Thank you for this. All so good and thought-provoking, but as Ive struggled in my faith lately, this pulled me toward God today and Im grateful for that. "That feeling that feels absolutely true is trying to show us something about God’s intention for man’s wholeness. We weren’t made to carry the wounds and scars and brokenness of one man’s sin for all of eternity. We were made to dwell in wholeness with God, walk with him, be with him, see him fully, and his desire for that is unchanged." ❤️ I desire that.
Ive also been on a journey of awareness of how feelings have hidden truth about ourselves, our broken places, that lead to healing if we just get still to examine, and i think deeper healing and wisdom if we let God in on it and listen for his whispers. In a culture that values productivity, the hustle, immediate reward, pleasurable distraction, escapism, that takes not only awareness but some stiff discipline (that lastly-listed fruit "self-control") to actually DO.
shared thoughts today on her Lent practice in quiet (no TV etc) and the physical body. "As I’ve worked to be more present in my body, I’ve become more curious about the idea of an embodied faith, one that is not divided between physical and spiritual but that understands these two realms are inextricable from one another. They coexist in the same way Jesus was both human and divine. Flesh and spirit. I wondered as I sat on the pew if a physical Lent is as spiritual as it gets, if I didn’t need to wait for an out-of-body experience to experience God, if being present in my body was being present with God."
To her point, its an overlap: mind, body, and spirit. We're a three-legged stool that needs all healthy for balance. Perhaps our feelings (physical and emotional) help us connect those and attend to areas we need healing. (much read on this and emotional abundance from Lisa Murray, Peace for a Lifetime.)
So much to read and think about. So little time. 😆 Where's time for stillness of body AND mind? 😵💫
In this segment of your piece, I was reminded of Resmaa Menakem’s book “My Grandmother’s Hands” - he speaks to the trauma carried by all and specifically in white bodies, black bodies, and police bodies…it’s fantastic, and I’d highly recommend it.
I have loved reading what you’ve put in these four writings. I’m from the UK, so culture here is different and I’m leery of saying something which doesn’t help. But I have found it so interesting and beautifully written.
What I find interesting wrt this piece is how the same kind of trauma can result in some people resorting to violence, but others do not.
Thank you, Jemima. I think it's helpful to think about violence not just in terms of outward violence, but also inward violence, the violence we do to ourselves. That has been a real shift for me in recent years.
“If they feel true to us in the moment, there’s a reason for that. And I think the reason for that is because God wants to heal the fault-line that was created.” UGH YES!! I’ve been trying to learn how to “savor” those feelings and feel it’s entirety without succumbing. The most remarkably comforting this is leaning into Christ’s humanity.❤️
Powerful words. Thank you for sharing your hard won wisdom on all of this with us.
Thank you, Sally.
Gosh, I love the way you describe the "fault lines." The indelible impact of trauma. ❤️
Four stunning pieces. I read them all in one sitting. Thank you so much, Lore.
Thank you, Christiana. That means a lot.
Thank you for this. All so good and thought-provoking, but as Ive struggled in my faith lately, this pulled me toward God today and Im grateful for that. "That feeling that feels absolutely true is trying to show us something about God’s intention for man’s wholeness. We weren’t made to carry the wounds and scars and brokenness of one man’s sin for all of eternity. We were made to dwell in wholeness with God, walk with him, be with him, see him fully, and his desire for that is unchanged." ❤️ I desire that.
Ive also been on a journey of awareness of how feelings have hidden truth about ourselves, our broken places, that lead to healing if we just get still to examine, and i think deeper healing and wisdom if we let God in on it and listen for his whispers. In a culture that values productivity, the hustle, immediate reward, pleasurable distraction, escapism, that takes not only awareness but some stiff discipline (that lastly-listed fruit "self-control") to actually DO.
Another writer (andrealramsey.com)
shared thoughts today on her Lent practice in quiet (no TV etc) and the physical body. "As I’ve worked to be more present in my body, I’ve become more curious about the idea of an embodied faith, one that is not divided between physical and spiritual but that understands these two realms are inextricable from one another. They coexist in the same way Jesus was both human and divine. Flesh and spirit. I wondered as I sat on the pew if a physical Lent is as spiritual as it gets, if I didn’t need to wait for an out-of-body experience to experience God, if being present in my body was being present with God."
To her point, its an overlap: mind, body, and spirit. We're a three-legged stool that needs all healthy for balance. Perhaps our feelings (physical and emotional) help us connect those and attend to areas we need healing. (much read on this and emotional abundance from Lisa Murray, Peace for a Lifetime.)
So much to read and think about. So little time. 😆 Where's time for stillness of body AND mind? 😵💫
Yup. The three-legged stool has been a helpful illustration to me in the past too. So glad it is helping you process!
In this segment of your piece, I was reminded of Resmaa Menakem’s book “My Grandmother’s Hands” - he speaks to the trauma carried by all and specifically in white bodies, black bodies, and police bodies…it’s fantastic, and I’d highly recommend it.
That book. I love that book. So beautiful.
I have loved reading what you’ve put in these four writings. I’m from the UK, so culture here is different and I’m leery of saying something which doesn’t help. But I have found it so interesting and beautifully written.
What I find interesting wrt this piece is how the same kind of trauma can result in some people resorting to violence, but others do not.
Thank you, Jemima. I think it's helpful to think about violence not just in terms of outward violence, but also inward violence, the violence we do to ourselves. That has been a real shift for me in recent years.
“If they feel true to us in the moment, there’s a reason for that. And I think the reason for that is because God wants to heal the fault-line that was created.” UGH YES!! I’ve been trying to learn how to “savor” those feelings and feel it’s entirety without succumbing. The most remarkably comforting this is leaning into Christ’s humanity.❤️