Interfaith Ministry Services, LLC
Healing the Spirit. Empowering the Soul.
Inspiration
Surrendering
A few months ago the word kept appearing. In conversations. In books. In quiet moments. It felt less like coincidence and more like a gentle prompt from the Divine: look at this more closely. So I began meditating on it. What I discovered first was that my old idea of “letting go” was not what I thought it was.
For me, letting go had become a kind of cutting off, a sharp severance. And cutting off does not feel like flow. It feels tight. Stifled. Like energy that has nowhere to go. Once I saw that, I started replacing the phrase with a different word: surrender.
I asked for clearer understanding. Over the next several days, in meditation and quiet contemplation, the answers came simply and consistently. Surrender is not abandoning something. It is giving the circumstance back. It is placing the person, the situation, the outcome into the hands of God, the Divine Creator, the One who already holds the highest vision for it. You are not forcing a result. You are not gripping. You are not cutting the connection. You are returning it to the current that knows where it needs to go.
The images that arrived were of water: rivers, lakes, oceans. I would see myself placing the situation into the stream and watching it drift. Not disappearing in anger or finality, but moving again, carried by something wiser than my own effort. The prayer that formed around it was simple: “I release this. You hold the highest vision and the highest outcome.”
There is a particular calm that follows that kind of release. You watch the person, the place, or the circumstance return to divine flow. You stop managing it. You stop rehearsing it. You let it be sorted, guided, and directed, without your constant interaction.
That is what surrender has come to mean for me. Not giving up. Not cutting off. Giving it back, and trusting the river.
If this word has been showing up for you too, sit with it for a few days. Ask what it wants to mean in your life right now. You may find, as I did, that it is less about losing something and more about placing it where it already belongs.
In Gratitude
Rev. Dr. Rhonda Schienle
Random Acts of Kindness
You may never know the full story behind the smile you caused, the burden you lightened, or the hope you quietly restored. Yet in that moment of pure giving, without agenda or applause, you become a living reminder that goodness still moves freely in the world. Scatter kindness like seeds. Some will bloom where you can see them; most will take root far beyond your sight. That is the quiet power of a random act: it multiplies love without needing credit.
Many traditions and personal experiences describe tangible inner shifts from consistent kindness:
- A sense of expanded connection or “oneness”, the boundary between self and other softens, which some interpret as touching a deeper spiritual reality or divine presence.
- Heightened compassion and inner peace: the act itself often produces a calm, warm afterglow that people describe as aligning with higher values, grace, or the heart’s natural state.
- Reciprocal energetic or karmic uplift: across teachings (Christian “love your neighbor,” Buddhist metta/loving-kindness, Hindu seva, Islamic charity, and secular spirituality), selfless giving is said to purify intention, reduce self-centeredness, and invite greater harmony or blessing into one’s own life.
- Increased awareness of the present moment and gratitude: the spontaneous nature of random kindness pulls attention out of habitual self-focus and into simple presence, which many experience as spiritually clarifying.
Suggestion: Perhaps after reading this, you can set your heart intentions to practice a few of these and notice what you feel in doing these kind acts.
Remember, like a pebble tossed in a pond, the amazing ripple effects it cause is continuous.
In Grace and Gratitude,
Rev. Dr. Rhonda Schienle
Love Is Not What You Say, Love Is What You Do
The Power of Presence: What We Do Speaks Louder Than Words
A wonderful quote recently reminded me how much deeper our care travels through our actions than through our words. It inspired me to reflect on the quiet, meaningful experiences I’ve had, both in giving and receiving, through the simple practice of “doing” rather than speaking.
I am deeply grateful to my teachers, especially those who guided my pastoral care training. They helped illuminate a truth I return to often: Sometimes the most loving and compassionate thing we can offer is our quiet, undivided presence.
The Gift of Listening
I have sat with many friends and clients who were carrying the heavy weight of grief after losing a loved one. In those sacred moments, I didn’t need to offer grand advice or eloquent words. I simply listened. I held space as they released their emotions, shared their memories, and let the pressure of sorrow flow.
Watching someone take a deep, easing breath after being truly heard is one of the most rewarding experiences I know. In that silence, healing begins. No script. No performance. Just compassionate presence.
The Grace of Being Supported
Recently, I found myself on the receiving end of this same gift. While navigating concerns over a medical test, dear friends listened without trying to fix anything. Their gentle question, “Can I do something for you?”, meant more than they may ever realize.
