I love this message! You've put into words something I've not been able to describe. These past few weeks I've been distracted from worry about the election outcome by worry about meeting deadlines in my job. While it was an odd sort of relief to worry about something that felt more tangible and immediate, it was a waste of energy. Also, when I examined the worry about deadlines, I found that what fueled the worry was anger.
Usually I find fear hiding behind my worries. To be honest, I often discover that fear is hiding behind anger, so I have to deal with that, too, but this anger surprised me because it's what has fed my upset about the election results.
And then my husband surprised me with this insight: "I know it bothers you because you feel like no one hears you, no one is listening."
Yep. I've felt that people at my job weren't listening, that voters in the US weren't listening, and ultimately that God wasn't listening.
But God has been listening all along. I just couldn't hear any words of comfort because I was complaining so loudly.
This is so helpful, Ellie. My spiritual director keeps taking it one step further, telling me to look for the sorrow hiding behind my fear. It hurts, but also helps.
Thanks, Kelly. I'm describing what happens when I apply some 12-Step work to my life. Step 4 is the "fearless and searching moral inventory" that tends to reveal what's hiding behind the surface emotions, and then Step 10 tells us to continue taking that inventory (daily, I think) so that we can let go of resentments and make amends as needed. So, what you’re describing from your spiritual advisor kind of sounds like the same thing. Recovery is hard work because we don't have the luxury of trying to ignore our feelings. (LOL -- as if we could do that in the first place, really!). But my life is better because of it. I mean, it's still hard work and exhausting sometimes, but I recognize that ultimately things are better.
Yes, it does sound similar. Going deeper and deeper on that inventory. I have a friend in recovery who expresses thanks for his addiction, because in his words, “At least I know what I’m recovering from, and the recovery is transforming me.” Blessings upon your 12-step work, Ellie!
Come on, let's face it, all scripture is weird. It begins by saying it began with nothing, zero, zilch, void; and then when **** creates mankind (that is, us) we're totally clueless: unable to follow (very) simple instructions, and start listening to talking snakes. Hmm? I grew up addicted to the late, and very lamented Mad Magazine, and my mantra was, and remains, the same as its grinning poster child, Alfred E. Newman's: "What? Me worry?" There's a lot of hurt in this world, there always has been, None of us since literally DAY ONE asked to be born, and once that "happy coincidence" happens no one, not even the richest, or the nicest, or the "most beautiful, or the kindest, or the baddest, the ugliest, or the meanest, escapes the pain that inevitably comes from being alive. The "secret" to making our lives the least bit bearable remains the same simple instruction: "take care of one another", AKA love.
I laughed out loud at the idea of you reciting the footsteps poem and then tears welled up at the image of God braided into all of time and our voices woven into the voices of all the saints and angels singing Holy Holy Holy. Thank you Nadia. Blessings.
Thank you so very much, Rev. Nadia, for your words of reassurance that, despite the uncertainties of the moment and fears for the future, that God is with us, now as he has been in the past and will be in the future. And to concentrate on what is in front of us, within our grasp and control, and to make the best of it, confident that God has our backs and secure in his love for us and for our wellbeing. Your words of calm reassurance are very welcome and needed in the worry ridden present.
"It's the End of the World as We Know it, and I Feel Fine." --Father Sandy's sermon on yesterday's lesson from Revelation. (Church of Holy Communion, Memphis.)
“but we are not a people of the 24 hour news cycle – we are a people of a sacred story” hit me like a ton of bricks. My eyes widened. What a great thing to always remember! Thank you, Nadia.
You have the gift of putting huge impactful spiritual truths into the vulnerability and transparency of your own life that speaks to our own, my own inner self. I’m a 74 year old guy who had a horrendous life story before knowing Christ and was gloriously saved by the grace and mercies of God. I ended up being called by God to be a pastor when I was 27 years old and went through all the hoops of higher Christian education and seminary getting my MDIV degree which was really all bullshit when it came to loving God and really loving all people and being compassionate and kind the way God had treated me. I can no longer call myself an “evangelical Christian” but so desire to be a follower of Jesus and His ways. Nadia to my chagrin years ago I would have never followed your writings but you are a breath of fresh spiritual air to my old soul and heart. Keep on keeping on with your passionate heart of loving God and people and keeping it transparent and real. I appreciate you very much.
I hear you! BM in organ performance; SMM (Union Theo NYC) conducting; SMM (Jewish Theo NYC) ordained Cantor, taught there for 25 years, and served as a congregational cantor; I too resonate with what Nadia has to say...thank G-d! Must be something there if she speaks to the likes of us.
