As a Texan, I thank you, Nadia, for keeping us in your thoughts. Help us to be more conscious that our fellow humans suffer often in silence, and help us to know that not every story is easily told.
Yes! “Not every story is easily told” .. the words I needed to hear today. Our town is dividing deeply over the number of homeless here. From starving invalids to anarchist protesters, we are a city divided, seeming unable to take any productive action. I will use that phrase as a prayer in discernment.
Henri Nouwen spoke of shifting our perspective on life's tests and interruptions, seeing them as challenging our inner response and thereby fostering growth and molding the person we are constantly becoming. I like that "bigger picture" idea.
Not able to do all I used to volunteer wise. Some age related, some Covid related. Lots of perplexity & frustration because of meager resources and effort, so I pray "Dear Lord let today be enough."
Aww Nadia a message my heart so needed to hear.......in the landscape of my soul's journey this lent, all the world's need keeps coming up and it is overwhelming, impossible to discern what am I, a 69 year old quarantined grandmother to do......it has caused me to feel scattered, tense, anxious, troubled........compassion fatigue and judgement for having it puts words to what is going on with me......asking for the nudge for what is mine to do and what is not, and to be okay with that...
Thank you more than you know - my life has turned upside down and though my heart knows I'll survive - I am down to my toes terrified - even knowing that I am Beloved so thank you -
My anxiety is exasperating my inattentive ADHD and I can't imagine how bad it would be if I weren't on meds for both. I can't seem to articulate what I'm feeling or thinking and it's been a bit paralyzing.
Remembering to do the next right thing is my mantra today. One thing at a time.
God's peace y'all♥️May your day and your week be all that you need it to be♥️
For me, when I feel like I'm at the end of my capacity, and despair at the enormity of the work to do threatens to overwhelm me, often what I need is just to adjust my focus, to start closer in, and smaller. Offering myself some compassion counts. Loving up my family counts. Managing to water the plants and clean the cat litter counts. Then I have reignited my commitment to hope, my faith that participating actively, on any level, in steering the possibilities that arise towards more light in the world is how I offer my hands and heart in service of Spirit.
perfect prayer. Waiting to see what the damage may be to my well this morning. hopefully the giant tank is thawed out. thanks for the call for plumbing supplies for Texas.
I love this prayer... I was thinking about compassion fatigue after I read it and what came to mind were all the flights I’ve taken where the pre-flight video says “first secure your own mask before assisting others.” Each time I see the video of the mother putting her own oxygen mask on first, I always wonder if I’d be able to do that, even though if I didn’t, I might pass out. I think compassion fatigue, at least in part, comes from not showing yourself compassion first. I mean, in the case of oxygen, you’re little or no help to other people without it, so it doesn’t seem selfish to attend to yourself first. It’s more difficult though when people are suffering all around you and the things you feel you need in order to regain essential energy isn’t one of the life-sustaining elements on the periodic table. There are so many things I feel guilty letting myself do, or have, these days because of the pandemic…I believe that deep inside us though, we were all born with the ability to discern what is essentially oxygen in disguise…even if they are things like dessert, buying a bike, a haircut, taking an occasional vacation, etc. I know this could easily be used as a justification for being self-centered, but if the “oxygen” you choose ends up helping you love and be there for other people, then that's the test I guess.
Amen. This was SO timely for me. I am now a subscriber - I'm sorry it took this long, but if I ever needed a nudge, this was it for me. I've shared this with two people already. THANK YOU.
As a Texan, I thank you, Nadia, for keeping us in your thoughts. Help us to be more conscious that our fellow humans suffer often in silence, and help us to know that not every story is easily told.
Yes! “Not every story is easily told” .. the words I needed to hear today. Our town is dividing deeply over the number of homeless here. From starving invalids to anarchist protesters, we are a city divided, seeming unable to take any productive action. I will use that phrase as a prayer in discernment.
Henri Nouwen spoke of shifting our perspective on life's tests and interruptions, seeing them as challenging our inner response and thereby fostering growth and molding the person we are constantly becoming. I like that "bigger picture" idea.
Nouwen’s always speaks to me.
James sez "...Consider it joy..."
Not able to do all I used to volunteer wise. Some age related, some Covid related. Lots of perplexity & frustration because of meager resources and effort, so I pray "Dear Lord let today be enough."
Aww Nadia a message my heart so needed to hear.......in the landscape of my soul's journey this lent, all the world's need keeps coming up and it is overwhelming, impossible to discern what am I, a 69 year old quarantined grandmother to do......it has caused me to feel scattered, tense, anxious, troubled........compassion fatigue and judgement for having it puts words to what is going on with me......asking for the nudge for what is mine to do and what is not, and to be okay with that...
Guided not graded -great shift in perspective.
It hit me like a klaxon, that did.
Stopped me in my tracks. P.S. Thanks for the new vocab.
Thank you more than you know - my life has turned upside down and though my heart knows I'll survive - I am down to my toes terrified - even knowing that I am Beloved so thank you -
Help us to do the next right thing. Amen.
My anxiety is exasperating my inattentive ADHD and I can't imagine how bad it would be if I weren't on meds for both. I can't seem to articulate what I'm feeling or thinking and it's been a bit paralyzing.
Remembering to do the next right thing is my mantra today. One thing at a time.
God's peace y'all♥️May your day and your week be all that you need it to be♥️
For me, when I feel like I'm at the end of my capacity, and despair at the enormity of the work to do threatens to overwhelm me, often what I need is just to adjust my focus, to start closer in, and smaller. Offering myself some compassion counts. Loving up my family counts. Managing to water the plants and clean the cat litter counts. Then I have reignited my commitment to hope, my faith that participating actively, on any level, in steering the possibilities that arise towards more light in the world is how I offer my hands and heart in service of Spirit.
Beautiful and loving.
perfect prayer. Waiting to see what the damage may be to my well this morning. hopefully the giant tank is thawed out. thanks for the call for plumbing supplies for Texas.
Guided instead of graded..... and the Truth of this helps set me free! Thank you!
Always remember the ice cream!
looking for a decent peanut butter ice cream, little help please.
Thanks for the lead on how to send help. From far away it is always difficult to know what to do that will really help.
I love this prayer... I was thinking about compassion fatigue after I read it and what came to mind were all the flights I’ve taken where the pre-flight video says “first secure your own mask before assisting others.” Each time I see the video of the mother putting her own oxygen mask on first, I always wonder if I’d be able to do that, even though if I didn’t, I might pass out. I think compassion fatigue, at least in part, comes from not showing yourself compassion first. I mean, in the case of oxygen, you’re little or no help to other people without it, so it doesn’t seem selfish to attend to yourself first. It’s more difficult though when people are suffering all around you and the things you feel you need in order to regain essential energy isn’t one of the life-sustaining elements on the periodic table. There are so many things I feel guilty letting myself do, or have, these days because of the pandemic…I believe that deep inside us though, we were all born with the ability to discern what is essentially oxygen in disguise…even if they are things like dessert, buying a bike, a haircut, taking an occasional vacation, etc. I know this could easily be used as a justification for being self-centered, but if the “oxygen” you choose ends up helping you love and be there for other people, then that's the test I guess.
Amen. This was SO timely for me. I am now a subscriber - I'm sorry it took this long, but if I ever needed a nudge, this was it for me. I've shared this with two people already. THANK YOU.
Help me to recognize and do only the piece of the work you give me to do; no more, no less.