Having a good cry sounds like it was a sensible plan. We don't have a good theology of suffering or a culture of grieving any more and there is much to grieve in the world right now. How to express that pain while still holding onto hope for each other?
Thank you for courageously sharing. Sending you some spiritual lembas bread from my own "shire".
You are so generous in sharing your heart and prayer. I stay pretty quiet on social media myself, but I lift my voice now to thank you for this post and to assure you that the gentleness, thoughtfulness, and hopefulness of your posts are a welcome bit of candlelight flickering from one window of the Shire to another.
Thank you for sharing your heart ❤️ it brought me comfort and a good reminder of Who holds it all together (including me!) when it seems like all the pieces are falling apart. Thank you Jesus
Thank you for your honesty and raw feeling. For remaining human through so much inhumanity. Here to send all the good things and to hold what we can together 🫂💙
I took a few moments to read this while in the middle of the “When Hemmed In” chapter of Amy Baik Lee’s book This Homeward Ache. So much resonance between the two, even beyond her frequent Tolkien references. And both hold so much relevance to how I, and so many others around me, are holding space for what we can and cannot do in this current tumult. “Every life has some boundaries that should be pushed against, some that can be embraced, and some that must simply be grieved.”
Hello bleeding heart sister, I'm with you. Thank you for you truthful words. The Shire is burning, but we shouder our burdens and carry on, even under the Dark Shadow. Or maybe that's exactly why we do at our best. But like Bilbo I'm still convinced that an happy ending is the best ending and like Sam I'm saying: maybe, maybe Mr Frodo. And Aragorn ecohes: there are always hope.
In all seriousness, thank you. I was holding back tears. Part of it may have been because right as I was reading this, I was listening to the version of Running Up That Hill that plays when Max finally breaks free, but part of it was surely thanks to you baring your heart for us 🤗
I have found that when it’s all too much, I just do the next thing. It’s usually the dishes or laundry or some other just purely physical task that I don’t have to think about ((((hugs))))
You covered so many sentiments that so many of us, including myself, are currently grappling with on a daily basis. You covered so many aspects in such a raw and concise way. You put into words what so many of us are unable to untangle in our minds, let alone break down into words. I am so thankful for your article. It has encouraged me, challenged me, and inspired me. We live in a day where the macro problems of the world swirl around our micro, daily duties and challenges of our personal lives. It’s like walking in knee-deep mud while tending to family, home, errands, doctor visits, etc. For us to have peace in the midst of so much chaos, we must hold tight to the hand of Jesus. While it’s okay to check in and get an overview of world events, we must not constantly mull it over in our minds over and over, for it takes our attention away from living our lives for Christ. What we should mull over is the goodness and faithfulness of God, our hope in heaven and the fact that one day we will be free of all the heartaches and stress of this world with no more pain, no more tears, no more sin, no more evil! I say, “Come, Jesus come,” but until then, let’s push forward and live for Christ!
Having a good cry sounds like it was a sensible plan. We don't have a good theology of suffering or a culture of grieving any more and there is much to grieve in the world right now. How to express that pain while still holding onto hope for each other?
Thank you for courageously sharing. Sending you some spiritual lembas bread from my own "shire".
You are so right! We don't practice grief and travail anymore, and that so weighs on my heart. Thank you for reading, and for your encouragement!
Sometimes, wine helps. But not too much quantity.
Haha I don't partake in wine too much anymore!
You are so generous in sharing your heart and prayer. I stay pretty quiet on social media myself, but I lift my voice now to thank you for this post and to assure you that the gentleness, thoughtfulness, and hopefulness of your posts are a welcome bit of candlelight flickering from one window of the Shire to another.
Thank you Jaymi <3
Thank you for sharing your heart ❤️ it brought me comfort and a good reminder of Who holds it all together (including me!) when it seems like all the pieces are falling apart. Thank you Jesus
Thank you for your honesty and raw feeling. For remaining human through so much inhumanity. Here to send all the good things and to hold what we can together 🫂💙
Such a beautiful expression of despair... my blood and tears trickled into your words and I felt less alone.
I took a few moments to read this while in the middle of the “When Hemmed In” chapter of Amy Baik Lee’s book This Homeward Ache. So much resonance between the two, even beyond her frequent Tolkien references. And both hold so much relevance to how I, and so many others around me, are holding space for what we can and cannot do in this current tumult. “Every life has some boundaries that should be pushed against, some that can be embraced, and some that must simply be grieved.”
Whoa, that is a beautiful and timely quote!
Hello bleeding heart sister, I'm with you. Thank you for you truthful words. The Shire is burning, but we shouder our burdens and carry on, even under the Dark Shadow. Or maybe that's exactly why we do at our best. But like Bilbo I'm still convinced that an happy ending is the best ending and like Sam I'm saying: maybe, maybe Mr Frodo. And Aragorn ecohes: there are always hope.
"What is Mordor?"--Steve Harrington 🤣
In all seriousness, thank you. I was holding back tears. Part of it may have been because right as I was reading this, I was listening to the version of Running Up That Hill that plays when Max finally breaks free, but part of it was surely thanks to you baring your heart for us 🤗
Hahaha I chuckled at the Steve quote. Oh that song wrecks my heart!
Beautifully shared; a quiet thank you from over here ♥️
I have found that when it’s all too much, I just do the next thing. It’s usually the dishes or laundry or some other just purely physical task that I don’t have to think about ((((hugs))))
Reminds me of Frozen 2, do the next right thing! Sometimes that really is all we can do for a bit.
You covered so many sentiments that so many of us, including myself, are currently grappling with on a daily basis. You covered so many aspects in such a raw and concise way. You put into words what so many of us are unable to untangle in our minds, let alone break down into words. I am so thankful for your article. It has encouraged me, challenged me, and inspired me. We live in a day where the macro problems of the world swirl around our micro, daily duties and challenges of our personal lives. It’s like walking in knee-deep mud while tending to family, home, errands, doctor visits, etc. For us to have peace in the midst of so much chaos, we must hold tight to the hand of Jesus. While it’s okay to check in and get an overview of world events, we must not constantly mull it over in our minds over and over, for it takes our attention away from living our lives for Christ. What we should mull over is the goodness and faithfulness of God, our hope in heaven and the fact that one day we will be free of all the heartaches and stress of this world with no more pain, no more tears, no more sin, no more evil! I say, “Come, Jesus come,” but until then, let’s push forward and live for Christ!
Oh my, Alyssa! You put so much of what I am feeling so beautifully into words. Thank you. 🙏
Yup. *nodding my head in agreement*
Thank you for this. At times like these, we need something or Someone to hold onto.
No words - just a gentle hug x