This is so much more helpful than some other Christian writers who are drowning in their grief and thus pulling us all into their own quicksand. Thank you Nadia! Truly a message for our times.
Thank you Nadia, I was moved to tears while reading this. Especially that reminder that looking back at my story I can see that hand of God always there, not necessarily granting my wishes but as you say, always there, always guiding, bringing me to this point in time where I so often forget to be present and choose to worry. Thank you, thank you.
One of my favorite quotes from Hebrews 13, and I like the King James Version, because of the nice distinction between "will" and "shall" in verse 6:
"5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. 6 So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me... 8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever."
So, humans are going to do simply awful things, but if we stay fixed in the truth of Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever... we will be well. All things may not be well, but we will be.
Nadia, you have a supreme way of plucking out the truth of the stories of Christ. Being raised Jewish and new to this Christ "thing" ...ah but Christ not being new to me (paradox)...I have trouble with parts of the written stories, old and new. You, on the other hand pluck out the juicy truths and let the rest lay. You call BS when you see it and raise truth up from the pages from betwixt and between the more questionable
"seven headed beasts" without throwing out the baby with the bath water. How do you do it? I'd love to see a "how to" piece on taking this most beautiful story of Christ, Love, Forgiveness, Faith, and not feeling dismayed by the "seven headed beasts". Love Robert
I take it to be self-evident that all theology is a collection of opinions about hearsay, and that taking something/anything on faith is equivalent to making it up and saying it is so, and that faith is an opinion that takes itself seriously, and that this leaves us with what Jesus had to work with: Our original nature, our innate virtues (What we do best and enjoy doing most), and our intrinsic intuition in seeing/hearing/knowing what is called for in each situation as it arises and doing/being what needs to be done, when, where and how it needs to be done, no matter what, throughout the time left for living. No one can do more. And it is left to each of us to do as much.
I love this message! You've put into words something I've not been able to describe. These past few weeks I've been distracted from worry about the election outcome by worry about meeting deadlines in my job. While it was an odd sort of relief to worry about something that felt more tangible and immediate, it was a waste of energy. Also, when I examined the worry about deadlines, I found that what fueled the worry was anger.
Usually I find fear hiding behind my worries. To be honest, I often discover that fear is hiding behind anger, so I have to deal with that, too, but this anger surprised me because it's what has fed my upset about the election results.
And then my husband surprised me with this insight: "I know it bothers you because you feel like no one hears you, no one is listening."
Yep. I've felt that people at my job weren't listening, that voters in the US weren't listening, and ultimately that God wasn't listening.
But God has been listening all along. I just couldn't hear any words of comfort because I was complaining so loudly.
This is so helpful, Ellie. My spiritual director keeps taking it one step further, telling me to look for the sorrow hiding behind my fear. It hurts, but also helps.
what a good insight!
It helps me over and over again. 😊
Thanks, Kelly. I'm describing what happens when I apply some 12-Step work to my life. Step 4 is the "fearless and searching moral inventory" that tends to reveal what's hiding behind the surface emotions, and then Step 10 tells us to continue taking that inventory (daily, I think) so that we can let go of resentments and make amends as needed. So, what you’re describing from your spiritual advisor kind of sounds like the same thing. Recovery is hard work because we don't have the luxury of trying to ignore our feelings. (LOL -- as if we could do that in the first place, really!). But my life is better because of it. I mean, it's still hard work and exhausting sometimes, but I recognize that ultimately things are better.
Yes, it does sound similar. Going deeper and deeper on that inventory. I have a friend in recovery who expresses thanks for his addiction, because in his words, “At least I know what I’m recovering from, and the recovery is transforming me.” Blessings upon your 12-step work, Ellie!
Your last paragraph is so true of me, too. Thank you for that insight.
Come on, let's face it, all scripture is weird. It begins by saying it began with nothing, zero, zilch, void; and then when **** creates mankind (that is, us) we're totally clueless: unable to follow (very) simple instructions, and start listening to talking snakes. Hmm? I grew up addicted to the late, and very lamented Mad Magazine, and my mantra was, and remains, the same as its grinning poster child, Alfred E. Newman's: "What? Me worry?" There's a lot of hurt in this world, there always has been, None of us since literally DAY ONE asked to be born, and once that "happy coincidence" happens no one, not even the richest, or the nicest, or the "most beautiful, or the kindest, or the baddest, the ugliest, or the meanest, escapes the pain that inevitably comes from being alive. The "secret" to making our lives the least bit bearable remains the same simple instruction: "take care of one another", AKA love.
