You have a beautiful, divine gift for knowing just what needs to be said, Nadia, and how best, most warmly, and most effectively to say it. That's no small thing, not at all.
I needed this so badly today. Local, state, and national politics have stripped my soul of joy and deadened my hope. Everywhere I turn there are more battles to fight, legislative bills to comment on, candidates to lie to us, and friends who have opinions foreign to me. For me, today is a day to rest, to cry out for peace in my heart, and to be grateful for the lucky abundance that surrounds me when others have so little. Even abundance has a thread of guilt running through it so I will try to unravel it and just be. You were a light for me today.
Just be is a good thing. But I get ya about feeling guilty about abundance. When I think about my own abundance, I remind myself that I have worked so hard for the material goods I have, for shelter, and for the honest relationships I have too. From that, I share kind support for others and donate what I can so that others may benefit.
I thought the original prayer was good. This is divine. Seriously. Thanks for reminding us of the promises, that we all have questions and make demands, and that we can talk like ourselves when we talk to God.
Nadia- your prayer says all, thank you so much for having the courage to write, share, and claim it! The journey is filled with perils for sure, disguised as judges, politicians, and those in power who have forgotten how they got on their pedestals. Perils that shock, hurt, threaten, and tempt us to jump on board instead of courageously standing our ground to be kind, just, and fair. Yes, we need courage to get up in the morning, face the harsh realities, and still march on as Christ followers, knowing that our hope and faith will propel us onward.
I am not "peril-ready." But knowing all of the saints here, that walk with me and around me every day, and Jesus that lives in us, and that you share in so many powerful ways, I'm grateful to be ready to try. Praying.
6 months ago I was kinda volun-told to be the secretary of the 8PM weds night meeting at the Watsonville Fellowship. I was annoyed, definitely felt put out. I am a retired old Mexican woman with 24 years of sobriety who likes to be in her jammies by 9PM. But you know, God's will and all that crap. The Fellowship Hall attracts mostly newcomers and people with court cards. I tell myself I go there to be of service. And I have to find people to come and speak. I go to other meetings with plenty old timers who act like I'm asking the impossible of them when I ask them to come and speak, many say NO, many flake at the last minute. Then I get pissed off at them and call them assholes (not to their face). My term is up at the end of the month (spirit of rotation. YAY) with an option to go for another 6 months. So reading your post made me think about my "Cadillac problem" bullshit, and how I need to just wait and see. P.S. I ALWAYS drag my ass when I have to show up on WED night. And. I ALWAYS feel so fucking awesome at the end of the meeting. Meanwhile, I will wait and have faith in God's will for me.
Love,
Kat
P.S. Wed is trash night and I have to take the trash outside to be picked up in the morning!
A term I came up with during my “bohemian years” in Austin some 30+ years ago when I was younger, more hip, more care free version of myself.
Now my goal is to fade into the concrete, low profile, not drawing any attention to my self and life.
“Don’t touch my bags if you please, Mr customs man”
So I could use some courage now.
My rational side says no days are guaranteed tomorrow as it was back then and everything will be ok, just don’t do anything dumb. I’ll keep repeating that to myself.
Sometimes I have to remember that it isn't that I am a different person than I was, it's that I just have more layers to who I am. Those older versions of me are still me.
Your words always hit the a place in my heart that is in need of what is on your heart to share. Thank you for pouring your thoughts out so generously.
The way you so clearly bust through with all of the “hey, wait”s I think when I read/pray a prayer like that one is relieving and guiding to me. I’m going to share this with my college senior son, who is so in need of this insight! Thank you—
You have a beautiful, divine gift for knowing just what needs to be said, Nadia, and how best, most warmly, and most effectively to say it. That's no small thing, not at all.
I needed this so badly today. Local, state, and national politics have stripped my soul of joy and deadened my hope. Everywhere I turn there are more battles to fight, legislative bills to comment on, candidates to lie to us, and friends who have opinions foreign to me. For me, today is a day to rest, to cry out for peace in my heart, and to be grateful for the lucky abundance that surrounds me when others have so little. Even abundance has a thread of guilt running through it so I will try to unravel it and just be. You were a light for me today.
