I must remember to say thank you to each of you who has kept encouraging me via Substack comment, emails, texts, and notes, and reminding me that I’m still on your prayer lists. A thousand pardons to each of you whom I’ve left unacknowledged--unfortunately, you’re in good company. Please don’t take the silence personally. I promise I read and reread every kind touch. And the issues with being able to comment seem to have cleared up. Thank you again for letting me know and trying again!
I have lots of ideas to write about, and I faithfully make useful (and legible) notes. Good ideas, and enough outline to run with. But it occurs to me that I might have to rearrange my spare time schedule so I can write when I feel it, ‘cause I sure don’t feel it when I get home from work. ... I just remembered I used to start my weekly ramble first thing of a Monday morning, when I’m feeling hopeful for the week. Another life, a long time ago… Monday morning is dedicated to something else these days, but I have other mornings, and now that it’s three minutes door to office door, I have that much more time...
Hmmm. I shall have to try something new. In the meantime, here’s a visual invitation to a lovely, long walk with a treasured companion, and a couple poems.
Toward the promise,
Lana
P.S. One of those tooth-gnashing issues I mentioned last week might be clearing itself up, upon a casual request for contact information for my lawyer. It’s gratifying what will galvanize the cowards. We’ll see if it really got mailed.
#405
O God in Heaven
Whom I am told
I might love so much
that I forget to
love myself
Which seems quite impossible
Inextricably bound up
as I am
In this lump of flesh
Sparked alive by
Your Spirit
Which seems many days too fragile
for the task
Of holding the twain together
Of cementing the vital attachment
In this very loud and shiny
and darkly heavy world
What might it be like
to love You that much
to remain otherwise continually
dissatisfied
How can I love you
O God in Heaven
Teach me that
For I am entranced
But I have already forgotten
yesterday’s lesson
5-4-23
#409
Blessed are those who mourn for they shall be comforted. Matthew 5:4
I have taken the
begging bowl of my
of my broken heart
Door to door
Hour by hour
Shore to shore
See what has been put
into it
By the beautiful mad thoughtful
heavy and
equally broken world
The hatchet with which to
break down my walls
The eyes with which to see
beyond the shell
Kindred spirits with whom to
hoist the remnants and the
new materials into place
And the love with which to
hold it all together
Come sojourn with me
Do not fear the shattering
For it will come
And until you are truly undone
Wholeness is only a dream
5-8-2023
Here’s the link to last week’s issue Field notes
No one is perfect, and you can only do what you can do. Regarding the timing of when we do something, sometimes there is a best time to do things, or they won't get done. You are on to that. Score for you. I read your poems, and they reflect a perspective of the earthly life. We do see many things through the dust around us. But with our eyes on God, and I believe yours are, we are led by the Master. And we will make it home.
😊