I laughed out loud at the idea of you reciting the footsteps poem and then tears welled up at the image of God braided into all of time and our voices woven into the voices of all the saints and angels singing Holy Holy Holy. Thank you Nadia. Blessings.
Just this. This is what we need to remember every day. Thank you once again for sharing where you are right now; it’s where I am too.
Me too.
Thank you so very much, Rev. Nadia, for your words of reassurance that, despite the uncertainties of the moment and fears for the future, that God is with us, now as he has been in the past and will be in the future. And to concentrate on what is in front of us, within our grasp and control, and to make the best of it, confident that God has our backs and secure in his love for us and for our wellbeing. Your words of calm reassurance are very welcome and needed in the worry ridden present.
"It's the End of the World as We Know it, and I Feel Fine." --Father Sandy's sermon on yesterday's lesson from Revelation. (Church of Holy Communion, Memphis.)
I have a friend who sang "Everybody Hurts" in church last week. When R.E.M. is consistently getting into the liturgy, you know times are tough! 😊
Will "Losing my Religion" be next?!?
Ha! Well played!
"Wink" emoji! Going to delve into "Humaning" now...
Will look forward to running into you there, Thayne!
“but we are not a people of the 24 hour news cycle – we are a people of a sacred story” hit me like a ton of bricks. My eyes widened. What a great thing to always remember! Thank you, Nadia.
You have the gift of putting huge impactful spiritual truths into the vulnerability and transparency of your own life that speaks to our own, my own inner self. I’m a 74 year old guy who had a horrendous life story before knowing Christ and was gloriously saved by the grace and mercies of God. I ended up being called by God to be a pastor when I was 27 years old and went through all the hoops of higher Christian education and seminary getting my MDIV degree which was really all bullshit when it came to loving God and really loving all people and being compassionate and kind the way God had treated me. I can no longer call myself an “evangelical Christian” but so desire to be a follower of Jesus and His ways. Nadia to my chagrin years ago I would have never followed your writings but you are a breath of fresh spiritual air to my old soul and heart. Keep on keeping on with your passionate heart of loving God and people and keeping it transparent and real. I appreciate you very much.
I hear you! BM in organ performance; SMM (Union Theo NYC) conducting; SMM (Jewish Theo NYC) ordained Cantor, taught there for 25 years, and served as a congregational cantor; I too resonate with what Nadia has to say...thank G-d! Must be something there if she speaks to the likes of us.
This is so much more helpful than some other Christian writers who are drowning in their grief and thus pulling us all into their own quicksand. Thank you Nadia! Truly a message for our times.
We are stardust. From stardust we have come, to stardust we shall return.
good reminder. thank you.
Thank you Nadia, I was moved to tears while reading this. Especially that reminder that looking back at my story I can see that hand of God always there, not necessarily granting my wishes but as you say, always there, always guiding, bringing me to this point in time where I so often forget to be present and choose to worry. Thank you, thank you.
Thank you! What a wonderful comfort to my "worry". I am blessed to have found you!
One of my favorite quotes from Hebrews 13, and I like the King James Version, because of the nice distinction between "will" and "shall" in verse 6:
"5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. 6 So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me... 8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever."
So, humans are going to do simply awful things, but if we stay fixed in the truth of Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever... we will be well. All things may not be well, but we will be.
Thank you. You make me burst out in song, 🎶 “Joyful Joyful we adore Thee”. 🎶
Nadia, you have a supreme way of plucking out the truth of the stories of Christ. Being raised Jewish and new to this Christ "thing" ...ah but Christ not being new to me (paradox)...I have trouble with parts of the written stories, old and new. You, on the other hand pluck out the juicy truths and let the rest lay. You call BS when you see it and raise truth up from the pages from betwixt and between the more questionable
"seven headed beasts" without throwing out the baby with the bath water. How do you do it? I'd love to see a "how to" piece on taking this most beautiful story of Christ, Love, Forgiveness, Faith, and not feeling dismayed by the "seven headed beasts". Love Robert
I take it to be self-evident that all theology is a collection of opinions about hearsay, and that taking something/anything on faith is equivalent to making it up and saying it is so, and that faith is an opinion that takes itself seriously, and that this leaves us with what Jesus had to work with: Our original nature, our innate virtues (What we do best and enjoy doing most), and our intrinsic intuition in seeing/hearing/knowing what is called for in each situation as it arises and doing/being what needs to be done, when, where and how it needs to be done, no matter what, throughout the time left for living. No one can do more. And it is left to each of us to do as much.