My husband and I discuss these very things almost daily! It is so refreshing to see how The Father is working in the Body of Christ to bring about His Will, that we all learn to love the way He does, not tolerating sin but FULL of Love that creates the space for others to discover the truth for themselves.
I believe He’s showing us the love that cover a multitude of sins and actually is the catalyst that leads people the understanding of the goodness of God that leads to repentance and Relationship with the One Who Himself is LOVE!
Oh I love this: "Not tolerating sin but FULL of Love that creates the space for others to discover the truth for themselves." Yes, yes, yes. I love that verse in Acts where it speaks of those who are "feeling their way toward God." I've always resonated with that.
Just nodding my head and exhaling with these words. Yes to do much of this…I’ve always bristled a little at that quote too—I get it, but also, I could never embrace it entirely. You out good words around why not. 🩷
While I do have a strong reaction to "should haves" these days, I've always read a sense of accountability into her words. With accountability also comes grace and that's what seems lacking. Accountability without grace turns into judgement and grace without accountability turns into enablement. The wonder of Jesus is loves us perfectly with both.
I feel this so much. There are impossible situations in my life where I know I did the best I could with what I had at the time, and I also am sure that it was woefully inadequate. I’m as aware (I suppose as anyone can be) of the ways I’ve failed so many people, even as I’ve dealt with how they’ve failed me. I don’t think the Lamott quote is quite right either, because try as we might we can only ever tell our side of the story. I think Beth Moore had a really lovely line about that in the intro to her memoir, but I can’t remember how it went and I only have the audio so it’s not easy to find. We all want to be the hero, but I think sometimes the best we can hope for is that we’re the protagonist - still going the right direction despite our fatal flaws.
I say this a lot to myself, "We don't know what we don't know, but as soon as we do know, we're responsible for how our knowing changes things." It's meant a lot of repenting and grieving over the past several years. And also, I loved that line from Aunt Beth's book too, I scribbled it down and have reflected on it since.
“Pilate said to Him[Jesus], ‘What is truth?’” with Jesus sitting right in front of him. You are right. How insulted or disappointed does God feel when we have Him inside us—let alone in front of us—and we still are not listening to Him before we speak. We live in a sinful world. I do not expect non-believers or believers to be perfect. But I must ask myself how much do I listen to Him before opening my mouth or take to typing or clicking? I hear you. I also hear one of your past posts on perspective in family squabbles as to different members remembering differently. It changes everything. We must choose forgiveness and love. God bless you.
I've never felt comfortable with that Anne Lamott quote either. I get why people say it or use it but it's never really sit well with me. Thanks for these thoughtful reflections on regret, perspective and humanity.
I've always gotten the sense that Anne didn't feel entirely comfortable with the ways that quote took on a life of its own too, which, if you think about it, is perfectly apropos of the point I made above.
This post is all I’m thinking through and piecing together these days. I’m trying to tell a “whole-er” truth. But you’re right. Maybe the whole truth is a pipe dream. Or maybe the whole truth is just something we tell together.
I love that: the whole truth is something we tell together. Such a beautiful idea, please find time to unpack that more somewhere. I'd love to read your thoughts on it!
Oh I love what you have said here, that we tell it together. I am also pursuing my Wholeness in the way I steward my Gifts and my life. My Wholeness being an ecology, a layered beingness with various aspects of me at different stages within the life cycle.
My husband and I discuss these very things almost daily! It is so refreshing to see how The Father is working in the Body of Christ to bring about His Will, that we all learn to love the way He does, not tolerating sin but FULL of Love that creates the space for others to discover the truth for themselves.
I believe He’s showing us the love that cover a multitude of sins and actually is the catalyst that leads people the understanding of the goodness of God that leads to repentance and Relationship with the One Who Himself is LOVE!
Thank you for the way you share your heart ♥️
Oh I love this: "Not tolerating sin but FULL of Love that creates the space for others to discover the truth for themselves." Yes, yes, yes. I love that verse in Acts where it speaks of those who are "feeling their way toward God." I've always resonated with that.
Thank you Lore. I needed this
Sarah! Are you on Substack now? How did I miss this?!
Just nodding my head and exhaling with these words. Yes to do much of this…I’ve always bristled a little at that quote too—I get it, but also, I could never embrace it entirely. You out good words around why not. 🩷
Still mulling on it all, friend. Still mulling.
While I do have a strong reaction to "should haves" these days, I've always read a sense of accountability into her words. With accountability also comes grace and that's what seems lacking. Accountability without grace turns into judgement and grace without accountability turns into enablement. The wonder of Jesus is loves us perfectly with both.
Dustin! Hi =) Accountability, yes. I think that's what she intended, though it's often that we want others to be accountable but not ourselves ;)
So, so good, Lore.
Loved this piece. So much to digest from it!
I feel this so much. There are impossible situations in my life where I know I did the best I could with what I had at the time, and I also am sure that it was woefully inadequate. I’m as aware (I suppose as anyone can be) of the ways I’ve failed so many people, even as I’ve dealt with how they’ve failed me. I don’t think the Lamott quote is quite right either, because try as we might we can only ever tell our side of the story. I think Beth Moore had a really lovely line about that in the intro to her memoir, but I can’t remember how it went and I only have the audio so it’s not easy to find. We all want to be the hero, but I think sometimes the best we can hope for is that we’re the protagonist - still going the right direction despite our fatal flaws.
I say this a lot to myself, "We don't know what we don't know, but as soon as we do know, we're responsible for how our knowing changes things." It's meant a lot of repenting and grieving over the past several years. And also, I loved that line from Aunt Beth's book too, I scribbled it down and have reflected on it since.
“Pilate said to Him[Jesus], ‘What is truth?’” with Jesus sitting right in front of him. You are right. How insulted or disappointed does God feel when we have Him inside us—let alone in front of us—and we still are not listening to Him before we speak. We live in a sinful world. I do not expect non-believers or believers to be perfect. But I must ask myself how much do I listen to Him before opening my mouth or take to typing or clicking? I hear you. I also hear one of your past posts on perspective in family squabbles as to different members remembering differently. It changes everything. We must choose forgiveness and love. God bless you.
It does change everything. God's blessing to you too, Jennifer =)
I've never felt comfortable with that Anne Lamott quote either. I get why people say it or use it but it's never really sit well with me. Thanks for these thoughtful reflections on regret, perspective and humanity.
I've always gotten the sense that Anne didn't feel entirely comfortable with the ways that quote took on a life of its own too, which, if you think about it, is perfectly apropos of the point I made above.
Re-member! So good.
This post is all I’m thinking through and piecing together these days. I’m trying to tell a “whole-er” truth. But you’re right. Maybe the whole truth is a pipe dream. Or maybe the whole truth is just something we tell together.
I love that: the whole truth is something we tell together. Such a beautiful idea, please find time to unpack that more somewhere. I'd love to read your thoughts on it!
Oh I love what you have said here, that we tell it together. I am also pursuing my Wholeness in the way I steward my Gifts and my life. My Wholeness being an ecology, a layered beingness with various aspects of me at different stages within the life cycle.
"Layered beingness"--that's good.
So good. So timely for me. Thanks lore.
Love you. Love you.