Hello to all, I am just now arriving at the response to Part 1 but I'm restfully being okay with that. haha I am enjoying the book and reflections at a slow pace. I wanted to share how Jesus met me in my 'mulligrubs' this week and brought rest=well-being to my soul.
I was sad about a number of things, some related to me personally and some the general toughness of many things that happen to people in this life. I walked through Lectio Divina via the Reflect app with verses from Philippians 4:4-8. It really stood out to me that joy is to be found 'in Jesus' and I asked Jesus to help me know joy because of His presence, if not from anything else. I had to admit it I couldn't think of moments of joy in my life recently soley from being in Jesus. I pretty much was still down and I went about my day really dragging. Over the following day or so, there were moments of light that broke into that darkness, and I was feeling a little better.
Yesterday, one of my coworkers mentioned a line from Psalm 73, that it is good for us to be near God. I didn't remember hearing those words quite like that and was drawn to Psalm 73 this morning. The Psalmist had been grieving and bitter, and at the same time, God was near, holding his hand, guiding him, being his strength and refuge. I sensed that care personally as I looked back over the last few days and saw my prayer to know joy from the presence of Jesus was being answered. My mulligrubs lessened and I have this experience over these last days to treasure and return to, and I anticipate more lifting will come as I reflect on these few days.
I think that (still surprising?) thing to me, is that it was precipitated by yucky feelings of sadness and grief. Interesting.
Kim, this is a beautiful testimony of prayerful listening and loving presence. I love how scripture nourished you (sometimes from your own reading and sometimes from someone else's) and how it's nourishing you even as you recall here. I'm so, so thankful to Jesus for being present with you through the sadness and grief and for inviting you into joy in God's presence. Peace, peace, peace, friend.
I couldn't figure out where this fit in tonight so I thought I would share it here. This gives me rest and hope and assuredness in being beloved, and that we are all beloved.
When imaginatively contemplating Mark 1:9-11, Jesus' baptism, I am struck that the One who made all and holds all together, stepped into the water. I would imagine there were crowds there, some standing in the water, some having been baptized, some waiting to be baptized, some watching and taking notes to bring back to those in charge, some not believing they could be baptized, and Jesus, in the flesh, in the water, forgive me for getting perhaps too anthropological, but the medium of water connecting Him with all those standing by. Dead cells falling off each other as they do, mixing together in a river of love. Once again allowing the creation to hold the Creator, vulnerable, prefacing His death with what will be the symbol of our dying with Him and being raised again to life as the beloved, in the same water. The Eucharist baptized with us, to be later broken for us, to be later shared with each other, to become the Body of that same Christ. He actually left nothing to the imagination as He fully entered humanity. He left no doubt about His love. Of course, we tend to be stiff-necked doubters but when I look at the evidence....
I forgot to add my comment yesterday, so here goes! Last week was full of moments that threatened to be deeply UNrestful, but as I look back, I see how those moments made space for me to ask for help from people who love me. I'm also grateful for simple but highly effective things like ice packs to bring comfort to soreness.
I don't know if I'm going to be able to make it tonight -- I have acute bronchitis and "a spot of pneumonia" as my doctor put it -- but there are two things I noticed in these chapters that I wanted to share.
The first, which is something I have been learning in my own community practice, is that commitment to stability creates an obligation to be part of the change. I have noticed that when something isn't working and I wish *someone* would do something about it, probably *I* need to consider how I can reorient to be a productive part of the solution, and be solution-minded rather than problem-minded (this usually does not mean I am going to be a leader in the solution, but that there are attitudes and actions I can change to support solutions in a positive, community-oriented way). Because I am committed to the stability of the community, I want it to flourish, so I seek what is good for it. Stability and change work together to help the community work.
The second is a concept from Audre Lorde which I love and that the whole sixth chapter brought to mind: our differences are a generative source of creativity. When we work together as a community, our differences make us creative in vital and gorgeous ways!
First of all, Annie Laurie, I am so sorry to hear you are sick. I *thought* I had bronchitis last week, and it was miserable, so I can only imagine how you are feeling right now. Please rest this evening if that's what's best for you. And THANK YOU for sharing your thoughts in advance. I will keep them nearby to share on your behalf. Yes, yes, yes to the "creative function of difference." Our hearts long for unity which draws us outside of ourselves, yet gathered and held together by Jesus, we find ourselves (and each other) not diminished but expanded more and more into the image of God. Unity is not the same thing as uniformity, but something so much more expansive and spacious and beautiful.
My son, daughter, and I took a brief trip to West Virginia last week and found time to be outside in God’s beautiful Creation, and rest and relax. It was so refreshing.
Hello to all, I am just now arriving at the response to Part 1 but I'm restfully being okay with that. haha I am enjoying the book and reflections at a slow pace. I wanted to share how Jesus met me in my 'mulligrubs' this week and brought rest=well-being to my soul.
