I'm telling you now that I must be one of the most easily bruised objects on the planet.
I bruise the way over-ripe fruit bruises.
After moving on Saturday, I woke up Sunday morning, headed for the shower, and noticed that all parts of my body are bruised. There are bruises on parts of my body that I don't remember coming in contact with anything over the course of moving.
Today, out of interest, I counted. There are 21 bruises (all relatively small and minor) spread across nearly my entire body. I look like someone beat me up with a tiny hammer.
Ah well... such is life I suppose.
Monday, June 30, 2008
The Scream
Artist Edvard Munch commented about the inspiration for this painting coming while he was out walking with two friends, "My friends walked on—I stood there, trembling with fear. And I sensed a great, infinite scream pass through nature."I was caught by that quote when it arrived in an email this morning.
I've sensed that scream at moments, in little ways.
I feel it myself a bit these days.
I'm caught by this painting today.
Three Words
How can three simple words be so profoundly calming and restorative?
He’s three. A bundle of energy and muscle. Always moving. Always intense. He waved at me when I walked in, and grinned from across the room, but was engrossed in a television show and didn’t come over to greet me.
When he finally came over, he motioned for me to come down to his level. I squatted, now eye-level with him, my knees nearly touching his.
He whispered. “I like you.” Except that he’s three, and it sounded more like “I ike you.”
My heart began to smile. It wasn't a fluke when he said it the last time I'd visited. It seems this is how I'm to be greeted by this child.
I asked him for a hug, and gathered his little body into my arms. “I like you too.” A quick tickle and I let him go.
Those three words went farther in that moment towards soothing my jangled soul than all the other things I’d tried or used to bring about that soothing on a day when much soothing was required.
I carry them with me, close to my heart into today, and this week, and this month.
He’s three. A bundle of energy and muscle. Always moving. Always intense. He waved at me when I walked in, and grinned from across the room, but was engrossed in a television show and didn’t come over to greet me.
When he finally came over, he motioned for me to come down to his level. I squatted, now eye-level with him, my knees nearly touching his.
He whispered. “I like you.” Except that he’s three, and it sounded more like “I ike you.”
My heart began to smile. It wasn't a fluke when he said it the last time I'd visited. It seems this is how I'm to be greeted by this child.
I asked him for a hug, and gathered his little body into my arms. “I like you too.” A quick tickle and I let him go.
Those three words went farther in that moment towards soothing my jangled soul than all the other things I’d tried or used to bring about that soothing on a day when much soothing was required.
I carry them with me, close to my heart into today, and this week, and this month.
Henri Again
A couple more thoughts from Henri Nouwen...
Downward Mobility
The society in which we live suggests in countless ways that the way to go is up. Making it to the top, entering the limelight, breaking the record - that's what draws attention, gets us on the front page of the newspaper, and offers us the rewards of money and fame.
The way of Jesus is radically different. It is the way not of upward mobility but of downward mobility. It is going to the bottom, staying behind the sets, and choosing the last place! Why is the way of Jesus worth choosing? Because it is the way to the Kingdom, the way Jesus took, and the way that brings everlasting life.
Taking Up Our Crosses
Jesus says: "If anyone wants to be a follower of mine, let him ... take up his cross and follow me" (Matthew 16:24). He does not say: "Make a cross" or "Look for a cross." Each of us has a cross to carry. There is no need to make one or look for one. The cross we have is hard enough for us! But are we willing to take it up, to accept it as our cross?
Maybe we can't study, maybe we are handicapped, maybe we suffer from depression, maybe we experience conflict in our families, maybe we are victims of violence or abuse. We didn't choose any of it, but these things are our crosses. We can ignore them, reject them, refuse them or hate them. But we can also take up these crosses and follow Jesus with them.
Downward Mobility
The society in which we live suggests in countless ways that the way to go is up. Making it to the top, entering the limelight, breaking the record - that's what draws attention, gets us on the front page of the newspaper, and offers us the rewards of money and fame.
The way of Jesus is radically different. It is the way not of upward mobility but of downward mobility. It is going to the bottom, staying behind the sets, and choosing the last place! Why is the way of Jesus worth choosing? Because it is the way to the Kingdom, the way Jesus took, and the way that brings everlasting life.
Taking Up Our Crosses
Jesus says: "If anyone wants to be a follower of mine, let him ... take up his cross and follow me" (Matthew 16:24). He does not say: "Make a cross" or "Look for a cross." Each of us has a cross to carry. There is no need to make one or look for one. The cross we have is hard enough for us! But are we willing to take it up, to accept it as our cross?
Maybe we can't study, maybe we are handicapped, maybe we suffer from depression, maybe we experience conflict in our families, maybe we are victims of violence or abuse. We didn't choose any of it, but these things are our crosses. We can ignore them, reject them, refuse them or hate them. But we can also take up these crosses and follow Jesus with them.
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