• Home
  • About Me
  • Contact

Whispers and Whatabouts

~ …open the eyes of my faith to behold Your face in the pitch-like darkness…Psalm 13:3

Whispers and Whatabouts

Category Archives: Uncategorized

Image

Breathe In. Hold Your Breath.

05 Monday Sep 2016

We often need a boost of inspiration before we head out for a medical appointment. Too frequently, our head takes on a limp look, unsure of what awaits. A rested, peaceful spirit can make all the difference in how we approach that unknown. I felt that way last week when I was headed for a second MRI appointment.

At the first one, I was told the machine kept registering “E”. No MRI for me that day. As an apology for inconveniencing me that morning, the tech gave me a $10 gasoline gift card. Who does that? Ryan definitely won my award for best customer service that day. Kudos to Florida Hospital’s FRI team. The following morning, I stopped for a few minutes of prayer before leaving for round two. I sensed the Holy Spirit leading me to Psalm 3. He caught my attention here with a whisper:

“Thou, O Lord, art a shield about me. You’re my glory and the lifter of my head.” Psalm 3:3

A familiar verse on the pages of my life. A sweet smile captured my face when I remembered learning to sing this scripture long ago on a retreat weekend, at Vermont’s Lyndonville State College. Treasured memories of beautiful worship, anointed teaching, healing prayer, and much love stirred in my soul. How easy it was to resurrect that melody, to sing it continuously as I drove to my MRI appointment, putting my trust in God on the way.

How different could an MRI machine be from the PET and CT scans I’ve had on my cancer journey? Scary-looking huge contraption different! Until I noticed it was painted Florida style with a soothing beach scene, complete with the requisite beach oats, sand mounds, and fluffy white clouds. Though I didn’t see it, a seagull had to be there, wouldn’t you think? A restful sight. Well done, GE. You still bring good things to life.

It wasn’t until I was (too) snug inside that I realized this hunk of mechanical metal and plastic was surrounding me completely, with all its harnessed power and danger. No lifting my head in there. My lips mouthed the comforting scripture: “Thou, O Lord, art a shield about me….” He was indeed all around me. I was safe in His protective care, complete with a warmed blanket. He was as close as my next breath. Especially after I was instructed repeatedly to, “Breathe in. Hold your breath.” Embracing this magnetic imaging space was increasingly easier every time I acknowledged God’s presence with me. Psalm 3’s shield had brought me peace.

If you’ve never had an MRI, you’d be surprised that I wasn’t the only vocalist in the exam room. The massive magnetic invention had a rhythmic tune of its own. Much like repeating door buzzers in a city apartment building. Toggle-sounding, like factory machines. Disruptive components, yet purposeful. With an odd beat. Not at all like the melody I brought with me. I fell back on how I learned to breathe deeply during spiritual direction training. Letting go of stress, embracing the peace of the Lord. When I was finally brought out of the MRI machine and able to lift my head, Ryan the tech complemented me, saying I’d done really well with breathing. “Better than most.” I asked if that meant a star for my forehead. He smiled. But I knew Who really deserved that star.

Posted by Karen Hanson | Filed under Uncategorized

≈ 2 Comments

About Me

31 Wednesday Aug 2016

Posted by Karen Hanson in Uncategorized

≈ 2 Comments

A New Englander at heart, I kept waiting for hot chocolate season to arrive when I moved to Central Florida long ago. It was a lengthy wait. Winter. Redefined. I’m the mother of four, a grandmother to nine, and a wife to my high school sweetheart for fifty-two years. My faith in Jesus Christ defines my life. I’m all about spiritual growth. And hugs. Truth be told, I can’t be alone with a pan of fresh brownies. Warm chocolate with coffee is the perfect accompaniment when I’m curled up with a new book or listening to a friend’s life story. Oh, the places attentive listening can go.

Image

Gift of Words

30 Tuesday Aug 2016

Camelia

Welcome!

