In these broken times, I am clinging to John 14:27 so desperately right now.
Peace I leave you; my peace I give you. I do not give you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. – John 14:27 NIV
Everything in the news, from riots to viruses, feels terribly scary.
And I miss my grandmother, whose birthday was May 31st. I was working on a post about her – but I haven’t shared it.
Actually, I have several posts in progress that are collecting dust right now.
I’ll have half or most or all of a piece – but if it’s not current issues it seems inappropriate – and, if it is current events, I fear I won’t find the right words.
Everything just feels broken. . .
At the same time, my SI joint is definitely broken.
It’s been a difficult season and my body is letting me know. It’s healing – but my blood sugar is running amok, bottoming at will, and crazy nerve pain comes and goes, as do insomnia and fatigue. There’s nothing to do but rest and pray and wait.
There are daily antibiotics and lots of home health visits – and the waiting.
It’s just a part of the breaks.
Goodness knows our world feels broken.
On one hand we are looking at just massive police overreach and abuse of power and violence towards protestors. It’s so scary if you are paying attention – and one of those half-finished posts is for anyone who is not.
On the other hand, a police sergeant in my community was murdered on the job this week and I am just terribly sick and sad for him and his family and everyone affected – and also scared for some precious amazing friends who are LEO’s during this unstable time.
I pray for their safety and physical and mental health all the time.
There is no simple answer to all that is wrong.
To all that is broken.
And the people in power don’t even appear to be trying.
They don’t seem to care that it’s broken – and even manage to continue to say and do things to make it much worse.
It’s all been heartbreaking and gut-wrenching for people who care – and I believe most of us do.
Quietly, in the background of the clamoring protests and police in riot gear and images I never imagined I would see, COVID-19 numbers are climbing rapidly.
The global news this morning was unsettling – and, in my state as well as those around us, the picture is not good.
It’s so easy to be overwhelmed right now.
What can anybody do?
As I am homebound – well, really totally spot-bound right now – what can I specifically do?
Pray.
Email and call our elected officials – to remind them of what they are supposed to be doing.
Encourage others on social media.
Learn more to share here.
I can do those things.
Last night, after I had written a good portion of this post, I had to rest from news for a bit. I was just worn out.
So I had a great chat with my Sara Bug.
And snuggled with my Henry.
And hung out with my husband.
And binged ALL of the new season of Queer Eye – and it was SO worth it. ❤
After a news break, I was reminded that it comes down to this.
I’m a big Bob Goff fan – and he’s right. The only way through this big broken mess is to love each other through it and show up for each other the best way we know how.
(As a little summer reading project, if you haven’t read Bob’s book, Love Does, start today. It will do your soul good. If you have read it, restart today. We all need it right now.)
We also have to continue to live brave no matter how scary and broken things seem and to speak the truth that things are not okay. That’s the only way they will change.
We aren’t called to be a people who just stand by and watch injustice occur. No.
Learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression, bring justice to the fatherless, and plead the widow’s cause. – Isaiah 1:17
We have to be brave if we are going to hold up under the weight of this crushing brokenness.
As always, I have a song in my heart – and it’s one of my new very favorites, though it’s not so new now.
It’s from Drew Holcomb – Ellie’s husband – and it’s just my heart at the moment.
I was climbing a mountain, asleep in the moonlight
The ghost of my Grandpa came to me in a dream
As the stars hung above us, he started singing this chorus
He laughed loud as heaven and said this to me
Take a few chances
A few worthy romances
Go swimming in the ocean on New Year’s Day
Don’t listen to the critics
Stand up and bear witness
Go slay all the dragons that stand in your way
We stayed up and talked until the sunrise, of war and love and sorrow
He said, “Stop spending all your money on forgiveness of sins.
Today is all your promised, don’t trouble with tomorrow.”
He faded into the forest proudly, singing this hymp
Take a few chances
A few worthy romances
Go swimming in the ocean on New Year’s Day
Don’t listen to the critics
Stand up and bear witness
Go slay all the dragons that stand in your way
I woke up in a fever, surrounded by lightening
All my windows were open, and I let the rain flood in
The past felt like present, with a future uncertain
But I sang like a sparrow, lost in the wind
Take a few chances
A few worthy romances
Go swimming in the ocean on New Year’s Day
Don’t listen to the critics
Stand up and bear witness.
Go slay all the dragons that stand in your way.
— Dragons. Drew Holcomb. 2019
Slay all those dragons – and stand strong, y’all. ❤
Be well, everybody. Take care of yourselves and each other.
Grace and Blessings.
P. S. I saved this post to proof after a nap – I am just WIPED today – and before I got to it I saw Hannah Brencher’s “Steal This Prayer” for the week and it was just perfect so I wanted to share it with y’all. 🖤
the autoimmune hippie. 