To my husband,
Walter Mischke
whose deep love and kindness continue to enchant me . . .
RHYTHMS OF GROWTH: 365 MEDITATIONS TO NURTURE THE SOUL
Copyright © 2014 by Linda Douty
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews. For information, write Upper Room Books, 1908 Grand Avenue, Nashville, TN 37212.
Upper Room Books website: books.upperroom.org
UPPER ROOM®, UPPER ROOM BOOKS®, and design logos are trademarks owned by The Upper Room®, a ministry of GBOD®, Nashville, Tennessee. All rights reserved.
All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations not otherwise noted are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture designated THE MESSAGE are taken from THE MESSAGE. Copyright © by Eugene H. Peterson 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group.
Cover image: © DeepGreen / Shutterstock.com
Illustrations for July and October: Michael C. McGuire, settingPace
Other month illustrations: Jane Wageman
Cover design: Left Coast Design, Portland, OR / www.lcoast.com
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Douty, Linda.
Rhythms of growth : 365 meditations to nurture your soul / Linda Douty.
pages cm
ISBN 978-0-8358-1351-8 (print) —ISBN 978-0-8358-1352-5 (mobi) —ISBN 978-0-8358-1353-2 (epub)
1. Devotional calendars. I. Title.
BV4811.D627 2014
242’.2--dc23
2014010106
Printed in the United States of America
CONTENTS
April
April Showers
May
The Garden Grows
June
Tending the Growth
July
The Fruit Forms
August
A Change of Pace
September
Letting Go with the Leaves
October
Living in Full Color
November
Aspects of Appreciation
December
New Birth
Notes
This lengthy book was a big hill to climb, and I owe much to those who hung in there through every step. Not many people choose to evaluate 365 meditations with their thinking caps on and a red pencil at the ready! My three loyal readers—Steve Mischke, Anita Fletcher, and Walter Mischke—did just that, taking one month at a time and never flagging in their astute suggestions and “Atta-girls.” Their puzzlements yielded greater clarity; their comments enriched the content; their devotion to truth prompted deeper explanations. I hardly know how to express my gratitude. I owe them an unpayable debt.
Hugs and gratitude all around to my wonderful friends who tolerated both my enthusiasm and my occasional whining and pried me loose from my writing blocks with various versions of “You can do this!” I appreciate every pithy remark, every brilliant idea, and every kick in the backside. You know who you are and what you mean to me. Your support and encouragement kept me company in my lonely office.
I gleaned the bulk of the wisdom in this book from sessions with clients in my spiritual guidance practice over the past eighteen years. As they allowed me to companion them on their spiritual journeys, I watched their own rhythms of growth unfold. Those hours of sharing provided many of the insights in these pages.
Thanks to the talented team at Upper Room Books, a group of dedicated professionals and tireless cheerleaders. Together, they brought order out of chaos and confidence out of discouragement. They were always ready to respond to a phone call, reply to a panicky e-mail, and answer my questions. Besides, they are endlessly kind.
If there were such a thing as a hug in print, it would go to Upper Room’s Editorial Director, Jeannie Crawford-Lee, who believed in the project from the beginning and helped me mold the concept into a reasonable shape. What a friend and ally you are.
Special kudos go to Rita Collett, editor extraordinaire, who patiently worked with my offbeat style and edgy theology and rendered it readable and acceptable. A friend to both writer and reader, Rita embodies the dynamite combination of keen intellect and a warm heart—everyone involved benefits from her expertise.
Most of all, it was Walter who smoothed out the rough places. My long-suffering husband cooked meals, cleaned the house, and picked up all the balls I dropped. When I felt overwhelmed, he patiently altered plans at the drop of a hat with a smile (mostly) on his face. While I holed up in my office, churning out words, he lived a solo life for hours on end. And he never stopped rooting for me. What a guy. . . . I count myself as one very lucky woman.
—LINDA DOUTY
Strange how unrelated ideas can converge into an unlikely alliance. The first thread of thought introduced itself through the casual comment of a friend, “I wish you would write a book of daily reflections that connect spiritual wisdom to the messy life I’m living right now!” That thread intertwined with a second idea that had been rumbling in my head for a