Your March 24 journal especially touched me, as that day marked ten years since my husband’s repose. Death is ever-present, and it’s helpful to think about it in the context of our earthly life, just as that day’s entry was one of several in a week’s collection.
The reader who remarked about your switching from concrete to abstract might not understand the wholeness of reality “visible and invisible.” The movements of the Holy Spirit are mysterious and unseen but they enliven and give meaning to the movements of the blackbirds, who also contribute, when we pay attention, to fleshing out the hidden things of the heart.
I enjoyed these musings on your relationships with your human and animal friends. ❤️
I'm so glad it touched you and came on that tough anniversary. Yes it is ever present and Father John Behr has impressed on me how it's birth into new life in Christ. Your statement about the movements of the Holy Spirit being mysterious and unseen is so spot on. The world is full of the glory and Love of the Lord. Thank you so much for stopping by and commenting.
Sober, evocative writing. I love this description: "Bruce and I sat vigil with Bruce's mother as she panted for breath like a schooling racehorse, or a woman giving birth to her new life in Christ. (I am looking forward to meeting her in glory with her terrible loneliness fixed right up. I am looking forward to seeing all that light pouring off of her.)".
I think it comes naturally, perhaps my ADD showing her face? Or what the essay wants to say? Thank you so much for reading and commenting and your support.
I listened to your voice, Katie, as I read this post before I get ready to go to the work that I now dread, and I'm procrastinating still more to write you this comment . . . but it might be what I do best, wait for the almost too late moment and then let His Spirit or my panic or something move me into action. I bet you want to offer me some advice now, Sister, don't you! Ah hell . . . let it be . . . just let it be once sang a young Paul McCartney, "there will be an answer . . . let it be."
Oh no on dreading work. Will remember you and Karen in my prayers. Is it time to retire? I hear you on waiting until the very last late moment to get moved into action. I hear you on that one! Oh no. I just offered advice! Love the song. Listening now.
If I die in this job that feels like it is killing me . . . although not too soon, I hope . . . then Karen can collect the life insurance that I have through work and pay off our serially re-financed mortgage on our house. Such as it is, THAT’s my retirement plan. But I’m not complaining. Billions of people have it much worse than I do, and one fine day, I’m going home to Glory. 😇
Yes you are going home to glory. But I hope not for awhile. Doesn't the state give you a pension? Well, I hope you find away to not let the job kill you.
I’m drawing my pension from my career before I took this job. I can’t have another pension, however, but at least they don’t deduct for one. I’m drawing social security now too, but I wish I had drawn it early at 62 instead of waiting until 66.5. I’m 68 now and feeling the truth in the three score and ten. If I make it into my seventies, praise the LORD. I doubt that I’ll make 80 or would even want to at the rate I’m presently falling apart. 😎
I have a slipped disk in my lowest vertebrae that this year started really crippling me. But my Mother used to say about any physical or other suffering that we experienced as kids, “Offer it up to Jesus,” which is what I’m doing now. 🙏🏻✝️❤️
Oh my goodness that is painful. Can the docs do nothing to help? And a job like yours, well you carry it in your back. We will remember you for healing.
Your March 24 journal especially touched me, as that day marked ten years since my husband’s repose. Death is ever-present, and it’s helpful to think about it in the context of our earthly life, just as that day’s entry was one of several in a week’s collection.
The reader who remarked about your switching from concrete to abstract might not understand the wholeness of reality “visible and invisible.” The movements of the Holy Spirit are mysterious and unseen but they enliven and give meaning to the movements of the blackbirds, who also contribute, when we pay attention, to fleshing out the hidden things of the heart.
I enjoyed these musings on your relationships with your human and animal friends. ❤️
I'm so glad it touched you and came on that tough anniversary. Yes it is ever present and Father John Behr has impressed on me how it's birth into new life in Christ. Your statement about the movements of the Holy Spirit being mysterious and unseen is so spot on. The world is full of the glory and Love of the Lord. Thank you so much for stopping by and commenting.
Sober, evocative writing. I love this description: "Bruce and I sat vigil with Bruce's mother as she panted for breath like a schooling racehorse, or a woman giving birth to her new life in Christ. (I am looking forward to meeting her in glory with her terrible loneliness fixed right up. I am looking forward to seeing all that light pouring off of her.)".
Thank you so much for reading this and commenting so thoughtfully.
I’ve noticed an interesting aspect of your writing style - the transitions from the mundane to abstract, and back to the mundane. Such as:
'Two red wing blackbirds settle on twigs..
and then:
'I think of Saints who have birds land on their shoulders..’
and back to:
'It's been a week where snow curled over the side of the fence row...'
For the reader it’s kind of a break. It takes some effort to imagine the saints, but I get a break by snapping back to the real world.
I think it is a very effective approach for engaging readers.
Is that a conscious effort on your part, or does it just come naturally?
I think it comes naturally, perhaps my ADD showing her face? Or what the essay wants to say? Thank you so much for reading and commenting and your support.
I listened to your voice, Katie, as I read this post before I get ready to go to the work that I now dread, and I'm procrastinating still more to write you this comment . . . but it might be what I do best, wait for the almost too late moment and then let His Spirit or my panic or something move me into action. I bet you want to offer me some advice now, Sister, don't you! Ah hell . . . let it be . . . just let it be once sang a young Paul McCartney, "there will be an answer . . . let it be."
https://youtu.be/QDYfEBY9NM4?feature=shared
Oh no on dreading work. Will remember you and Karen in my prayers. Is it time to retire? I hear you on waiting until the very last late moment to get moved into action. I hear you on that one! Oh no. I just offered advice! Love the song. Listening now.
If I die in this job that feels like it is killing me . . . although not too soon, I hope . . . then Karen can collect the life insurance that I have through work and pay off our serially re-financed mortgage on our house. Such as it is, THAT’s my retirement plan. But I’m not complaining. Billions of people have it much worse than I do, and one fine day, I’m going home to Glory. 😇
https://youtu.be/fR4HjTH_fTM?feature=shared
Yes you are going home to glory. But I hope not for awhile. Doesn't the state give you a pension? Well, I hope you find away to not let the job kill you.
I’m drawing my pension from my career before I took this job. I can’t have another pension, however, but at least they don’t deduct for one. I’m drawing social security now too, but I wish I had drawn it early at 62 instead of waiting until 66.5. I’m 68 now and feeling the truth in the three score and ten. If I make it into my seventies, praise the LORD. I doubt that I’ll make 80 or would even want to at the rate I’m presently falling apart. 😎
Oh no on falling apart. Do take care of yourself. We decided to have Bruce withdraw early and aren't sorry.
Thank you, Katie.
I have a slipped disk in my lowest vertebrae that this year started really crippling me. But my Mother used to say about any physical or other suffering that we experienced as kids, “Offer it up to Jesus,” which is what I’m doing now. 🙏🏻✝️❤️
Oh my goodness that is painful. Can the docs do nothing to help? And a job like yours, well you carry it in your back. We will remember you for healing.