23 Comments
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Heather Blankenship's avatar

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.)

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Adam Wilson's avatar

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.

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Andy Jukes's avatar

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.

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Adam Wilson's avatar

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.

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Pauline McKelvey's avatar

This reaches to the depth of the spiritual crisis and shows the power of simple willingness to bear witness.

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Adam Wilson's avatar

Even the phrase "bear witness" implies the life-giving labor involved, the way we carry another by not turning away.

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K. Annie B.'s avatar

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

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Adam Wilson's avatar

What could be better than to be weighted down in such a way?

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David Brownstein's avatar

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.

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Adam Wilson's avatar

Oh yes, those bluebirds. My goodness.

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Marsha shenk's avatar

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

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Adam Wilson's avatar

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.

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Sally's avatar

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.

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Adam Wilson's avatar

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.

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Pella Thiel's avatar

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.

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Adam Wilson's avatar

Thank you, Pella. You are in my thoughts often. I'm glad you've been praying for the trees.

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Mark Tatlow's avatar

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.

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Adam Wilson's avatar

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.

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Amy Trafford's avatar

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.

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Diana's avatar

So fertile what you lay out here...God bless you for sharing your insight.

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Adam Wilson's avatar

Fertile is a fantastic praise word, and well-received here. Thank you.

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drea.m.r.76's avatar

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! ♥️

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Adam Wilson's avatar

Thank you kindly.

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