“If you suddenly and unexpectedly feel joy, don't hesitate. Give in to it. There are plenty of lives and whole towns destroyed or about to be. We are not wise, and not very often kind. And much can never be redeemed. Still, life has some possibility left. Perhaps this is its way of fighting back, that sometimes something happens better than all the riches or power in the world. It could be anything, but very likely you notice it in the instant when love begins. Anyway, that's often the case. Anyway, whatever it is, don't be afraid of its plenty. Joy is not made to be a crumb.” Mary Oliver
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Joy is not made to be a crumb. How good is this.
I remember at some point during Anna's first year of life being gently challenged by the Holy Spirit to not think of only the hard things she'll encounter as she grows, but the beautiful things also. Waterfalls, cookie dough, sunsets, great books. In a culture that is steadily collapsing (that's not a pessimistic statement, I mean mostly the fragile world versus the eternal Kingdom of God), life has some possibility left. And I don't want to only pass down to my girls a sense of caution about the world but a sense of wonder as well.
Of adventure. Of joy.
But I've learned lately that the only way I can do that is to stick close to the Lord. If not for Jesus, this kind of life-perspective would feel flimsy and fleeting. But alas, the presence of God can make even eating chocolate chip cookie dough with my 3 year old more enjoyable. And it can make hope and endurance possible in the fact of hard and sad in our cultural day.
That being said, I have a new idea for these emails.
Since not being on Instagram + Facebook, my blog has morphed into a place not only for thoughtful essays on faith and family, but a spot for a short story or photo gallery of a memorable Tuesday. And I really like it.
Maybe you subscribe to these emails to keep up with those very things – details of life inside our home or inside my heart – and I am both delighted and humbled by that, that you want to stay up with me. I consider you a friend.
But a new, different dream is taking shape for these recurring emails.
One of my favorite quotes is by Elisabeth Elliot: “It is God to whom and with whom we travel, and while He is the end of our journey, He is also at every stopping place.”
A stopping place could be a disappointing interruption to my Friday afternoon or a hard lesson or building a habit or a new ministry opportunity or major life event. Isn't it the most worthy of ambitions, to know Him, and in knowing Him, adore Him? I want to become an expert at asking, "God, who are You, here? How can I know You, here?" And I want to share the joys, questions and discoveries with you as I go. I'm thinking of making them a monthly drop in your inbox. Hope you'll stay in. :)
(Designed a logo for it and everything.. #designnerd)
