I’m Otis, Prairiewoods’ favorite squirrel, and I’ve taken over this blog for 2016 in honor of Prairiewoods’ 20th anniversary. You’ll hear from me or one of my friends each Friday.
Marianne Abel-Lipschutz is a writer, frequent program participant at Prairiewoods and friend to critters large and small. And as she describes here, she is one who is “baked in prayer” …
My friend Teresa texted our group of friends to pray for her mother Dorothy when she was rushed to the emergency room with a heart problem recently. A second text shared the doctor’s plan to install a “peacemaker” in Dorothy’s heart. I read through the typo, knowing that Teresa meant a pacemaker. This second text came as an early email before I left my house for Prairiewoods that day. The mental space offered by the hour-long drive helped me acknowledge the meaning of Teresa’s message. Going to Prairiewoods is the peacemaker my heart needs.
The Prairiewoods environment, community, events, and spiritual focus activate me in ways that reach beyond the masterful abilities of an electrical device. I can adjust more readily to the pace of life and be more fully responsive to the needs of those around me. Opening my heart and mind to the expansive energy of our world, I can receive and reflect the blessings of abundance that God makes available to all of us. Prairiewoods recharges me with the gift of lovingkindness, an eternally sustainable resource that comes with the air we breathe.
—Marianne Abel-Lipschutz, program participant
What a gift Marianne has been to Prairiewoods. Her spirit of love, peace, compassion backed up with action on behalf of those in need is a real witness to me. Marianne honors Prairiewoods with her presence. It is heartening to know that Prairiewoods supports Marianne in being the luminous,committed person she is.