Bill took this picture after a day of sailing in New Zealand and I got it as I was dropping off to sleep last night. He said, "You would have LOVED this!" and he's right I would have. Boats = SO FUN! The ocean = beauty beyond explanation! He loved it, too. Yay!
I went to bed early last night because my back hurt so I woke up VERY early to pink sky. I had to go outside and capture this quiet and beautiful backdrop. I find myself wanting everything simple, nature, my quiet house . . . in big doses. I wonder why. I have a huge feeling of appreciation of beauty right now and I don't want it clouded with the hustle and bustle. I'm so glad that the Lord is SO gracious. I do not really know how to order my life and choose things. I just want to be. A friend and I met for coffee today and we talked a little about how tempting it is to go "crazy judgmental" when observing different ways people do things and how people end up living out their values. I found myself getting kind of mad and bitter and I'm not so sure it was righteous anger. It may have been a little ugly disgust instead of compassionate concern about souls. I'm sorry. I'm trying to figure out how to move into deep intimacy with other souls and not just enjoy shallow associations, in my neighborhood, my work place, my community. What do you think? Have you ever heard talk of the desert fathers and mothers and their compulsion to "flee the shipwreck"? Our world holds extreme confusion and sadness and all the input and cultural exposure drags me down. What lasts? What matters? Jesus is enough. Yes, it's Jesus + NOTHING.
8 comments:
I love the idea of hiding in the mountains... for a moment. I guess I love people too much to last up there for too long. Jesus + Nothing is what my heart longs for... but my mind wants others there with me. Yes, my family, of course... but "outsiders" as well. I need "outsiders" to help my perspective. To bring me outside of myself. To point me back to Jesus. Inward is good... introspection necessary... but sometimes that fosters selfishness in my soul. I don't need any help fostering that... But oh to be in the world but not of it. Not sure I'll ever figure that one out. xo elly
Yay, Elly! You say it so beautifully! It's true that we carve on each other and even tough times with others can help us grow in heavenly ways. I guess I wouldn't be blogging so much if I wasnt' so interested in people and so appreciative of all the creativity I see all around the world. We need each other. Thank you for making a solid point! Oh, to love like the Master loves!
The desert fathers often were called back into society to be little Christs, imparters of the Holy Spirit to the people around them. This is theory to me...I don't really know how to do it.. but what I hear is necessary is to relate to others from the *heart,* which is in the presence of God, and in the moment. As you say, just TO BE. -gretchenjoanna
p.s. when I click on "jump to comment form" it gives me the box that works!
Lovely pictures!
I agree. I don't know what it is that draws us away from the simplicity of our Loving Savior. But aren't those the best moments? I love the moments that feel so simple that you want to drink them in forever. They are such a wonderful and important grace to my foolish soul.
Pom Pom, since I read this yesterday it has been on my heart. I have been thinking a lot about what you say, even laying awake and thinking about it last night, because you say things that I can identify with, but I wanted to answer sensibly, and not just ramble! I probably will anyway, but I am going to do my best here. I too am searching to live my life in a truly simple way, but it is not easy because although we are not of this world, heaven being our true home, we are very much living in the world and can so easily be led astray and tempted in all sorts of different ways.In order to live in a more simple way, we, that is me and my husband, have chosen for me not to work outside the home but to be based here in the home. This means that things are a lot less hurried and more relaxed, the atmosphere is calmer. Of course, it means we do not have as much money as we would have if I were to work outside, which in turn means that we follow a more simple lifestyle. I wonder if it may also have something to do with age, and not wanting or needing the things that we did when we were younger. It is hard watching others living their lives and choosing ways that we wouldn't necessarily do ourselves, or can see the terrible consequences of, and it is easy to be judgemental and critical, and I guess what we have to try and do is pray for others and leave them with God because their lifes journey is not ultimately our responsibility (i have said this in too simplistic a way, I know, because there isn't time to go into this in more depth at the moment). I say this because personally I have struggled with regard to one of my sons and his choice of lifestyle and the heartache and fear involved. I have worked hard to get to the point of knowing that I cannot influence him, or make him change, and my insistence in being involved and 'knowing everything' was only making matters worse for me, and having no influence on him! I have to leave him with Jesus, and have faith and trust in Him in this situation. As for being in closer intimacy with others, does this come in making ourselves vulnerable, being honest with each other, going deeper, and seeing others respond by doing like-wise? It is tempting to want to flee the shipwreck, but we are stuck on it until God calls us home, and we are always, always linked to Him with a safety line, arent we? There, I have rambled on - I knew I would, please forgive me. I wonder if I have made any sense at all! With love, Helen x
Thank you for your thoughtful comment, Helen. It sounds as though you are thinking and thinking about such things, just like me. I respect your decision to stay at home. I LOVE being at home. I soak up the bliss in the summer and I sure don't feel ready to go back to school yet. I must completely surrender my will and allow myself to be carried away, completely dependent on Jesus, completely trusting Him. I am so tempted to "do the math" and add this + this in order to get the answer and I've concluded that I have a trustworthy Savior that cares for the simple things and sees far more than I do, and His answer will come and surprise me with JOY. It's so tempting for me to try to summarize what's real - always drawing satisfying conclusions - not simply trusting. You and I could talk and talk about this! I'm so glad we've connected.
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