No one has it all figured out. Each of us is on a journey. Yesterday I had the privilege of going to a fundraising breakfast for a local counselling centre, and hearing bits and pieces of other people's stories. Stories which were from their real lives, which were full of hurt and rawness. Some of the stories made me uncomfortable, how much worse for the person who had to live it.
There is so much confusion, so much potential for bitterness and anger. But the thing which gave each of these people healing and hope was that there was someone willing to enter into their story. Not necessarily give advice, but sit with, listen to, ask questions, and acknowledge.
Jesus does that with us. We are all at such different places with what and how we think. With what we believe and with what we have experienced. But He meets us in our stories, He doesn't usually take us right out of the story, or "fix"/heal everything all at once. But He redeems every part of the story that we let Him. He is not uncomfortable with our past, or our mistakes, or with our shame. He enters in to join us where we are, to love us as we are, and to create out of something broken, something beautiful.
And then He makes us able to sit with others, where they are at, entering into their stories, and being part of that ongoing redemptive process.
Thursday, 25 February 2016
On being barren
Tonight, I was over at a friends' house. A home where I have been made part of the family, whom I love so much.
As I was sitting and chatting with my friend on her couch, her three girls were up in their room, talking and arguing as sisters tend to do; we overheard the following exchange.
The eldest was tormenting her middle sister, as older sisters know how to do so so well, ( I remember doing similar things to my own sister) with reasonable truth, which was that they are sisters.
The older was calling the younger "sis", which the younger, who was tired and somewhat past reason, was protesting. In the midst of her trying to reason her sister into accepting that they were in fact sisters the following was said:
" But we are sisters. We have the same mom, and the same dad, and the same Kirsten. See, you are my sister! "
Undisputable, lovely, heart warming logic. I am their Kirsten!
Galatians 4:27
For it is written: "Be glad, O barren woman, who bears no children; break forth and cry aloud, you who have no labour pains; because more are the children of the desolate woman than of her who has a husband."
This may be out of context, but this rings true in my heart tonight.
God is good!
As I was sitting and chatting with my friend on her couch, her three girls were up in their room, talking and arguing as sisters tend to do; we overheard the following exchange.
The eldest was tormenting her middle sister, as older sisters know how to do so so well, ( I remember doing similar things to my own sister) with reasonable truth, which was that they are sisters.
The older was calling the younger "sis", which the younger, who was tired and somewhat past reason, was protesting. In the midst of her trying to reason her sister into accepting that they were in fact sisters the following was said:
" But we are sisters. We have the same mom, and the same dad, and the same Kirsten. See, you are my sister! "
Undisputable, lovely, heart warming logic. I am their Kirsten!
Galatians 4:27
For it is written: "Be glad, O barren woman, who bears no children; break forth and cry aloud, you who have no labour pains; because more are the children of the desolate woman than of her who has a husband."
This may be out of context, but this rings true in my heart tonight.
God is good!
Sunday, 14 February 2016
Lentement
Dearest friends,
I apologise for my absence. It has been too long! I had all but forgotten about this old corner of the (cob)web(ed) space.
I have taken in mind to reenter this land of sharing the good things of my life with you.
At least for the season of lent.
I am somewhat delayed, as lent did after all begin on Wednesday and it is now Sunday... However, better late than never!
First let me remind you that God answers prayer! Significant prayers, prayers of provision, prayers where we stand and trust and He moves on our behalf!
Thanks be to God!!!
Second, let me ask you, where has God been faithful in your life?
Keep praying!
Ephesians 3:20-21
Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
I apologise for my absence. It has been too long! I had all but forgotten about this old corner of the (cob)web(ed) space.
I have taken in mind to reenter this land of sharing the good things of my life with you.
At least for the season of lent.
I am somewhat delayed, as lent did after all begin on Wednesday and it is now Sunday... However, better late than never!
First let me remind you that God answers prayer! Significant prayers, prayers of provision, prayers where we stand and trust and He moves on our behalf!
Thanks be to God!!!
Second, let me ask you, where has God been faithful in your life?
Keep praying!
Ephesians 3:20-21
Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
Monday, 16 June 2014
On turning 30
You're probably thinking: It's about time!
And you're right of course...
Birthdays are all about time,
right on time, every time!
Cheers!
And you're right of course...
Birthdays are all about time,
right on time, every time!
Cheers!
