I’m grateful for how you have connected what is best/right for you to how you are an Image Bearer. I can feel this in my body and am deeply appreciative for the language. Thank you. As a Minnesotan, knowing that how I move in this moment, is a way to bear image and shine light, is rejuvenating during a very tiring time.
Okay, this is too weird a "coincidence." Just this morning I read Frederick Buechner's essay "the room called remember" in which he describes exactly what you are talking about in your post - in terms of listening to, sitting with, learning from our own lives. It felt so meaningful, like living water. Exactly right for the time I am going through, trying to make sense of where I've been and who I've become.
And now here this afternoon, I open substack to read your essay and then see that you reference Buechner! I don't think I realized that you've been influenced by him before this, but of course it makes perfect sense. Anyway - thank you again for your thoughtful, considered words. I don't know why it works like this, but somehow the things we need often show up right when we need them.
Thank you, Lore! So much of what I’ve been thinking as well, especially the part about knowing what to say, but not what to do. I’ve also settled on my local community, and asking myself “does this move me closer to who God made me to be?”.
Have you read Social Justice for the Sensitive Soul by Dorcas Cheng-Tozun? I’m about to start it and I suspect it will be validating for those of us who don’t constantly rage on the internet.
I appreciated this. I have been thinking and praying about whether it's even possible to engage well with Facebook (my only account besides LinkedIn), especially this past week. I was recently saddened by some relatives' comments on what for me was a very rare post on MLK Day about deciding to "stick with love," not hate. I don't think social media should necessarily be written off; I've certainly benefited from it in some ways - but it seems to increasingly have a propensity to lead us toward spiritual unhealth.
My approach right now is to limit my time reading commentary-type posts, spend hardly any time at all posting or replying, pray for wisdom, and not be hasty in choosing whether to engage. This morning I was reading James 1:19 - "let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger." I want my presence online to be filled with love, humility, and patience, without the need for the gotcha moments you described. And when read something that tempts me to judge someone's character, I want my first response to be looking to God to help extract the plank in my own eye. Then I want to be drawn to truly pray for those with whom I disagree, especially if they are in my real-life circle of connection. I want my soul's response to be more rooted in lament and hope, with less fear and defensiveness.
And I am very much looking forward to taking a break from Facebook entirely for Lent this year. During that time, I may explore creating a small-in-scope, recurring writing of some sort about U.S. immigration policy (I'm an immigration attorney). Seeking how to do that in a way that is intentional, humble, and grace-filled, and that gently invites others to peer outside their echo chambers with curiosity and openness.
Thank you so much for the words, Lore. I find myself in a time where I thought I knew what I needed to do, but I’m having to trace back to say/not say and maybe not do in the time I was thinking. Your thoughts are a gift!
Yes, yes, yes. The temptation in these moments is always to be louder than the next person instead of pointing people back to the still, small voice at the center of their own being.
thank you for this, lore 💛 for the honest steadiness and companionship of your words as we look at the unspeakable chaos all around us.
my teenage sister is throwing a costume party tomorrow. i had to clear the internet tab where i had searched for if a certain federal agency is in my town in order to google “diy fairy sleeves” and i just about cried. being a person feels insane right now.
baking for my people, cleaning and meal prepping, while listening to sara billups’ nervous systems has been the thing getting me through this week.
“I want it to feel thin, permeable, accessible, the only place in the world that’s mine, all mine. The only thing in the world that cannot be taken from me, no matter how much someone wants to appropriate it or change it or claim it or crush it.”
This is my favorite thought of yours in this post. So many growth thoughts, challenging thoughts. Yet with some boundaries.
Someone screamed at me last night over something two years ago. He had the facts wrong on the situation. Would not listen. I called his wife, crying, said my peace, and hung up. I pray for them, especially her, because in the end he was being a bully, and I realized she goes through this daily. Grace. How quickly we forget grace given to us to give to others.
Thanks, friend. Such an important conversation these days. I fell on this old Merton quote from Further Seeds of Contemplation and for some reason it seems relevant here:
'How do you expect to arrive at the end of your journey if you take the road to another man's city?'
I’m grateful for how you have connected what is best/right for you to how you are an Image Bearer. I can feel this in my body and am deeply appreciative for the language. Thank you. As a Minnesotan, knowing that how I move in this moment, is a way to bear image and shine light, is rejuvenating during a very tiring time.
