I need my friend from yesterday to turn me right around and make me look honestly at what I am producing and say, “Hey, I think you’ve lost your way a bit, but I’m still on your side, I’m still for you.”
I'm a little hesitant to comment, for fear of running too tangential. . .but this resonated with some thoughts I've been having lately, along the lines of intention versus attention.
I'm finding a lot of loud voices talking about how we ought to live with intention, and I find it stressful at some level. You have to figure out if you are Anne or Diana, and then live it to the hilt.
Attention is something different. Attention can be self-focused, of course, but we know "attendants" to be waiting on the word of someone other. If we are waiting at attention to God. . .there's a peace in that for me. I don't have to figure out or decide, or type-cast myself. That it's not about being intentional to be who I am, but about paying attention to who I was created by, and His intent in how He created me.
I don't think that in any way takes away from the fact that it is helpful to remind ourselves that not being the stage-takers or the wave riders can be a very good place to be, or that sometimes an outside perspective of a close friend helping us to see when our vision has become clouded is very necessary. Just as an addition, a parallel thought, that . . . I don't know. Sometimes I think it is easy to lose sight of the fact that none of us are the main character, but all of us in attendance to God. Or that all of us ARE a main character, in the eyes and heart of God who created us. That the author who is writing the book isn't us, so we don't have to be urgent about managing the cast and plot.
“I found and find myself seeing the merits of every other person and their lives and their arguments and their portion, and find mine lacking every single time. No matter what I choose, I believe I have chosen wrong, I am doing it wrong.”
Everyone needs at least one friend in a particular instance who can gently guide us back to ourselves in a lost moment. Thank you for being brave enough and so beautifully honest in doing so.
Lore, this is so relatable. If I had to guess, even Ann, Laura, and Jo look at themselves and hear the common refrain, "not enough". I've heard it all my life. I'm still wrestling to believe I don't have to be enough. Because Christ is.
Thank you for putting your wise and beautiful words into the world!
(PS I found you through your hope*writers interview a few weeks ago)♥️
❤️ I always wanted to be Anne Shirley, too, or any of those fiesty heroines. (More of an Emily of New Moon, myself.) This piece is a good reminder for us quieter, slower folk. Thanks :)
It’s my belief and observation that those who own the role of “tree backer” are often gifted with an ability to see, to connect the dots in the lives of those in their circle, and bring words of wisdom and/ or words of knowledge. Which only those gifted by Spirit can provide. That is a beautiful and deeply meaningful calling. One which profoundly blesses others. I speak this over you, Lore, not knowing of certainty if I am on target, but this is what I heard as I read this accounting.
How many times would I have benefitted from a friend like you had, who told you what is not you. I’ve said those words out loud many times, “if only someone who knew me had placed their hands on my shoulders, faced me, and told me, ‘this is not you!’l You are blessed. You are a blessing.
This reflects so much of who I am, who I’ve been, who I might become. Thank you.
I literally wore my older sister’s too big clothes for years, folding and belting and pinning to make them fit.
I'm a little hesitant to comment, for fear of running too tangential. . .but this resonated with some thoughts I've been having lately, along the lines of intention versus attention.
I'm finding a lot of loud voices talking about how we ought to live with intention, and I find it stressful at some level. You have to figure out if you are Anne or Diana, and then live it to the hilt.
Attention is something different. Attention can be self-focused, of course, but we know "attendants" to be waiting on the word of someone other. If we are waiting at attention to God. . .there's a peace in that for me. I don't have to figure out or decide, or type-cast myself. That it's not about being intentional to be who I am, but about paying attention to who I was created by, and His intent in how He created me.
I don't think that in any way takes away from the fact that it is helpful to remind ourselves that not being the stage-takers or the wave riders can be a very good place to be, or that sometimes an outside perspective of a close friend helping us to see when our vision has become clouded is very necessary. Just as an addition, a parallel thought, that . . . I don't know. Sometimes I think it is easy to lose sight of the fact that none of us are the main character, but all of us in attendance to God. Or that all of us ARE a main character, in the eyes and heart of God who created us. That the author who is writing the book isn't us, so we don't have to be urgent about managing the cast and plot.
“I found and find myself seeing the merits of every other person and their lives and their arguments and their portion, and find mine lacking every single time. No matter what I choose, I believe I have chosen wrong, I am doing it wrong.”
Same.
Everyone needs at least one friend in a particular instance who can gently guide us back to ourselves in a lost moment. Thank you for being brave enough and so beautifully honest in doing so.
Thank you. Even us Anne Shirleys need this reminder. I will be pondering the Buechner quote this weekend.
Lore, this is so relatable. If I had to guess, even Ann, Laura, and Jo look at themselves and hear the common refrain, "not enough". I've heard it all my life. I'm still wrestling to believe I don't have to be enough. Because Christ is.
Thank you for putting your wise and beautiful words into the world!
(PS I found you through your hope*writers interview a few weeks ago)♥️
❤️ I always wanted to be Anne Shirley, too, or any of those fiesty heroines. (More of an Emily of New Moon, myself.) This piece is a good reminder for us quieter, slower folk. Thanks :)
It’s my belief and observation that those who own the role of “tree backer” are often gifted with an ability to see, to connect the dots in the lives of those in their circle, and bring words of wisdom and/ or words of knowledge. Which only those gifted by Spirit can provide. That is a beautiful and deeply meaningful calling. One which profoundly blesses others. I speak this over you, Lore, not knowing of certainty if I am on target, but this is what I heard as I read this accounting.
How many times would I have benefitted from a friend like you had, who told you what is not you. I’ve said those words out loud many times, “if only someone who knew me had placed their hands on my shoulders, faced me, and told me, ‘this is not you!’l You are blessed. You are a blessing.