After Thanksgiving, I’m going to try to pull back into book-writing mode, working within a window of time that ends upon the arrival of newborn lambs in mid-April.
Oh my goodness Adam!! The tears are flowing and no doubt the remaining years of my life will be tilted towards sorting out how to swallow the medicine you write about. Thank you, as always, for your kind and generous way with words (and life.)
Wow! Powerful words, indeed. I have listened to them twice already whilst cooking a meal for my family. I will need to listen several times more , I am sure. To allow the weight of them fully sink in. I always enjoy your letters, but something about this particular piece has struck deeper than usual and knocked me off my feet. Thank you.
I'm glad to hear there was something special about this one. These are some threads that I'm pulling on for the book's sake, and surely this witness/behold/hold complex will make it in there.
Dear Adam, Well witnessed. Glad we can spend some time clearing gunk from our eyes together. Till next time. With a heart heavy enough to keep me here on earth.
Yes, please and thank you! What strikes me most about this amazing creation, Earth and all non-human life, is the “persistent forgiveness,” you speak of, the love thy neighbor (no exceptions), the enduring and unending love on offer. I can feel it from the bluebirds today, as they flitter just a little closer to show us their amazing deep color against the meadow grass and a bit of snow.
I love that grief raised a hand even without being mentioned by name. The gift I'm trying to describe is kissing cousins with grief. Thank you for reflecting.
I prayed for the lives of two willow trees today, big ones, and for one huge trunk to be left to all the beings who inhabit it. I failed. Thank you for putting my attempt to be a good neighbour into words.
So grateful for these posts, Adam! Each one separate and complete in itself, but each one fitting together with others to suggest a solution to the puzzle of existence. The picture is gradually becoming clearer.
As usual, these words cut deep and give me that open-heart-surgery feeling of vulnerability and some discomfort. I am grateful for this. It is what I look for and go toward in life. As someone who has difficulty receiving, the story of the man and the soup helped me realize how when I am paying for something, it denies me the discomfort of receiving. The soup/money trade makes me feel like we're "even," and I can really feel a loss there, in terms of deeper connection with people and also for myself, and my heart- to sit even longer in the discomfort of receiving. Really breathe into it with open eyes, locked upon the givers eyes. Just being there together. That's what I am going to do today. Get some more practice in giving and receiving. Thank you.
Your posts are a lot like your soup stand. I am left feeling grateful with a deep desire and will to pass on whatever I can. Good luck with your book, I look forward to reading it! ♥️
Oh my goodness Adam!! The tears are flowing and no doubt the remaining years of my life will be tilted towards sorting out how to swallow the medicine you write about. Thank you, as always, for your kind and generous way with words (and life.)
Thank you, Heather. I'll be up to the same work you mention over here. I don't anticipate it will be completed in one generation.
Wow! Powerful words, indeed. I have listened to them twice already whilst cooking a meal for my family. I will need to listen several times more , I am sure. To allow the weight of them fully sink in. I always enjoy your letters, but something about this particular piece has struck deeper than usual and knocked me off my feet. Thank you.
I'm glad to hear there was something special about this one. These are some threads that I'm pulling on for the book's sake, and surely this witness/behold/hold complex will make it in there.
This reaches to the depth of the spiritual crisis and shows the power of simple willingness to bear witness.
Even the phrase "bear witness" implies the life-giving labor involved, the way we carry another by not turning away.
Dear Adam, Well witnessed. Glad we can spend some time clearing gunk from our eyes together. Till next time. With a heart heavy enough to keep me here on earth.
Annie
What could be better than to be weighted down in such a way?
Yes, please and thank you! What strikes me most about this amazing creation, Earth and all non-human life, is the “persistent forgiveness,” you speak of, the love thy neighbor (no exceptions), the enduring and unending love on offer. I can feel it from the bluebirds today, as they flitter just a little closer to show us their amazing deep color against the meadow grass and a bit of snow.
Oh yes, those bluebirds. My goodness.
What you point to here may indeed be at the core of how modernity fails: unwitnessing grief. Thank you, thank you for your clarion calls, Adam
I love that grief raised a hand even without being mentioned by name. The gift I'm trying to describe is kissing cousins with grief. Thank you for reflecting.
So timely, to read your words right before “Thanksgiving.” As always, your words split me wide open. I have shared them with my faith community.
I love getting split wide open! Most days I'm on the receiving end of such care, and I'm glad to know I've passed it along.
I prayed for the lives of two willow trees today, big ones, and for one huge trunk to be left to all the beings who inhabit it. I failed. Thank you for putting my attempt to be a good neighbour into words.
Thank you, Pella. You are in my thoughts often. I'm glad you've been praying for the trees.
So grateful for these posts, Adam! Each one separate and complete in itself, but each one fitting together with others to suggest a solution to the puzzle of existence. The picture is gradually becoming clearer.
How to piece/patch/quilt such writing together into a book format will be the winter's challenge. Thank you for your kind note, Mark.
As usual, these words cut deep and give me that open-heart-surgery feeling of vulnerability and some discomfort. I am grateful for this. It is what I look for and go toward in life. As someone who has difficulty receiving, the story of the man and the soup helped me realize how when I am paying for something, it denies me the discomfort of receiving. The soup/money trade makes me feel like we're "even," and I can really feel a loss there, in terms of deeper connection with people and also for myself, and my heart- to sit even longer in the discomfort of receiving. Really breathe into it with open eyes, locked upon the givers eyes. Just being there together. That's what I am going to do today. Get some more practice in giving and receiving. Thank you.
So fertile what you lay out here...God bless you for sharing your insight.
Fertile is a fantastic praise word, and well-received here. Thank you.
Your posts are a lot like your soup stand. I am left feeling grateful with a deep desire and will to pass on whatever I can. Good luck with your book, I look forward to reading it! ♥️
Thank you kindly.