Tuesday, July 2, 2019

In Which I Share 6 Unprocessed Thoughts

Dear Friends ~

This is one of those mornings when that old yearning to connect with you is strong ... and maybe urgent ... but in the best of ways.

But believe it or not, I'm not sure what to say.  Except to share these six subjects currently gently ricocheting between mind and heart, yet not entirely processed and massaged enough to merit an actual post



1.  I'm pulling together a list of my best ever summertime reads so your beachbag will overflow with worthwhile volumes.


2.  I'm emerging from 2 1/2 weeks with family in and out, back and forth.  I'm still sifting through the all the laughter and activity, the energy expended, the memories crafted.  But most especially, I'm cherishing the quiet one-on-one moments that cropped up, both well planned and totally unexpectedly, that filled my heart to overflowing.


3.  I could talk about some of the lessons I'm re-learning as I read through the book of Matthew in The Message.  About how God can give us a powerful spiritual legacy even when we've screwed up big time {1:6}.  The command to stop calling attention to ourselves {6:1}.  The need to stop playing the judgmental know-it-all {7:1}.


4.  And then there's prayer.  Pounding on heaven's door for those saints who are living with deep and chronic physical pain and those precious souls, young and old, who live with ongoing brain health issues.  It's often a futile search to find the right words so more and more I'm simply sitting quietly with God repeating, Lord, have mercy, Christ have mercy.



5.  I know I'll shed a few tears at the July 4th parade when the bagpipers come parading down the street ... and I'll think of how much my dad reveled in that kind of noisy pageantry and how much I miss him.  It'll be four years next week since God suddenly took him home as he cleaned up the kitchen after dinner ... the day after we moved to the Cape to do life with him and my mom.


6.  And then there's the refugee crisis.  God have mercy ... all I can do is send you right over to Christianity Today to lament with Max Lucado and other spiritual leaders in Grieving Our Broken Border.




That's all for today.  I hope this holiday finds you well, grateful, content ... wherever you may be physically, emotionally, spiritually.

Bless you, bless your home, bless your gatherings ~
Linda


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visiting with
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28 comments:

  1. Ahh, the bagpipes . . . Always bring me to tears, too, Linda. And I sure hear you about missing your dad; mine's been gone for five years, and I don't think I'll ever stop missing him.
    May your Fourth be joyful and blessed!

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    1. Ah, I knew I wasn't the only one with the bagpipes ... and missing my dad. You're right, this is a loss that doesn't go away.

      Grateful for someone who understands, friend.

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  2. To describe it's something of a duty,
    but from my lips there come no sounds
    to tell of this stark dying beauty
    from a place where Love abounds.
    I'm bleeding from a thousand cuts,
    but exsanguination carries grace
    that only lives where pain abuts
    the view unto a holy Face.
    Now I see my God so clearly,
    feel His warmth, His gentle touch,
    but my grandest words are merely
    posturing, insufficient , far too much.
    To tell of what, at last, I'm seeing
    needs full immersion in His Being.

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    1. 'Full immersion in His Being.'

      Yes, friend. May we do so while we still have breath.

      Thank you for showing us how.

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  3. Thanks for sharing your thoughts:) Glad someone else has them richoceting around like that! Hoping you find joy when you hear the bagpipes!!

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    1. Yep, there'll be a bittersweet response to the old familiar Scottish songs.

      * sigh *

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  4. I like the notion of sharing unprocessed thoughts. As I consider it, I think most of the thoughts I share are unprocessed but it seems the sharing is what helps them take shape and form. Thank you for sharing yours. They are a sweet glimpse into your heart.

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    1. You're absolutely spot on, Debby. It's in the sharing and the affirming words from other writers that we find something worth savoring.

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  5. Thanks, friend, for gifting us simply with a desire to "be" with us. Have a blessed week as you recall the sweet legacy your dad left behind in you.

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    1. A desire to be together ... for sure! Even if it can't be in person, this will have to do for now ...

      ;-}

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  6. Your thoughts make me so happy! I'll look forward to your summertime reads list. I just finished "I Let You Go" last night and was spellbound the last 100 pages. I rarely read that many pages without stopping, but it happened. :) Praying for you on the 4th as you remember your dad. And grieving with you over the refugees.

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    1. We do love comparing reading lists with each other, don't we, Lisa ...

      I'll roll up my sleeves in the next few days and hope it'll show up here next week.

      Delete
  7. It's amazing how in the relaxing summer days our thoughts still stir and ricochet. So glad you shared them!

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  8. Joining you in the processing and the praying.

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    1. I find myself in good company here with you.

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  9. I love that you let us in to your random thoughts exactly where you are. Praying with you, friend!

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    1. I'm thinking those are our best posts when we're sharing where we're coming from without alot of filters.

      Have been loving your posts this summer ... fun and profound at the same time!

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  10. May your summer continue to have those joyful, unexpected but precious moments making memories with those who God has given you to share and do life with!

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    1. It's oh so quiet right now. I have very mixed emotions, Lynn ...

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  11. I sure love when you just pop into my inbox. Your random thoughts mirror how I think most days and I love that you just laid it out there for all of us. Bagpipers make me cry every time with their melancholy and rich notes. All the feelings come to the surface. Happy 4th, my friend!

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    1. I'd be glad to share a box of tissues with you anytime, friend ...

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  12. You had your dad longer than I so my memory of him has faded, sorry to say. My love still surfaces but hard to picture him and his life. Weep for your loss and don’t ever tell yourself you can’t.

    Of course the refuge/migrant article is emotionally overwhelming just like an article I just read about a woman claiming “I love abortion.” That slippery slope is, too, way out of control. How our Father in Heaven must lament at what we do to each other. I can’t comprehend the magnitude of such cruelty.

    On a lighter note, thank God for our freedom even though many abuse it. Enjoy your 4th celebrations.

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    1. Yes, God hates injustice and the abuse and neglect of those most fragile amongst us. He calls us to lament and to action ... and He weeps with us.

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  13. I read that article with excerpts from different writers in Christianity Today - very well written and so very sad. 

    * via email *

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  14. Hello there, Linda. I know it's been like forever. I do notice you as you still pop into my inbox but everything in my inbox remains very much unattended to. I am slowly reemerging or figuring out how to reconnect. I am writing again. I'm not stopping by only to get you to stop by my space-- writing just really makes me think of sweet friends I made in the blogging world. Sending hugs your way. Much love, Beth

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    1. Beth, oh, Beth! I can't begin to tell you what a delight it is to see you out and about. You've made my day!

      God has kept you not all that far away from my mind and I look forward to reconnecting the days ahead.

      Bless you ...

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