Monday, January 4th, 2021
Hello friends—
Dreaming of Stones: Poems
I wanted to share with you something I read today that caused me to pause and give thought. “Abbey of the Arts” is an email subscription I signed up for at the recommendation from a dear friend. It has brought much joy to me as well as opening up topics for theological discussions. In keeping with my theme of being a “Seeker of unexpected Comfort, Happiness, Joy and Patience and having tried my hand at writing some poetry myself, I was quite taken by this particular entry and poem. May it bless you as it has me.
The author posed two questions and after I mulled over my day, I have shared my answers below.
• What have you “endured, treasured and sparked”?
— I am not sure I would categorize anything I did today as “endured” other than my usual routine. *See “Sparked” below for more.
— I indeed “treasured” something today. No matter how routine I treasure the individuals I have the pleasure of working with day after day. The exception being my favorite co-worker who just happens to be on vacation. I miss him but we all need rest and relaxation from time to time. If fact, I just took a vacation a few weeks ago!
— “Sparked.” Well to be honest, I did endure some sparks today, some positive and some negative. I had a few moments of negative energy that sparked in my day, multiple phone lines ringing with only me to answer. I also had moments of positive sparks, finding items that had been reporting missing, completing tasks on my “To Do” list. Sweet sensation of accomplishments. All in all, it was a well balanced day and I am thankful for each precious minute I was blessed to be a part of.
• What does your life hide and make visible?
— As hard as I think I try at hiding, I’m really quite bad at it. I like to think I hide my temper but at times it is not very well hid. Emotions whether verbal or nonverbal, have a way of expressing themselves. I try to make visible the things I do well, but not in a overly prideful manner. Again, balance. I believe in transparency but even it needs healthy boundaries. I think it’s always good to ask yourself questions… “why should I hide this?” or “why should I make this visible?” Another good questions is, “what is motivating me to do something or not?”
—Proverbs 27:5—
“Better is open rebuke than hidden love.”
—Luke 8:17—
“For nothing is hidden that will not be disclosed, nor is anything secret that will not become known and come to light.”
~Charlotte, Seeker of unexpected Comfort, Happiness, Joy and Patience.
References:
—Proverbs 27—
“Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring. Let another praise you, and not your own mouth— a stranger, and not your own lips. A stone is heavy, and sand is weighty, but a fool’s provocation is heavier than both. Wrath is cruel, anger is overwhelming, but who is able to stand before jealousy? Better is open rebuke than hidden love. Well meant are the wounds a friend inflicts, but profuse are the kisses of an enemy. The sated appetite spurns honey, but to a ravenous appetite even the bitter is sweet. Like a bird that strays from its nest is one who strays from home. Perfume and incense make the heart glad, but the soul is torn by trouble. Do not forsake your friend or the friend of your parent; do not go to the house of your kindred in the day of your calamity. Better is a neighbor who is nearby than kindred who are far away. Be wise, my child, and make my heart glad, so that I may answer whoever reproaches me. The clever see danger and hide; but the simple go on, and suffer for it. Take the garment of one who has given surety for a stranger; seize the pledge given as surety for foreigners. Whoever blesses a neighbor with a loud voice, rising early in the morning, will be counted as cursing. A continual dripping on a rainy day and a contentious wife are alike; to restrain her is to restrain the wind or to grasp oil in the right hand. Iron sharpens iron, and one person sharpens the wits of another. Anyone who tends a fig tree will eat its fruit, and anyone who takes care of a master will be honored. Just as water reflects the face, so one human heart reflects another. Sheol and Abaddon are never satisfied, and human eyes are never satisfied. The crucible is for silver, and the furnace is for gold, so a person is tested by being praised. Crush a fool in a mortar with a pestle along with crushed grain, but the folly will not be driven out. Know well the condition of your flocks, and give attention to your herds; for riches do not last forever, nor a crown for all generations. When the grass is gone, and new growth appears, and the herbage of the mountains is gathered, the lambs will provide your clothing, and the goats the price of a field; there will be enough goats’ milk for your food, for the food of your household and nourishment for your servant-girls.”
HOPE SEEKER 
You must be logged in to post a comment.