Just be is a good thing. But I get ya about feeling guilty about abundance. When I think about my own abundance, I remind myself that I have worked so hard for the material goods I have, for shelter, and for the honest relationships I have too. From that, I share kind support for others and donate what I can so that others may benefit.
Yes. Thank you.
Your prayers, Nadia, make me laugh out loud with your honesty and doubt in speaking with God. Thank you.
I thought the original prayer was good. This is divine. Seriously. Thanks for reminding us of the promises, that we all have questions and make demands, and that we can talk like ourselves when we talk to God.
Nadia- your prayer says all, thank you so much for having the courage to write, share, and claim it! The journey is filled with perils for sure, disguised as judges, politicians, and those in power who have forgotten how they got on their pedestals. Perils that shock, hurt, threaten, and tempt us to jump on board instead of courageously standing our ground to be kind, just, and fair. Yes, we need courage to get up in the morning, face the harsh realities, and still march on as Christ followers, knowing that our hope and faith will propel us onward.
I think I am printing this out and framing it! This will be my "Serenity Prayer"! Thanks.
Our church uses this prayer at the end of our service. Mentally it faces us outward.
I am not "peril-ready." But knowing all of the saints here, that walk with me and around me every day, and Jesus that lives in us, and that you share in so many powerful ways, I'm grateful to be ready to try. Praying.
I'm grateful to be ready to try. <-- That to me is faith.
Dear Nadia,
6 months ago I was kinda volun-told to be the secretary of the 8PM weds night meeting at the Watsonville Fellowship. I was annoyed, definitely felt put out. I am a retired old Mexican woman with 24 years of sobriety who likes to be in her jammies by 9PM. But you know, God's will and all that crap. The Fellowship Hall attracts mostly newcomers and people with court cards. I tell myself I go there to be of service. And I have to find people to come and speak. I go to other meetings with plenty old timers who act like I'm asking the impossible of them when I ask them to come and speak, many say NO, many flake at the last minute. Then I get pissed off at them and call them assholes (not to their face). My term is up at the end of the month (spirit of rotation. YAY) with an option to go for another 6 months. So reading your post made me think about my "Cadillac problem" bullshit, and how I need to just wait and see. P.S. I ALWAYS drag my ass when I have to show up on WED night. And. I ALWAYS feel so fucking awesome at the end of the meeting. Meanwhile, I will wait and have faith in God's will for me.
Love,
Kat
P.S. Wed is trash night and I have to take the trash outside to be picked up in the morning!
Every night is trash night for some of us. With you in the struggle. -N
“Caution… Distance Ahead”
A term I came up with during my “bohemian years” in Austin some 30+ years ago when I was younger, more hip, more care free version of myself.
Now my goal is to fade into the concrete, low profile, not drawing any attention to my self and life.
“Don’t touch my bags if you please, Mr customs man”
So I could use some courage now.
My rational side says no days are guaranteed tomorrow as it was back then and everything will be ok, just don’t do anything dumb. I’ll keep repeating that to myself.
Thanks for the courage prayer. Good timing…
Sometimes I have to remember that it isn't that I am a different person than I was, it's that I just have more layers to who I am. Those older versions of me are still me.
“We’re every experience we’ve ever had.” - Anne Lamott.
I like the idea of having more layers to who I am. Thank you for this.
I love this prayer and your response to each part of it. I needed this. Thank you.
Your words always hit the a place in my heart that is in need of what is on your heart to share. Thank you for pouring your thoughts out so generously.
Thank YOU for being here.
Wow. That’s the prayer I needed right this minute. Thank you
The way you so clearly bust through with all of the “hey, wait”s I think when I read/pray a prayer like that one is relieving and guiding to me. I’m going to share this with my college senior son, who is so in need of this insight! Thank you—
This touched my hard heart as I was simply overwhelmed by stuff, life in general thank you seems so very small
Sweetest Jesus, save us.
Amen, Come Lord Jesus.