Wednesday, 2 April 2014
Saturday, 22 March 2014
Relationships on the Potters' Wheel
I am taking a pottery class.
It's not one of those hippy, make what you feel pottery classes.
The prof. cares about technique, which is good.
Frustrating, but good.
We throw the lump onto the wheel.
Clay which has been wedged into somewhat of a cone, rounded on the bottom, and firmly pressed into the wheel, with two hands, as it spins.
One must be firm with clay. It will get away from you, quickly.
As soon as it is off centre, it will fight you, and resist your gentle nudging.
Only concentrated effort, elbows stabilized on your knees, heels of your hands holding their ground forcing the unruly clay into a cone like shape and down again into a flattened cylinder on the wheel. This is to strengthen the clay by aligning its particles like shingles overlapping one another.
To open the pot, a deceptively easy looking technique, you just make a dent in the top and push down with your fingers straight. The wheel turns, fast or slow depending on the pressure your foot applies to the pedal. Going deeper, is yet another opportunity for disaster.
Building the walls of the pot is called doing pulls. You try keeping a wheel turning moderately quickly with steady pressure from your foot, while pulling up gently but firmly on clay -applying pressure with one hand and supporting the roll of clay which is created with the other. Building up the walls and shaping them is nerve wracking business.
It is neither clean nor easy, and often I find myself holding my breath, hoping that I will not make the false move that completely destroys the pot.
Exciting though, to build something, imperfect, but beautiful (and stronger than you might think).
It's not one of those hippy, make what you feel pottery classes.
The prof. cares about technique, which is good.
Frustrating, but good.
We throw the lump onto the wheel.
Clay which has been wedged into somewhat of a cone, rounded on the bottom, and firmly pressed into the wheel, with two hands, as it spins.
One must be firm with clay. It will get away from you, quickly.
As soon as it is off centre, it will fight you, and resist your gentle nudging.
Only concentrated effort, elbows stabilized on your knees, heels of your hands holding their ground forcing the unruly clay into a cone like shape and down again into a flattened cylinder on the wheel. This is to strengthen the clay by aligning its particles like shingles overlapping one another.
To open the pot, a deceptively easy looking technique, you just make a dent in the top and push down with your fingers straight. The wheel turns, fast or slow depending on the pressure your foot applies to the pedal. Going deeper, is yet another opportunity for disaster.
Building the walls of the pot is called doing pulls. You try keeping a wheel turning moderately quickly with steady pressure from your foot, while pulling up gently but firmly on clay -applying pressure with one hand and supporting the roll of clay which is created with the other. Building up the walls and shaping them is nerve wracking business.
It is neither clean nor easy, and often I find myself holding my breath, hoping that I will not make the false move that completely destroys the pot.
Exciting though, to build something, imperfect, but beautiful (and stronger than you might think).
dancing
Oh, what place is this!
This place of freedom -
of sunlight on bare arms...
of stretch and bend, quick jumps and slow turns.
I love to dance.
Movement, under my control,
or led.
Weight transfers,
and balance,
breath and bend and stretch.
To dance is such a gift!
Today, as I moved -
stumbling yet graceful
across the kitchen floor,
I was content.
Sun streaming in,
pondering as I let my body move me
towards an understanding.
Sustained dancing requires more training,
more effort, and practice.
It requires strength,
yet flexibility,
dynamic balance
and graceful stillness.
Like an adventure, this dance,
this life, that I have been given requires strength -
to sustain the ongoing forward movement;
flexibility - to limit not the movement I so love; and
balance as I am propelled, in directions I do not always know.
Effort, but how worthwhile to be part of the dance!
This place of freedom -
of sunlight on bare arms...
of stretch and bend, quick jumps and slow turns.
I love to dance.
Movement, under my control,
or led.
Weight transfers,
and balance,
breath and bend and stretch.
To dance is such a gift!
Today, as I moved -
stumbling yet graceful
across the kitchen floor,
I was content.
Sun streaming in,
pondering as I let my body move me
towards an understanding.
Sustained dancing requires more training,
more effort, and practice.
It requires strength,
yet flexibility,
dynamic balance
and graceful stillness.
Like an adventure, this dance,
this life, that I have been given requires strength -
to sustain the ongoing forward movement;
flexibility - to limit not the movement I so love; and
balance as I am propelled, in directions I do not always know.
Effort, but how worthwhile to be part of the dance!
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