagger Press, Gettysburg, PA, http://www.mplank.com/DDP/

Appreciations

My children and grandchildren, who continue to teach me in many ways.

Dr. Clayton Swartzentruber, Wernersville, PA. - Mennonite overseer, posthumously: founder of Kairos School of Spiritual Formation.

Sanford Alwine, Carlislie, PA - spiritual director and therapist.

Athar Rafiq, Kelly Ratliff and John A. Messeder, Jr. - computer help.

Mariejo Arey, Laura VanDerLinden, Marguerite Plank, and Suzanne Tennyson - editing help.

Barbara Rosensteel and Marlene Maier - spiritual counsel.

Mary Ellen Sargeant - Sary's story.

Steve Detwiler - tufted titmouse story.

All the wonderful friends and gutsy clients who've shared sacred moments with me, teaching me far more than they can know – I say Thank You!

This book is dedicated to the sweet memory of Dr. Clayton Swartzentruber. Mennonite overseer, wise leader, fine tenor, great fun soul. You pointed a finger to God for many a thirsty seeker. We sing to thee, dear friend.

Table of Contents

Foreword

Introduction

My Personal Search For God

The Impetus For This Writing

Christian Science Beliefs

Devon's Story

When Healing Happens

Why Suffering

Spiritual Direction

Psychotherapy Or Spiritual Direction?

Steve's Story

Alison's Horsefly Bite

Sary's Story: My Mushroom Incident

The Immediacy Of God

We Each Have A Task

Deliverance - Healing Of Dark Forces

My Scary-Sweet Deliverance Experience

God's Dialogues With Me

Creativity, Play and Dance

Gifts

Faith

Trust

Serenity

Truth

Surrender and Humility

Spiritual Friendship

Suffering, Doubt and Fear, Dark Night of the Soul

Intention

Mystery

Healing and Compassion

Bibliography

Other Titles & Connect With Me

Foreword

Practicing psychotherapy for 26 years taught me, oh so gradually, that there is an unseen process at work, a wonderful healing energy. As soon as people make the commitment and call for their first therapy appointment, something transformative begins its subtle healing work. Often folks would tell me about it at our first meeting. As soon as I called and made that appointment I’ve been wanting to for so long, the fog began to clear.

And that subtle process affirmed their hope for the healing at work in them. They were making a choice for love, and hope. It is how we kick-start our soul work. People around them could watch the beloved Mystery at work once they made the courageous choice to grow.

That simple, sacred process of Yes! is God among us and within us, stream of abundance and mercy.

In 2003 my friend Lynn Richardson moved away and gave me her wonderful dog Streaker, a beautiful Australian shepherd. He became co-therapist in our counseling practice. His alert healing intention added the dimension of animal energy to the wonder of it all as I simply watched. He would wake to heads-and-ears-up alert as soon as a client began getting into their work. He’d approach and put his head in their lap or sit nearby waiting respectfully if they preferred, and when they’d finished that bit, he’d go back to sleep, his vigil complete.

It got to be a joke around town. I paid the bills but Streakerboy was the true healer.

Introduction

I knew this book had to be written, that it was God-given privilege and mandate. It was a baby that was coming down the chute, ready or not. Though I greatly feared the risk of being thought unprofessional, fringy, or plain whacked out, I knew what I'd seen - powerful and compelling truth, too beautiful to hide under a bushel. It was both privilege and mandate. God kept nudging me in that subtle, persistent way S/He likes, with words written on my mind, energy pulsing in my eyes, and inexplicable coincidences narrowing the gaps between the temporal and spiritual until I knew that I knew, I didn’t just think it. Resistance was a waste of time.

Time to start sharing the wonder.

After some basic training in spiritual formation (watching for the movement of God in another) I became curious about the intersect between our bodies, our spirit, and the energy fields surrounding us. How did Holy Spirit, or energy, work within and around us? Was it possible to see that intersect, that blending of God in us?

I read everything I could lay my hands on about it. Medical doctors Larry Dossey, Bernie Siegal, Charles Tart and researchers Carolyn Myss and Candace Pert’s cutting edge research were helpful.

My wise spiritual director, Sanford Alwine, liked to remind me, If you think God is calling you to a thing, try not doing it.

This work grew more and more compelling as my eyes opened more. I sought the teachings of many seekers, heard lots of stories of miracle healings in Alcoholics Anonymous and other 12-step programs, read the spiritual writings of the early Christian mystics and trained with a host of healers and practitioners while trying to discern what rang true for me.

Dr. Larry Dossey, physician and metaphysician, looked beyond the physical to the power of prayer to heal. In his book The Healing Power of Prayer, he described many incidents of inexplicable healings, disappeared cancers, and mysteriously mended wounds that left the medical establishment scratching their heads.

Rev. Tilda Norberg, Methodist minister and therapist in Staten Island, New York, trained ministers and therapists to see God at work in healing people. She taught a unique mixture of Gestalt therapy and prayer. She was midwife to the very