I feel like both sides of our polarized world are more similar than they would ever admit. Thanks for trying to be a voice of nuance and empathy in this crazy life we are currently living.
Just beautiful. " It is the most terrifying thing in the universe which is why it is also the biggest thing in the universe which is why it is also the greatest thing in the universe which is why it is also God." This stopped me right in my tracks.
Wow. Thanks for sharing all this. The timing is remarkable - I just listened to the side aisle episode 5. 😅 The responses to the post are fascinating. The way you are able to process, cut through the noise, get to the heart of so many things, share such tender experiences - and in ways that help me to connect with meaningful concepts, and my own ideas, memories, vulnerabilities, and feelings - what a gift. I’m so grateful you choose to keep sharing here. 💗
This exercise is a wonderful example of how to love your enemies and pray for those who persecute, no matter what side they voted for. Thank you for weathering the social media storm to share these thoughts. I know there were so many silent viewers who were ministered to by them.
(Quick Edit: Also, if you haven’t read “Flatland: A Romance of Many Dimensions” by Edwin A. Abbott, please do! The continued dialogue about the apple and your experience of it reminded me of that book).
As a related note, the one place I don't see that Rorschach test polarity right now is in the resistance to data centers at the very local level. If you want to be encouraged by local people's commitment to their community, start looking for news articles about Town Council and County Council meetings where residents show up to say no to data centers. I cannot think of another issue that has not been leveraged to divide us. Folks from all voting blocks are showing up shoulder to shoulder right now.
Lore. The gift of hearing these words in your voice cannot be overstated. What a meditative, poetic, aching account. I remember during the pandemic realizing that I had no practice cultural or religious to accommodate and process such protracted grief. I knew how to show up for acute pain but not how to endure that long road during that time. It feels like everyday since 2015 is like that in a way. Almost like something innocent and naive died in me then and this version is more resilient and more acquainted with grief and it's sort of long suffering expression? I don't know. This was a lot of rambling to say writing like this that is beautiful and profound and not trying to accomplish some agenda in the reader is more precious than gold. Thank you for sharing it.
Beautiful post, Lore. Imagination as a concept has been strong in my heart lately. Creating space, leaving room, daring to think about something behind different than it is. Hoping for a better reality. And all the ways we interpret that differently. Thanks for this.
Absolutely astounding the ability for both sides to be offended by the same thing now. And I think the impossible to jump through hoops are the hardest part for me in this climate. When you ask what could ever reconcile two polar opposites and are met with a list of demands that essentially amount to “be different since birth” it’s a tricky thing to engage with. But you should be proud of how you still show up, and the rest of us here are Big Grateful. 🧡
I don't even know what to say about the Instagram trolls who... didn't read the caption or the subtitle? Then again, I guess social media forms us to half read, expect hostility, go on the defensive. I feel both an inner eye roll and a tenderness for all the wounded hearts out there.
Said before, saying again, I'm so grateful you wrote it. It healed a little something in me, and I hope writing it healed a little something for you too.
Funny, ironic that a corporate lawyer for surety claims wrote poetry in kaleidoscope. Beautiful carousel, your thoughts.
Been reading the Pentateuch, then Chronicles and Kings. It’s amazing to learn from God, Himself, at night, when it’s quiet. All the years of other people’s absolute interpretations just fade away….
wow reading about your IG/FB post was WILD. Why is there so little curiosity in the world?? Sheesh.
May God bless those teachers who named your writing gift, and also, I’m sorry that gift has cost you so much.
I am so thankful for every person along the way who has affirmed it. I want to be that kind of person in the lives of other writers.
You are. You are.
Oh a thousand times, oh wow. How deeply this resonates, how everything. Thank you.
We truly need more space for nuance in our world. Thank for penning such a beautiful post.
Thank you for reading it, Hannah.
I feel like both sides of our polarized world are more similar than they would ever admit. Thanks for trying to be a voice of nuance and empathy in this crazy life we are currently living.
