letting go – Sunflower Seeds

When God Asks Us to Move

By Melannie Svoboda SND | March 2, 2020 |

I will be moving to a new place this fall–if all goes as planned. The house the three of us are living in needs some major repairs. The parish that…

Autumn: The Season of Letting Go

By Melannie Svoboda SND | October 27, 2014 |

It is autumn where I live—here in the northern hemisphere. As the earth gradually tilts away from the sun, the change around us is quite dramatic: the days are getting…

Getting off a Dead Horse

By Melannie Svoboda SND | September 16, 2013 |

A few years back I heard a seminary professor say: “If the horse you are riding dies, get off.”

I will be leading a Zoom retreat entitled “Spirituality: The Call to Holiness and Wholeness” Friday, Oct. 29 (7:30 pm-8:30 pm Central) and Saturday, Oct. 30 (9:30 am-2:30 pm Central). Sponsored by the Sophia Spirituality Center in Atchison, KS, the retreat will explore what is meant by the word spirituality. Then it will focus on some of the signs of a healthy spirituality such as love, respect for nature, courage in dealing with adversity, and hope. Check out the website for further details: www.sophiaspiritualitycenter.org. I’d love to meet some of you during this retreat!

Advent Afternoon Reflection

I will be leading an afternoon reflection entitled “Unwrapping the Gifts of Advent: Peace, Courage, and Hope.” It will be held at the Franciscan Center in Tampa, FL on Tuesday, November 30 from 2:00 pm (Eastern) to 4:30 pm (Eastern). I will be there in person. Participants can choose to come to the Center or view the presentations via Zoom. Cost is only $15 either way. Check the website for details: https://www.franciscancentertampa.org. I hope some of you can sign up for this “prayerful Advent pause.”