Out my Window: beautiful morning sky, pinks and blues
Enjoying: family time, rest, time to read, good food, walks
Listening to/Watching: I had to lay aside Warmth of Other Suns: The Epic Story of America’s Great Migration by Isabel Wilkerson. 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 The narrator was great and the stories were fascinating, but the detailed descriptions of lynchings and abuse of people was too hard and heavy to keep listening. My heart breaks at how cruel we can be and how mob mentality and dehumanizing people allows us to do what we would normally say is unthinkable. What I did listen to reminded me of what people of color have been through and how much still impacts us today whether we remember our history or not. I am not sure what I will listen to next. I am still letting this one sit with me. I also listened to Podcast | Holy Post. 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: I put away the Advent books. Slowly thinking about Lent, since it starts early this year. I am still reading The Supper of the Lamb: A Culinary Reflection by Robert Farrar Capon with the Rabbit Room. 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 almost through Madeleine L’Engle’s The Rock that is Higher: Story as Truth. I have received some marvelous books for Christmas and my birthday. I am trying to finish what I have started first, but I did add Where Goodness Still Grows: Reclaiming Virtue in an Age of Hypocrisy by Amy Peterson. A dear friend sent it to me and the timing was perfect. It has been encouraging, challenging, and clarifying in this season of heartbreak and darkness in culture and in the church.
I joined a book launch for Freedom Starts Today by John Elmore. Freedom Starts Today I will be posting a review this week as it is released January 19. Freedom Starts Today: Elmore, John: 9781540900623: Amazon.com: Books There is still time to pre-order.
I needed some escape reading which came as a gift also, Ella Minnow Pea: A Novel in Letters by Mark Dunn. It was a quick, delightful read about an island country established by Nevin Nollop the author of the infamous sentence, “The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog.” The letters start falling off the statue of Nollop and much trouble ensues.
I am starting two college classes this week so most of my reading will focused in that direction. Should be interesting, but definitely slowing down my personal choices in books.
Rambling Thoughts: So many thoughts and so many feelings have passed my mind and heart these last few weeks. I am one who can be quick to speak and slow to listen. I am trying really hard to reverse that. I am also quick to assess and judge a situation, but after studying the book of Jude for a good part of last year, I am continually reminded of verse 9 “But even the archangel Michael, when he was disputing with the devil about the body of Moses, did not himself dare to condemn him for slander but said, “The Lord rebuke you!” Besides the strangeness of the event, the part that has continued to surface in my mind, especially as Christian leaders say and do things that make me crazy, is the archangel Michael did not dare to condemn Satan. Satan! Of all creatures, it seems like he would be one that everyone could condemn with good conscience, but Archangel Michael is humble enough and knows God enough to know that his not his place. If an archangel cannot presume judgement on Satan, then who am I to presume judgement on some of these people who claim to be Christ followers. It has taken my anger down a few notches and broken my heart instead, which in good moments leads me to pray and in hard moments is a wrestling of wanting to write open letters and rebuttal all the Christians in my world who write and share what I would deem outrageous and harmful things. I am trying to lean in and listen for what my role is and control myself for what it isn’t. I was reminded of my post from a ways back about mudding the waters. Muddying the Waters – Inkblot Life I find myself back in Job reading through all the counsel given to Job that was not helpful. He needed friends to sit and grieve and pray with him as he waited on the Lord. So I sit and wait and pray for the Lord to have mercy. I pray that I will stop thrashing and that God will show me what it looks like to love the Body of Christ in this season and work for the redemption of the world without muddying the waters.
Fitness and Mental Health: Trying to be intentional with walking. The last few weeks things have gotten off kilter, hoping to get back on track this upcoming week. I did drop my membership to Balanced Life. I enjoy the videos and recipes, but at this point financially it didn’t make sense. 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: been a crazy season as we needed to empty our entire basement for some work that had to be done. It will be Christmas in my home for a few more weeks due to the situation, but I am okay with that.
Giving Thanks For: time with family and extended family, laughter, extra mild days, special surprise packages from friends, 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, 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 