Okay, this is too weird a "coincidence." Just this morning I read Frederick Buechner's essay "the room called remember" in which he describes exactly what you are talking about in your post - in terms of listening to, sitting with, learning from our own lives. It felt so meaningful, like living water. Exactly right for the time I am going through, trying to make sense of where I've been and who I've become.
And now here this afternoon, I open substack to read your essay and then see that you reference Buechner! I don't think I realized that you've been influenced by him before this, but of course it makes perfect sense. Anyway - thank you again for your thoughtful, considered words. I don't know why it works like this, but somehow the things we need often show up right when we need them.
Thank you so much. I'm going to be coming back to this again and again.
Beautifully said. Thank you, Lore.
Your post made me realize how little I listen to myself. I actively do not listen to myself. Thank you.
Thank you, Lore! So much of what I’ve been thinking as well, especially the part about knowing what to say, but not what to do. I’ve also settled on my local community, and asking myself “does this move me closer to who God made me to be?”.
Have you read Social Justice for the Sensitive Soul by Dorcas Cheng-Tozun? I’m about to start it and I suspect it will be validating for those of us who don’t constantly rage on the internet.
I want a report on that book!
I can’t wait to dig in! Hoping to make some good progress being snowed in this weekend.
I appreciated this. I have been thinking and praying about whether it's even possible to engage well with Facebook (my only account besides LinkedIn), especially this past week. I was recently saddened by some relatives' comments on what for me was a very rare post on MLK Day about deciding to "stick with love," not hate. I don't think social media should necessarily be written off; I've certainly benefited from it in some ways - but it seems to increasingly have a propensity to lead us toward spiritual unhealth.
My approach right now is to limit my time reading commentary-type posts, spend hardly any time at all posting or replying, pray for wisdom, and not be hasty in choosing whether to engage. This morning I was reading James 1:19 - "let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger." I want my presence online to be filled with love, humility, and patience, without the need for the gotcha moments you described. And when read something that tempts me to judge someone's character, I want my first response to be looking to God to help extract the plank in my own eye. Then I want to be drawn to truly pray for those with whom I disagree, especially if they are in my real-life circle of connection. I want my soul's response to be more rooted in lament and hope, with less fear and defensiveness.
And I am very much looking forward to taking a break from Facebook entirely for Lent this year. During that time, I may explore creating a small-in-scope, recurring writing of some sort about U.S. immigration policy (I'm an immigration attorney). Seeking how to do that in a way that is intentional, humble, and grace-filled, and that gently invites others to peer outside their echo chambers with curiosity and openness.
Thank you so much for the words, Lore. I find myself in a time where I thought I knew what I needed to do, but I’m having to trace back to say/not say and maybe not do in the time I was thinking. Your thoughts are a gift!
This is so good. Thank you.
Yes, yes, yes. The temptation in these moments is always to be louder than the next person instead of pointing people back to the still, small voice at the center of their own being.
thank you for this, lore 💛 for the honest steadiness and companionship of your words as we look at the unspeakable chaos all around us.
my teenage sister is throwing a costume party tomorrow. i had to clear the internet tab where i had searched for if a certain federal agency is in my town in order to google “diy fairy sleeves” and i just about cried. being a person feels insane right now.
baking for my people, cleaning and meal prepping, while listening to sara billups’ nervous systems has been the thing getting me through this week.
This makes me feel deeply sad. I can’t articulate why at this moment. Just so so sad.
“I want it to feel thin, permeable, accessible, the only place in the world that’s mine, all mine. The only thing in the world that cannot be taken from me, no matter how much someone wants to appropriate it or change it or claim it or crush it.”
This is my favorite thought of yours in this post. So many growth thoughts, challenging thoughts. Yet with some boundaries.
Someone screamed at me last night over something two years ago. He had the facts wrong on the situation. Would not listen. I called his wife, crying, said my peace, and hung up. I pray for them, especially her, because in the end he was being a bully, and I realized she goes through this daily. Grace. How quickly we forget grace given to us to give to others.
Staying the course which has been chosen, and listening well to the voice of the heart. Each different, all well.
Thanks, friend. Such an important conversation these days. I fell on this old Merton quote from Further Seeds of Contemplation and for some reason it seems relevant here:
'How do you expect to arrive at the end of your journey if you take the road to another man's city?'
This is good, Lore. Thank you, as always, for showing up here with deep thought and care.