Because I desperately needed to read this tonight. A week after the ritual took place. I think, next year, I may do this with friends (if I can find a friend willing to indulge this).
Burial and Restoration. So needed.
Friday, March 28, 2008
Friday Evening Ramblings
I tried to make an eye appointment with my usual person today. He's booking in October. What kind of person can make a medical appointment for a basic check-up six months in advance? I barely know what I'm doing two months from now, never mind in the third week of October. One quick phone call, and I found someone who can get me in on Tuesday. Time for new glasses - I've been wearing these for almost 5 years, and I'm ready for something new. (Plus, I have benefits that will cover them for now, and since I'm thinking about the possibility of changing jobs, I thought I'd get the glasses while I still have coverage.)
I was just looking at the list of books I've read since 2008 began. If you look too closely, you're going to think that all I read are sappy novels. Not true. I read lots of other stuff too. I read novels when I want to give my brain a break, and I can get through one of the ones on the list in about 3 hours or so. I have a stack of five books that are not sappy novels sitting beside me on the coffee table, all in various stages of partially read glory. Eventually I'll finish one of them and add it to my list.
I had a really fantastic dinner tonight. Stirfried beef and peppers, done in a wrap, with tzatziki sauce. So good. I also made banana bread last night. My first solo attempt. It turned out great.
I have a list of things that need to be accomplished this weekend... in no particular order, they are:
I was just looking at the list of books I've read since 2008 began. If you look too closely, you're going to think that all I read are sappy novels. Not true. I read lots of other stuff too. I read novels when I want to give my brain a break, and I can get through one of the ones on the list in about 3 hours or so. I have a stack of five books that are not sappy novels sitting beside me on the coffee table, all in various stages of partially read glory. Eventually I'll finish one of them and add it to my list.
I had a really fantastic dinner tonight. Stirfried beef and peppers, done in a wrap, with tzatziki sauce. So good. I also made banana bread last night. My first solo attempt. It turned out great.
I have a list of things that need to be accomplished this weekend... in no particular order, they are:
- taxes (a friend is doing this for me)
- budget
- sweep the kitchen/bathroom/hallway
- mop my bedroom floor
- clean my desk
- clean out my shelf in the fridge
- clear off the dining room table from the mess that's accumulated while my roommate's been away for a week
- clean the bathroom
- laundry
- buy groceries
- wash dishes
Thankful for Friends
I was talking with a friend last night about the lessons I learned in the midst of the seven years I suffered from severe depression, and this is one of the ones I shared with her, “find the friends who want to hang out with you even when you're miserable - the ones who will pray for you, and even make you laugh (even when the laughter only hits your head and doesn't penetrate your heart).”
I’ve been thinking about the people whom I’m privileged to call friends lately. I have lots of acquaintances, and very few friends who walk in the deep places of my life. I’ve noticed this more sharply this last season, as I’ve avoided all but a select few people, in an effort to care for myself in the midst of some hard spaces.
I am privileged to call some very cool people friends. The people I love as friends are passionate. They are lovers of Jesus. They walk in deep spaces. They tend to pour out love and caring on others in ways that amaze me (and I’ve benefited from their love and caring more times than I would care to count). They are profoundly messy – I love that. I don’t have much time for the people who want to pretend that they’ve got their lives perfectly together. The mess is so much more interesting, and generally so much more profound. They care for the poor and the broken and the hurting. They care about seeing others walk deeply with the Lord, and in the things the Lord calls them to. They love adventures, and sometimes, go on the adventure in spite of nearly paralyzing fears.
So to each of you whom I’m privileged to call “friend”, thank you for making me smile. Thank you for bringing joy and love and grace to my life. Thank you for teaching me a little bit more about what the heart of God is like.
I’ve been thinking about the people whom I’m privileged to call friends lately. I have lots of acquaintances, and very few friends who walk in the deep places of my life. I’ve noticed this more sharply this last season, as I’ve avoided all but a select few people, in an effort to care for myself in the midst of some hard spaces.
I am privileged to call some very cool people friends. The people I love as friends are passionate. They are lovers of Jesus. They walk in deep spaces. They tend to pour out love and caring on others in ways that amaze me (and I’ve benefited from their love and caring more times than I would care to count). They are profoundly messy – I love that. I don’t have much time for the people who want to pretend that they’ve got their lives perfectly together. The mess is so much more interesting, and generally so much more profound. They care for the poor and the broken and the hurting. They care about seeing others walk deeply with the Lord, and in the things the Lord calls them to. They love adventures, and sometimes, go on the adventure in spite of nearly paralyzing fears.
So to each of you whom I’m privileged to call “friend”, thank you for making me smile. Thank you for bringing joy and love and grace to my life. Thank you for teaching me a little bit more about what the heart of God is like.
Where Mourning and Dancing Touch - Henri Nouwen
I receieved this rather profound thought from Henri Nouwen this morning. It seemed to fit well with the week I've had.
Where Mourning and Dancing Touch Each Other
"[There is] a time for mourning, a time for dancing" (Ecclesiastes 3:4). But mourning and dancing are never fully separated. Their "times" do not necessarily follow each other. In fact, their "times" may become one "time." Mourning may turn into dancing and dancing into mourning without showing a clear point where one ends and the other starts.
Often our grief allows us to choreograph our dance while our dance creates the space for our grief. We lose a beloved friend, and in the midst of our tears we discover an unknown joy. We celebrate a success, and in the midst of the party we feel deep sadness. Mourning and dancing, grief and laughter, sadness and gladness - they belong together as the sad-faced clown and the happy-faced clown, who make us both cry and laugh. Let's trust that the beauty of our lives becomes visible where mourning and dancing touch each other.
Where Mourning and Dancing Touch Each Other
"[There is] a time for mourning, a time for dancing" (Ecclesiastes 3:4). But mourning and dancing are never fully separated. Their "times" do not necessarily follow each other. In fact, their "times" may become one "time." Mourning may turn into dancing and dancing into mourning without showing a clear point where one ends and the other starts.
Often our grief allows us to choreograph our dance while our dance creates the space for our grief. We lose a beloved friend, and in the midst of our tears we discover an unknown joy. We celebrate a success, and in the midst of the party we feel deep sadness. Mourning and dancing, grief and laughter, sadness and gladness - they belong together as the sad-faced clown and the happy-faced clown, who make us both cry and laugh. Let's trust that the beauty of our lives becomes visible where mourning and dancing touch each other.
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