That small offer of support reminded me how powerful it feels to be cared for in vulnerability. It is in these moments that we remember we are not alone.
Small Acts, Profound Impact
Sometimes care looks even simpler:
- Offering a cup of coffee or a glass of water to someone who isn’t feeling well.
- Sitting quietly beside them.
- Preparing a meal or running an errand without being asked.
A Gentle Invitation
I’ve learned that what we do often says far more than what we say. These quiet acts of compassion create connection that lingers long after the moment has passed.
Today, I invite you to try this:
Take a moment to do something kind for another person, without needing to explain or speak many words. Offer your presence, a helping hand, or a small gesture of care.
Notice what it feels like for them… and what it stirs inside you.
In the end, it is often these unspoken acts of love that become the most treasured memories and the deepest sources of comfort.
Blessings to all,
Rev. Dr. Rhonda Schienle
My Grandmother's Message Returns to Me
When I was a young girl around 7, my maternal grandmother thankfully lived just about 2 houses down from me. After school, I would run right over there to see her and play with her crafts she made. She literally made furniture sets out of tin cans that even had fabric put on them.
During Christmas of 1972, we knew she was dying of breast cancer and it had spread. She was in a lot of pain and I was so determined to make her better, even at that young age.
While visiting on many of those days, I walked up to her bedside and said, Grandma, I will rub your legs and make you feel better.
I began to rub her legs and after a few moments, she said oh honey, those warm hands are making me feel better. In my youthful mind, I believed it too.
Grandma transitioned in January of 1973 (the very next month) and it wouldn’t be until many years later when I would hear almost the exact words again while going through Massage Therapy school.
After working in the traditional Medical Field for several years, I returned to school for Massage Therapy. In 1994, there were new terms being used or phrases and one of those was “integrative medicine”. This meant we were beginning to look at health care by combining both eastern and western philosophies and modalities.
This was the introductory to Mind, Body & Spirit work. A holistic approach to bring us into alignment. As I learned in my holistic studies, disease really is said to be “dis-ease” and it arises when mind (thoughts/emotions), body (physical health), and soul/spirit (deeper purpose/connection) fall out of alignment.
As my Massage Therapy class began our actual phase of clinical sessions in the afternoons, we worked on each other to learn and practice. This one particular day, it was my turn to work on a fellow student. I got my oil and prepared the table and was ready. As I began to work on her, I felt my hands getting extremely warm. I was even conscientious about it. I said nothing, but a few minutes later, my fellow student said, Rhonda, your hands are so warm and it is making my muscles feel better. Then she said my hands feel like a bunch of warm fluffy pillows.
It felt like I froze in time right there. I got quiet and I said to myself, why am I having this weird experience? Then, I became a bit emotional and it registered. I heard my grandmother's words being said again.
I would graduate my class and received my Certificate on March 13th, 1994, just 4 days shy of my grandmothers Birthday (March 17th). What a day, moment and milestone it was. From there my work excelled by starting my own practice, worked for Chiropractors and then, I was contacted by a school in South Dakota to create and teach a 500 hour Swedish Massage Therapy program.
All of these years later, this knowledge and training is still very much a part of my work. I continue to honor the Soul by continuing to work toward aligning the Mind, Body and Spirit. My personal and professional mantra on my website is Healing the Spirit and Empowering the Soul. It is foundational to my calling and purpose.
Thank you Grandma! I love you and miss you.
Blessings and Holiday Cheers to all,
Rev. Dr. Rhonda Schienle
Rhonda, circa 1997
Grandma Irene, circa 1970
Deep Messages
Write It On Your Heart
Write it on your heart
that every day is the best day
in the year.
He is rich who owns the day,
and no one owns the day
who allows it to be invaded
with fret and anxiety.
Finish every day
and be done with it.
You have done what you could.
Some blunders and absurdities,
no doubt crept in.
Forget them as soon as you can,
tomorrow is a new day;
begin it well and serenely,
with too high a spirit
to be cumbered with your
old nonsense.
This new day is too dear,
with its hopes and invitations,
to waste a moment on the yesterdays.
- Ralph Waldo Emerson
Art by Jim Warren
Staying Present
In our fast paced world, I am fascinated by observing others in how fast our being in the moment and staying present eludes us.
Between work, our social media and cell phones that are with us at all times, it distracts us from enjoying the moment. What is inspiring are the different noticeable effects of staying present and being in the moment. The image offers us this moment in the way of enhancing our focus on what is right in front of us.