Much more similar, sadly. There are fundamentalists everywhere, which is why its our hearts that need to change, not just our words or actions.
1000% Nothing can change until our hearts change. 😭
What a beautiful, nuanced and thought through post. Thank you for writing it. Thank you. 🙏❤️
Just beautiful. " It is the most terrifying thing in the universe which is why it is also the biggest thing in the universe which is why it is also the greatest thing in the universe which is why it is also God." This stopped me right in my tracks.
Same.
Wow. Thanks for sharing all this. The timing is remarkable - I just listened to the side aisle episode 5. 😅 The responses to the post are fascinating. The way you are able to process, cut through the noise, get to the heart of so many things, share such tender experiences - and in ways that help me to connect with meaningful concepts, and my own ideas, memories, vulnerabilities, and feelings - what a gift. I’m so grateful you choose to keep sharing here. 💗
Thank you, Caryn =)
This exercise is a wonderful example of how to love your enemies and pray for those who persecute, no matter what side they voted for. Thank you for weathering the social media storm to share these thoughts. I know there were so many silent viewers who were ministered to by them.
(Quick Edit: Also, if you haven’t read “Flatland: A Romance of Many Dimensions” by Edwin A. Abbott, please do! The continued dialogue about the apple and your experience of it reminded me of that book).
Thank you! I will look it up. I love recommendations =)
As a related note, the one place I don't see that Rorschach test polarity right now is in the resistance to data centers at the very local level. If you want to be encouraged by local people's commitment to their community, start looking for news articles about Town Council and County Council meetings where residents show up to say no to data centers. I cannot think of another issue that has not been leveraged to divide us. Folks from all voting blocks are showing up shoulder to shoulder right now.
Agreed! I love that for us!
Lore. The gift of hearing these words in your voice cannot be overstated. What a meditative, poetic, aching account. I remember during the pandemic realizing that I had no practice cultural or religious to accommodate and process such protracted grief. I knew how to show up for acute pain but not how to endure that long road during that time. It feels like everyday since 2015 is like that in a way. Almost like something innocent and naive died in me then and this version is more resilient and more acquainted with grief and it's sort of long suffering expression? I don't know. This was a lot of rambling to say writing like this that is beautiful and profound and not trying to accomplish some agenda in the reader is more precious than gold. Thank you for sharing it.
Me too. Me too. 🧡
Beautiful post, Lore. Imagination as a concept has been strong in my heart lately. Creating space, leaving room, daring to think about something behind different than it is. Hoping for a better reality. And all the ways we interpret that differently. Thanks for this.
Mine too. Did you read Liz Bucar’s great piece on this on her substack?
I didn’t! I’ll look it up, thanks!
I think it has something like Trevor Noah and Imagination in the title (Also, she wrote another one today on Imagination that was great too!).
Absolutely astounding the ability for both sides to be offended by the same thing now. And I think the impossible to jump through hoops are the hardest part for me in this climate. When you ask what could ever reconcile two polar opposites and are met with a list of demands that essentially amount to “be different since birth” it’s a tricky thing to engage with. But you should be proud of how you still show up, and the rest of us here are Big Grateful. 🧡
I just keep thinking, “Everyone has to feel the freedom to change their mind, or we’ll be stuck in this loop forever.”
Oh that it could be so 🙏🏼.
Thank you for writing the post. I'm lifting you up, right now.
Thank you, Susan =)
I don't even know what to say about the Instagram trolls who... didn't read the caption or the subtitle? Then again, I guess social media forms us to half read, expect hostility, go on the defensive. I feel both an inner eye roll and a tenderness for all the wounded hearts out there.
Said before, saying again, I'm so grateful you wrote it. It healed a little something in me, and I hope writing it healed a little something for you too.
Xoxo
Funny, ironic that a corporate lawyer for surety claims wrote poetry in kaleidoscope. Beautiful carousel, your thoughts.
Been reading the Pentateuch, then Chronicles and Kings. It’s amazing to learn from God, Himself, at night, when it’s quiet. All the years of other people’s absolute interpretations just fade away….