I was sad about a number of things, some related to me personally and some the general toughness of many things that happen to people in this life. I walked through Lectio Divina via the Reflect app with verses from Philippians 4:4-8. It really stood out to me that joy is to be found 'in Jesus' and I asked Jesus to help me know joy because of His presence, if not from anything else. I had to admit it I couldn't think of moments of joy in my life recently soley from being in Jesus. I pretty much was still down and I went about my day really dragging. Over the following day or so, there were moments of light that broke into that darkness, and I was feeling a little better.
Yesterday, one of my coworkers mentioned a line from Psalm 73, that it is good for us to be near God. I didn't remember hearing those words quite like that and was drawn to Psalm 73 this morning. The Psalmist had been grieving and bitter, and at the same time, God was near, holding his hand, guiding him, being his strength and refuge. I sensed that care personally as I looked back over the last few days and saw my prayer to know joy from the presence of Jesus was being answered. My mulligrubs lessened and I have this experience over these last days to treasure and return to, and I anticipate more lifting will come as I reflect on these few days.
I think that (still surprising?) thing to me, is that it was precipitated by yucky feelings of sadness and grief. Interesting.
Kim, this is a beautiful testimony of prayerful listening and loving presence. I love how scripture nourished you (sometimes from your own reading and sometimes from someone else's) and how it's nourishing you even as you recall here. I'm so, so thankful to Jesus for being present with you through the sadness and grief and for inviting you into joy in God's presence. Peace, peace, peace, friend.
Thank you, Tamara, for your walk with me and how you've listened with me.
It's been a gift to me as well, Kim!
I couldn't figure out where this fit in tonight so I thought I would share it here. This gives me rest and hope and assuredness in being beloved, and that we are all beloved.
When imaginatively contemplating Mark 1:9-11, Jesus' baptism, I am struck that the One who made all and holds all together, stepped into the water. I would imagine there were crowds there, some standing in the water, some having been baptized, some waiting to be baptized, some watching and taking notes to bring back to those in charge, some not believing they could be baptized, and Jesus, in the flesh, in the water, forgive me for getting perhaps too anthropological, but the medium of water connecting Him with all those standing by. Dead cells falling off each other as they do, mixing together in a river of love. Once again allowing the creation to hold the Creator, vulnerable, prefacing His death with what will be the symbol of our dying with Him and being raised again to life as the beloved, in the same water. The Eucharist baptized with us, to be later broken for us, to be later shared with each other, to become the Body of that same Christ. He actually left nothing to the imagination as He fully entered humanity. He left no doubt about His love. Of course, we tend to be stiff-necked doubters but when I look at the evidence....
This is beautiful, Walter. Thank you for taking the time to share with us here. It's a powerful image.
I forgot to add my comment yesterday, so here goes! Last week was full of moments that threatened to be deeply UNrestful, but as I look back, I see how those moments made space for me to ask for help from people who love me. I'm also grateful for simple but highly effective things like ice packs to bring comfort to soreness.
I don't know if I'm going to be able to make it tonight -- I have acute bronchitis and "a spot of pneumonia" as my doctor put it -- but there are two things I noticed in these chapters that I wanted to share.
The first, which is something I have been learning in my own community practice, is that commitment to stability creates an obligation to be part of the change. I have noticed that when something isn't working and I wish *someone* would do something about it, probably *I* need to consider how I can reorient to be a productive part of the solution, and be solution-minded rather than problem-minded (this usually does not mean I am going to be a leader in the solution, but that there are attitudes and actions I can change to support solutions in a positive, community-oriented way). Because I am committed to the stability of the community, I want it to flourish, so I seek what is good for it. Stability and change work together to help the community work.
The second is a concept from Audre Lorde which I love and that the whole sixth chapter brought to mind: our differences are a generative source of creativity. When we work together as a community, our differences make us creative in vital and gorgeous ways!
First of all, Annie Laurie, I am so sorry to hear you are sick. I *thought* I had bronchitis last week, and it was miserable, so I can only imagine how you are feeling right now. Please rest this evening if that's what's best for you. And THANK YOU for sharing your thoughts in advance. I will keep them nearby to share on your behalf. Yes, yes, yes to the "creative function of difference." Our hearts long for unity which draws us outside of ourselves, yet gathered and held together by Jesus, we find ourselves (and each other) not diminished but expanded more and more into the image of God. Unity is not the same thing as uniformity, but something so much more expansive and spacious and beautiful.
Audre Lorde:
"the creative function of difference"1
"difference as a springboard for creative change"2
1 The Master's Tools Will Never Dismantle the Master's House
2 Age, Race, Class, and Sex: Women Redefining Difference
I had a lovely quiet day weeding a flower bed. Granted, this is not considered spacious or restful for my husband, but it is for me! :-)
I love knowing this about you (and Chris!) I'm so glad you're here, Claire!
My son, daughter, and I took a brief trip to West Virginia last week and found time to be outside in God’s beautiful Creation, and rest and relax. It was so refreshing.
I'm such a fan of brief road trips like this. It sounds just right.