I am grateful for the anchor point he offers, You know? All too often, I find myself trying to be more impressive than I am. But then, after a little time, with a much gentler tug on my hand, Than the tug I would give myself He draws me back to the middle. Tells me it’s okay to drop the act, To step into the light, unmasked. With all that I am not, As well […]
Could it be that when we commit to being authentic, we experience more tension than we would if we hadn’t made such a commitment? Rather than seeking to be the impressive idea of what we think others think we should be, we represent what we are, which is something that might often fall short of what we *should* be? It’s less neat. Less perfect. It makes mistakes. Says the wrong things. Wobbles lots. Is selfish […]
For those of us who enjoy writing, I think when we write something without our voice being allowed to lace its message, it’s missing something important. When our voice weaves throughout the bones of its body, it gives the message character and quirk and style, and perhaps more importantly, the conviction that comes from allowing ourselves to care and have an opinion. I think for the first couple years of my degree, I noticed my […]
“God grabbed me. God’s Spirit took me up and set me down in the middle of an open plain strewn with bones. He led me around and among them—a lot of bones! There were bones all over the plain—dry bones, bleached by the sun. He said to me, “Son of man, can these bones live?” I said, “Master God, only you know that.” Ezekiel 37:1-3 (MSG) It was as if something had momentarily suspended whatever it was that […]
In a gym class you might have a number of people who are stronger than you; they can push themselves harder and further. It might offer some helpful motivation to grow, But if you use them as your gauge for where you should be here and now, you might be able maintain it for a few minutes.. But then you’ll likely find yourself dropping off. Tired to an extent that doesn’t match what’s healthy for […]
I couldn’t care less if what you say doesn’t come out as precisely as you wished Or if you don’t hold as much knowledge about that thing that you thought you should. I couldn’t care less if the way you do what you do Fails to meet some standard of him or her or that. I am well aware you are more than the words I haven’t yet heard. More than the knowledge or skills […]
Sometimes we look to people around us to reflect back to us something of who we are. We are relational creatures by nature. To do so, I don’t think, is wrong, but actually a God-ordained way of being. I think the people around us, are the ones who hold some degree of power to reflect back some of the truth of who we are. But I think one of the effects of this is that […]
I think it was their ability to create new life again after they lost some pieces of it. There were tragic stories of loss in just about every story; family members, friends, money, health, dignity, voice, language, heritage. And yet, In the face of each, perhaps even more deeply embedded, was a stubborn heartbeat that, without even trying drove these people towards creating new life. It’s not that the messages endorsed denying the pain of […]
Standing in the middle Where east meets west, And north meets south The sun shines down warm in this spot And the breeze is quiet and cool, Patiently waiting, circling the soul that has, for whatever reason, Found itself paused in the middle. Whether for weariness or fear Or for grief or disappointment, Or some other such thing. The calm of the middle will always be here, encircling, warming, holding, until the breath has found […]
Don’t stop speaking. Unless you are finished. If your speech falters and fumbles and there then comes this fear-shadow that insists you should now be quiet, What of the words, of the wisdom, of the light – Still left hidden behind this only-momentary falter? If you know that you know you had more to say, that there’s more to be heard here, pause. You’re human. Take a breath, Try again, please don’t stop. You aren’t […]
anne-marie elizabeth 