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vonda drees

journaling the Spirit's stirring

Women of the ELCA

All Anew – Women of the ELCA Triennial

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“By the tender mercy of God, the dawn from on high will break upon us, to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.” —Luke 1:78-79 For now, curl up in me... later you will be called to stand up straight, be brave and shine like the sun. #vondadreesart

“When suffering knocks at your door and you say there is no seat for him, he tells you not to worry because he has brought his own stool.” —Chinua Achebe We know this: heartache and suffering come with Love. Ilia Delio writes about embracing the sufferings of our lives, from the little sufferings to the big ones: “it means entering into darkness, the unknowns of our lives, and learning to trust the darkness, for the tenderness of divine love is already there. It means [being] willing to sacrifice all that we have for all that we can become in the power of God’s love...” “Source of Transformation, there are seeds of new life hidden in my deepest self. Let me not run from the loss that enables these seeds to grow. Help me access my resilience and courage so I enter into the dyings that bring life.” —Joyce Rupp #vondadreesart

Joyce Rupp writes of releasing and receiving in my reading this morning. Richard Rohr writes, “There is a cruciform shape to reality, it seems. Loss precedes all renewal; emptiness makes way for every new infilling; every transformation in the universe requires the ‘surrendering’ of a previous ‘form.’” “Everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new.” —2 Cor 5:17 “May my being, in its self-offering to you, become ever more open and more transparent to your influence!” —Teilhard de Chardin Let us learn to fall fearless and fly free into the mysterious oneness of love. #vondadreesart

“I can dwell in this home as if it were a heart. When I feel that pulse I know that all that comes to me will also go. Living in this stream I understand You are my life blood. Let me feel You course through me, through this door, throughout my life.” —Gunilla Norris #vondadreesart

Pondering hair-raising goosebumps... their evolution over time, how they come to be. It’s fascinating. There is an opening of my soul when I ponder the why. “The breeze at dawn has secrets to tell you. Don’t go back to sleep... People are going back and forth across the doorsill where the two worlds touch. The door is round and open. Don’t go back to sleep.” —Rumi #vondadreesart

Joyce Rupp in Open the Door writes about choices on the threshold, how they “stretch from the soul and into the heart of God.” I’ve been pondering the practice of stretching. How is it that the act of reaching further brings us closer? This song, Keening for the Dawn... https://stevebell.com/story-of-keening-for-the-dawn/. Wow. What a gift of the morning... Thank you, Paul Neely, for including it in today’s Global Christian Worship blog. #vondadreesart

Today’s reading for my online journaling course is about waiting. Rupp includes a quote from Neil Douglas-Klotz: “This is not the sudden opening of a door...” Brought to mind are the phrases: steady presence and silky attention. ...For you I wait all day long —Psalm 25:5 #vondadreesart

Contemplating advent, thresholds, guardian angels... and Love that precedes existence, that pours out, that buoys us always, inviting us to the overflowing whee!-ness of life and love. “Incarnation has to be plunged into the very realities of life and death and risk... to be incarnation. This is a seedy, soiled, dripping, hoofed, pawed, finned, fingernailed, pulsating, fleshy business. ... it is into this gritty life-filled reality that the great self-emptying Lover has poured.” —Alana Levandoski Whee! Here we go, Everyone... it’s Advent! #vondadreesart

Teach me your paths that lead to life. #vondadreesart

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