Hallelujah Anyway–Anne Lamott with Reverend Chip Edens
The Five Rules of Being A Grown Up By Tom Weston 1. You must not have anything wrong with you, or anything different about you. 2. If you have something…
Heaven Knows……
My mother’s cancer, age, aging still have not served as a magic wand erasing the effects of continued harshness, which is either not “real”(imagined) or is well earned; my due. There is no where to go with this, but to God and trusted others. It has been expressed that my imagined or well earned injuries could be served well by the correct medication. I think a little kindness and accountability would do the trick. But I am no trained professional. Believing my mental health or over-sensitivity as the only issue keeps them safe from having any responsibility to reflect on their contributions. (more…)
Surrender…. or Try Harder, More, Better
Resignation is not acceptance-- and with my family of origin, this is especially challenging. The collective action and message which remain consistent from them: "eff you, you are unworthy and bad--…
An Invitation to Heal-Repair or Release
I am slowly mining gems of peace from the work of reconciling and healing, I must do on my own. According to Reverend Desmond Tutu; healing and reconciliation do not erase the reality of injuries that occur AND forgiveness is not pretending that what has indeed happened did not happen. “Healing does not draw a veil over the hurt.” For a lifetime I have longed for honest reckoning– which consistently has been denied/attacked by those whom I relate to by virtue of birth….And no matter the diminishing words and behaviors, I remain willing to reconcile–with them.”
An invitation to forgive is an invitation to find healing and peace, not to forget or pretend.” My invitation stands- and is as offensive to them today as it was 25 years ago and 2 years ago and 1 year ago. I will pray for the willingness to remain open to the possibilities of healing in my mother’s lifetime with people who show no promise of being able to sustain a presence beyond celebrations and emergencies. Shutting down would be much easier.