What a gift that you would take time out of your busy life to come visit here. I’m a tad nervous creating a blog, but I know you’ll be kind in the learning process, so I’m going to dive in. So often I’m asked if I’ve written a book, or told how inspiring my writing is. Though I’d love to answer, “Yes,” to having a book, life took an unexpected turn and I put that goal aside. Sharing my cancer journey and my faith on Facebook has become a ministry. Longtime family and friends, and people who were once strangers and now are friends, post their encouraging words about what God writes on my heart. It seems only natural to take a leap of faith into blogging. I trust God will be my inspiration here, that His Whispers will continue in the ordinary moments of daily life, aka Whatabouts, and that I will listen when He speaks.

Like many of you, I’m a wife, mother and grandmother. My four adult children Karl, Maura, Matthew and Mark are all in their 40’s now and they’ve blessed me and my husband with nine beautiful, gifted grandchildren: Rebecca, Kirsten, Sebastian, Erik, Jacob, Celia, Brady, Isabella and Christian. We love discovering who they are, though it’s a challenge when they live so many states away. Not being involved in the daily-ness of their lives is an ache in our hearts. It’s only comforted when travel takes us into one another’s loving arms, or we heat up the phone wires talking about what’s happening in school or their sport teams. New Englanders are we, but my husband and I currently live in Florida. Our first date was in high school. I believe it’s correct that it was I who initiated that one. We’ve been married fifty-two years. Nearly half of those were spent as a military family. My husband is fond of saying military life was hard on the family and the furniture. It’s true.

Cancer has taken up a lot of space on my calendar for the last six years. It’s been a demanding and trying challenge. Thankfully, the long list of amazing family and friends who have been walking alongside is more numerous than all the dates for check-ups, chemo infusions, labs, and doctors taking care of my side effects. They pray with more energy than I can muster sometimes. To date, three diagnoses have been rooted in my abdomen. My form of cancer is low grade and recurring. (I’m not too fond of that “r” word.) From the beginning, God has faithfully whispered reminders of His presence and perspective. It’s rather like being fitted with a new pair of glasses that find their vision in the heart.

My faith is deeply rooted in Jesus Christ. He transforms my life with every turn in His direction. I am fully persuaded regarding biblical scripture, with a preference for the Amplified version. More than forty years of leadership in women’s ministries and teaching women’s bible studies has been a source of great strength. If you’d like to talk about that, you’re in the right blog. Spiritual growth is the conversation I’d stay up all night for. When the Holy Spirit began drawing me toward a life-changing contemplative faith, I learned to appreciate holy silence and listening. Today I’m a mentor and a trained spiritual director, a listening-centered ministry, and my favorite journey talks are of the one-on-one variety.

Well, I’ve been talkative, haven’t I. Now you know a little about me. I’m so often verklempt (done in) when God Whispers a phrase or a word and it takes on symbolic application for the Whatabouts I’m engrossed in at the time. I love to share those insights and wondrous moments. Many find them inspiring. Hopefully, you’ll feel the same here while we join hearts in a shared awareness of what God is speaking, and our lives will become richer as we open His gift of words.

Looking forward to seeing you here each week!

Karen Hanson

Posted by Karen Hanson | Filed under Uncategorized

≈ 9 Comments

Follow Whispers and Whatabouts on WordPress.com
karenhanson

About Me:

A New Englander at heart, I kept waiting for hot chocolate season to arrive when I moved to Central Florida long ago. It was a lengthy wait. Winter. Redefined in Florida. I’m the mother of four, a grandmother to nine, and a wife to my high school sweetheart for fifty-two years. My faith in Jesus Christ defines my life. I'm terribly flawed yet covered by God's grace. I’m all about spiritual growth. And hugs. And chocolate. Truth be told, I can’t be alone with a pan of fresh brownies. Warm chocolate with coffee is the perfect accompaniment when I’m curled up with a new book or listening to a friend’s life story. Oh, the places attentive listening can go.

Recent Posts

  • Her Name Was Carole October 21, 2016
  • Your Turn October 1, 2016
  • Color Changes September 14, 2016
  • Breathe In. Hold Your Breath. September 5, 2016
  • About Me August 31, 2016

Blog at WordPress.com.

Cancel
Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy