Of slow crawl and stretch and set fire to the night….
Been chunking on extra wood to make a bonfire
out of the coals of gratitude I tend,
stoking it to a roar
because these times.
And this week.
So here, bright flames leaping a fury of joy for….
~ dreamy dahlias and their diverse faces,
~ safe spaces to twirl and move and dance and groove healing
’till it flows barefoot to my bones
and soothes away the sick and tired of me.
~ all the silly cards and jokes sent to my Dad as he recovers his strength
alone at home.
~ the grace and capacity to re-learn and repent and change my mind,
to tolerate the discomfort of a painful honest look
at my internalized superiority (ouch) and privilege.
and do the slow work of learning,
even when it feels at times like drinking from a firehose.
~ for permission to step back from fb and the gram as a learning tool,
from all the partials and pieces that may prevent me from thinking through thoroughly
these wildly complex ideas and thoughts,
that “there is no humility in certainty”;
that “some people never learn anything
because they understand everything too soon.”
(Alexander Pope)
For the long slow crawl of this thing.
And that it’s okay to scrape my knees.
~ for the soft breath of evening and the way the last glow of each day lingers on the ridges
before it dips down low behind the night.
~ that delicious knowing that you’re actually, finally, gratefully dipping again
into a sleep that may hold you for a little while.
Just sharing these short snippets because i don’t feel good.
But I’m feeling it big to write it down, these next little words,
and send them out into the big wide……
Right now, just especially, try a little tenderness.
Let loose compassion
for the humans holding on.
For me that is strong creed that family, friendship and faith community
are not places to rally around political beliefs
but to care even more carefully for the core
around which we gather
– the Love that overrides every political position.
Fight for relationship when you sense it’s getting dragged under the wheels
of the political machine.
In the end that’s what’s going to matter: did we learn how to love.
I didn’t want to not show up.
Because my heart has a thing for you:)
“You can resist bullcrap and live to tell.
The status quo is counting on your submission but you do not have to bow down.
This will create tension, but I’m convinced that a tension-free culture is a dangerous one.
Tension can be defined as the act of stretching or the state of being stretched.
You will feel the stretch, you will cause the stretch in others, and this is called growing.
If no one injects tension into the atmosphere, we will always default
to existing power structures that operate beautifully
as long as no one puts any pressure on them.”
– Jen Hatmaker
These days I feel like g-u-m-b-y; embracing the burn:)
Giveaway! This week it’s a bundle.
Tell Me Something Good – a bundle of made-for-you bites of art
with handwritten encouragement for uniquely you – I will spend some Rivertime, have a soak about you
and write down what bubbles up as I listen to hear what the ripples speak.
For you. And send them to you in a bundle.
* Coming soon to my etsy shop *
(And happy little leap to send last post’s giveaway to Sue of Elephants Child!)
You wonderful, magical, dig-deep woman. You show us love, gratitude, hope, joy, and ever so much more — all within just a few short, divinely poetic sentences. Thank you for bringing light and beauty and many lovely thoughts today! And for coming to my blog. I love your new name!
Your comment made me smile to my toes, Jeanie – thank you:)
My new name. This transition. Such a stream of wires and tangles to navigate:)
I’ll have it all organized under one name and label someday – what a slippery slope:)
Much love and respect,
Jennifer
Heart felt hugs and oceans of caring are flowing to you. Today and every day.
I love the way you share the beauty, the bruises, the pain, the grief (and even sometimes the anger) of all that makes you the beauty that you are. Your perceptions so often open my heart, my eyes and my mine.
Please, please heal quickly.
Much love. And many, many thanks.
Thanks for those oceans, Sue – i appreciate those waves.
Healing happening and much love sent:)
With respect,
Jennifer
My heart (and mind) have a thing for you too, dear one! Let’s keep learning and growing and stretching together toward a stronger, better us!
Thanks always Jane:) Yes, learning, growing and stretching alongside of you.
Thanks for sharing your strong heart here – I appreciate always.
Big respect and love,
Jennifer
Thank you for shining a light into the dark places, and helping us see there’s nothing to fear. Your courage gives me courage…and great comfort.
Courage and comfort – I couldn’t love two words more.
Thank you for sharing your heart here and for encouraging me always:)
Big respect and love,
Jennifer
Heart spilling words creatively crafted. Be held in the universal tenderness of compassion. Thank you too, for the poster of your gorgeous photo art!!! Generous gifting beyond expectations!
Hey and thanks:) Your words:)
So glad it found you safe. Learning, learning in the packaging department.
Gotta be a better way:) Thanks for your kindness. And enjoy!
Love and respect,
Jennifer
As so many times before, I got here just in time … my mood all day has been to let loose on the ones I love, to try to make them see a better way, to try to make them help me understand their thoughts and beliefs, to try to make them see the errors in their support. I am just so tired and disgusted and worried and enraged and then I inhale your words and I don’t say all of those things out loud. I wish I had your big, wide open heart but all I can do is keep quiet when I can. Bless you for being in my world xoxo
Vent it out somewhere – that’s where journaling and art journaling and prayer help me so much.
Don’t stuff it inside; just don’t let loose the cannon on another soul trying to find their way:)
That’s what I’m journeying about. Because when you just swallow it, it will find a way out sideways.
That can get ugly:) Bless you, dear friend, for being in mine:) Big love for you:)
Respect,
Jennifer