If we know that being fully present can help with our clarity of mind, it can help with our daily tasks, creativity and distractions.
Below are a few other wonderful benefits of staying in the moment and I hope these help as tools for our gentle reminders in this new year.
- Emotional Resilience
- Spiritual or Personal Growth
- Reducing Stress
- Connection with Others
- Emotional Resilience
Enjoy every moment!
Rev. Dr. Rhonda Schienle
Merry Everything & Happy Always
Thank you for sharing another year, 2024, with me and what a year it has been.
What is so special about this time of year is the time spent together with family, friends and our beloveds. It is also a time to reflect back on the year and share what we look forward to in the coming year.
I encourage you to reflect on all of your accomplishments and achievements this year. Celebrate each one of them.
Also, note what new lessons you learned. Let it inspire and remind you that new knowledge has been attained. Any obstacle or lesson learned offers wisdom and opportunities.
Like the meme above says, “Merry Everything” and “Happy Always” which includes being joy filled, fun-loving and enjoying the wonderment of the season.
Now, I lift a glass, with a toast and say to each one of you, may the season uplift your spirit and your hearts be filled with gratitude.
Happy Holidays, Rev. Dr. Rhonda Schienle
Shall We Dance?
As I watched the movie “Shall we Dance?” that was released in October, 2004, there was no way to fully know how it would inspire and uplift my Soul.
Many of us ask those proverbial questions of “What is the meaning to life?” and “What is life all about?” and so many other related questions. This movie helped me understand a very important lesson to these questions. As I watched the main thesis to the movie unfold; which was a man played by Richard Gere, who was falling into a daily grind of work and just going through the motions of life, he saw a woman dancing in a building on his train rides home. He noticed a sign stating it was a dance studio and offered dance lessons.
The woman who taught dance was Jennifer Lopez, in this movie. He took up dance lessons and as weeks went forward, his wife, played by Susan Sarandon, noticed his absences and decided to follow him. She spotted him learning how to dance.
Spoiler alert if you have not seen the movie, but Susan follows her husband (Richard Gere) to a big evening event which is a recital and he was to illustrate all he learned of the Argentine Tango. He did not know his wife would be attending and he looked up and saw her in the balcony after his dance.
What was so touching was the message his wife said to him after the dance recital was over, which was how proud she was of him and “I am a witness to your life”, and what a blessing and gift that is.
What an inspirational message to know that either you are the witness to someone's life or having a beloved be your witness. A beautiful example of this is just having a dear friend and colleague complete her memoir. I was so humbled to be asked about a year ago, to read it and offer a testimonial.
After completing the reading of her powerful memoir, I realized in that moment, I became a witness to her life. I have been blessed to have served on a board with her, a fellow Interfaith Minister, her accomplishments and, I pray more to come to witness of her amazing spiritual journey.
How are you being a witness to someone's life? Perhaps letting them know you are and what a privilege it is to be that witness.
Peace, Blessings and Joy,
Rev. Dr. Rhonda Schienle
Green Flags
We have often heard about the red flags to notice regarding other people's behaviors toward you or a beloved. There are also “Green Flags” that I often talk about in conversations on my social media live talks and with clients.
I am often asked what to think, feel or do when someone mistreats us verbally. One of my questions is, do you feel this is a pattern? Do they seem to do this often and don’t offer any of the “Green Flag” sentiments? I also ask, do they make you feel good when you are around them? Does your energy or vibration go up or down? I ask this because we all have bad days and not everyone is experiencing life the way you or I are at any given moment.
A great example of this is I have had two people that have had a pattern of gaslighting, demeaning, leveling or shaming me because I do not feel or believe the way they do. One of them I went on a pilgrimage with in 2016 and they have repeated the behavior several times, since. Another has done this over about a year's time. Neither respected my boundaries, nor have they demonstrated “green flag” characteristics.
Conversely, I have worked with a client who lost a loved one and was experiencing what I recognized as some of the stages of grief. It explained to me the expressions, even though it still does not give them permission to be abusive or abrasive to me. As time went on they began to find their inner resolve and the “green flags” returned.
This inspirational “Green Flag” concept is a great guidepost for each of us to see what we are offering to our friends, family, colleagues and clients.
What do you find is your greatest “Green Flag”?
Peace, Blessings and Joy,
Rev. Dr. Rhonda Schienle
