Out my Window: beautiful morning sky, pinks and blues, the yard is covered with a fresh blanket of snow
Enjoying: mini space heater fireplace, candles, Christmas lights, family time, flowers, the sky and all its beauty (morning and night)
Listening to/Watching: Listening to Sarahwanders on Instagram sharing poems for Advent. They can be found on her IGTV page. The first one is here: https://www.instagram.com/tv/CIMUT4KoJ5p/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link I chose Warmth of Other Suns: The Epic Story of America’s Great Migration by Isabel Wilkerson for my next Audible listen. Amazon.com: The Warmth of Other Suns: The Epic Story of America’s Great Migration (Audible Audio Edition): Isabel Wilkerson, Robin Miles, Brilliance Audio: Audible Audiobooks I am thankful I did. It is a marvelous weaving of history and people. I love to study both. Wilkerson interviewed many people who were part of this migration north. It has been very interesting so far. The voices used by the narrator and stories of Wilkerson are captivating. I also listened to The Holy Post Podcast 435: Enhanced Humans & the New Eugenics with Calum MacKellar (holypost.com) . This week was a deep dive into eugenics. It was enlightening on the topic, but what was even more fascinating was the man Skye Jethani interviewed Calum MacKellar. His thoughtfulness on the topic, but also his passionate voice for imago dei and the value of every life and personhood as they are created was encouraging. Definitely a topic way outside my wheelhouse but connected to all of us as humans made in the image of God. I was challenged to ask myself what our role is as Christians in protecting that image in the face of a “brave new world.” We re-upped our subscription to Disney plus so we could catch up on the Mandalorian but have been pulled back into the wonderful world of Phineas and Ferb. This show is so clever and fun. We are enjoying it all over again.
Reading: Advent Readings: Christmastide: Prayers for Advent through Epiphany From The Divine Hours by Phyllis Tickle, The One True Gift: Daily Readings for Advent to Encourage and Inspire by Tim Chester these two are my main ones. I also have my well worn copy of Watch for the Light out to visit on and off through the season. I joined Rabbit Room’s Reading Group on The Supper of the Lamb: A Culinary Reflection by Robert Farrar Capon. The Rabbit Room | Reading Group: The Supper of the Lamb by Robert Farrar Capon This book has been on my reading list for awhile because so many different writers and speakers that I appreciate reference it. It is very different, but interesting.
I am fully immersed in Madeleine L’Engle’s The Rock that is Higher: Story as Truth during my moments available to read. I am so thankful to have stumbled onto this one in this season of continued thinking of Story and the importance of it. L’Engle is weaving her experience of suffering after a car accident that kept her far from home and her people as she healed with the Biblical narrative. This is my carry around book, as well as by my bedside read.
Rambling Thoughts: Stories we tell ourselves and the reality of what is really true… From the outside it can be easy to see that a person is fooling themselves, or at best telling themselves and others stories they want to believe. One of the things I say a lot in our ladies’ Bible Study is “we buy what we are selling.” And then we find people who will buy it too. It amazes me what a blind eye we have towards ourselves. We truly buy whatever story we are selling. We can convince ourselves of so much, it is scary at times. I am realizing the deeper importance of community and of honesty, especially in this “socially distanced” season. I am watching narratives be sold that are rooted in falsehood and fears. When in community those still exist but there are others listening and hopefully encouraging us to seek truth and to challenge us with ideas and thoughts. When we want to be whole we surround ourselves with community and voices that will expand our own thoughts and not allow us to settle. I am reminded of my friend’s words, “loving someone is wanting their highest good.” James MacDonald says, “I cannot support something that is harmful to you.” These things are hard to do and live especially when we are not in close community. The more distant we are, the more we can put up a facade. In this weird season of the world we have to lean in deeper and be more honest with those people who help us to be the people we can be. We need to keep choosing to be made well in a season where it seems all our buttons are pushed, all our old comforts and standbys look very attractive and no one will really now if I do or think, eat or drink, talk to or connect with such and such, or so and so. It is imperative that we keep connecting even in our weary state. May we choose to be honest and engage with those who will not buy the stuff we are selling because they love us enough to challenge us. They also love us enough to encourage us and walk this journey with us. Even if it is “socially distanced” physically, it doesn’t have to be emotionally, mentally, or spiritually. May we take time to be honest with ourselves of where we are at and lean in to true community that will help us stay above board and on this journey toward wholeness and freedom. May we not use 2020 as an excuse to live below what God has for us.
Fitness and Mental Health: Shoveling, getting some walks in, and still doing Pilates with The Balanced Life Sisterhood https://thebalancedlifeonline.com/ Mental Health: being intentional with my daily gratitude journal, exercise, and continuing to look for beauty are key. Writing the date and day and a brief list of the events of day has been very helpful for my mental health. Numbering my days…
Home: basics, baking
Giving Thanks For: special surprise packages from friends, notes of sympathy and kindness for the loss of Don’s dad, opportunities to connect and encourage people, hope, comfort, friends who care deeply about me and my family, family that chooses to show up and be there, laughter in the midst of grief, God’s mercies, people who challenge and encourage me to think deeper and bigger about ideas and life, well cared for, my home, provisions, rest, so much beauty in this world, good books, challenging thoughts, community, grace, moments as a whole family, God ordering my days, His provisions and reminder of His heart for me
Inkblot Life 