life: acoustic & amplified

poetry, quotes & thoughts about life

Archive for the category “Solitude”

17 Apr 2012
1 Comment

even so…come quickly

For seeing that something always comes
to fill the empty places.
For making spaces,
and not being afraid of
the empty places —
for letting all the moments be
these empty containers
sure of the filling of God.

– Ann Voskamp
http://www.aholyexperience.com/

I have waited a lot over the years, for many different reasons. In 1997 I stepped out in a leap of faith, and my life exploded in ways I certainly never expected and I began a walk of faith that has been quite an incredible journey with God. It certainly was not what I would have picked for myself, yet, I do not question the way. As the song, Heal the Wound says, ‘I have not lived a life that boasts of anything, and I don’t take pride in what I’ve done, But I’ll build an alter with the rubble that you found me in, and every stone will sing of what you can redeem.’

In 2008 I waited on God for 52 days. It was an indescribably difficult time, in so many ways, and it changed me. It took my relationship with God and my faith to a new level. It was a time of learning and trusting God way beyond anything I had ever done before, and it set incredible things in motion over these next years. It took me to places of growth and healing that I did not expect, yet and so grateful for.

As you can probably tell by this blog over the past week or so – I am at another place of waiting, and, as I walk thorough it I am so thankful I have the prior experiences to encourage me as I walk through this time. Yes, patience is a virtue because it’s HARD!!! haha Certainly doesn’t come naturally for me…how about you? I want to make things happen! Shake up the people involved! Get something resolved – RIGHT NOW!!!! And yet I know, if I wait on God, if I am patient, it will be the right resolution, not just an end, or a beginning. Living with faith, having patience, putting life’s tough issues into God’s hands – then not worrying about them, and just waiting for Him is a practice of strength, discipline and courage – it is a choice which adds maturity, peace, joy, abundance, and so many other great benefits to our lives. It also allows us to grow in intimacy with God in ways that are like nothing else we experience.

As I read Ann’s words above, I, too, am sure (and eager) of the filling…and so I wait…

Posted in Becoming Yourself, Beginning, Beliefs, Blessing, Change, Choice, create, Encouragement, Faith, find art at pinterest, Grieving, Growth, inspiration, kindness, Life, Love, Patience, People, Poetry, power, Prayer, quiet, Quotes, Reality, Reflection, Relationships, Respect, Solitude, strength, success, Tenderness, thankfulness, Thoughts, time, Today, Trust, truth, Vulnerability
16 Apr 2012

It’s more…

WHEN GOD IS SILENT

Gentle Pilgrim,

do not be anxious in those times

when your prayers are struck dumb

and God falls silent.

Do not worry when you walk among ruins

longing for an explanation,

when you break your questions

against the hard darkness,

when the ears of your heart

stop up like wells of clay,

when you listen and hear

nothing.

Take heart: you have not

been cut off,

you have fallen into the

deep green pool

at the center of the world

where there is no language,

only presence.

You have passed out of the

market of words

and into the hands of God.

Wrap the silence around you

like a prayer shawl,

this communion with mysteries too great

to be compressed into the paper cups of words.

Be still, and trust God’s mute embrace,

God’s sigh too deep for words,

God’s presence,

beyond all explanation.

_______________________________

Copyright © 2009
Steve Garnaas-Holmes
unfoldinglight@hotmail.com

http://songsfromthevalley.com/September-09-2.18-Alone.pdf

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15 Apr 2012
1 Comment

Worry is not a necessary part of life

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The spiritual life is a life that is guided by God’s Spirit, the same Spirit that guided the life of Jesus. So, how can we be in touch with the Spirit, hear the voice of the Spirit, and allow ourselves to be guided by the Spirit?
Can we create some space for God where we can hear, feel, and experience the Spirit of God, and where it becomes possible for us to respond? Is there space in our lives where the Spirit of God has a chance of getting our attention?
We fill our inner space with worry about things that might happen and guilt about things that have already happened. And beneath our worry and our guilt there is a deep fear of empty spaces.
When we create an empty space, we make room for something to happen to us that we cannot predict, something that might be really new.

– Henri Nouwen
http://www.henrinouwen.org/

Posted in Alone, Becoming Yourself, Beginning, Beliefs, Blessing, Choice, commitment, confidence, courage, determination, Encouragement, Faith, find art at pinterest, Freedom, Gratitude, Growth, Habits, healing, inspiration, Letting Go, Life, Love, Patience, Peace, People, Prayer, quiet, Reality, Reflection, Relationships, Respect, Solitude, strength, success, Tenderness, thankfulness, Thoughts, time, Today, Trust, truth, Vulnerability, words, worry
13 Apr 2012
1 Comment

Into the silence

I am still
I wait
I pray
I clean
I am alone
– for the most part
Solitary
– even in a crowd

I wish for it
– interruptions come
some enjoyable
some annoying
I am present, yet not

I know the answer will come
I know movement is coming
but for now
It is the silence
That I embrace
and endure
with patience
and courage
at other times I have even been cheerful during this time
but not this time

This time,
I am in mourning
Grief surrounds my heart
heavy sadness
– for choices made
– being made even now

I long for intimacy
I long to be the choice
I wish I could help
but I can’t

Only God can do what needs to be done
– and He can only do it if the choice is made by you
– to ask, seek, knock – even the slightest opening He can transform
the choice is personal and must be freely made

and so we wait –
me and God
Jesus puts his arm around my shoulders
and pulls me close
I feel the Spirit holding my heart and bringing me comfort
I close my eyes and hear his promise,
‘I will never leave you or forsake you’
and my sadness is blurred
with the surge of peace and joy

The silence is good
we know each other here
in the waiting
we have been here many times before
I have learned to wait
– Even enjoy this path
the answer will come soon enough
this is the place of intimacy and trust
where we know each other most

Life will move forward
and I will spring into action
and do what is being set for me to do in my waiting

I do not question the way
– I am a willing vessel
Mine was a shattered life
which has known your healing touch
you, so lovingly, put my pieces together again
and mended me with love

My God knows the way
– mine is a heart of thankfulness
I am the grateful follower
waiting to love you and share with whomever I can
Not for any other reason except love

You have allowed me to glimpse
My belovedness
My value
The value of each soul you have created
The depths of your love is unending

I desire only to please you
My creator, my savior, my lover, my friend

I long to share this love
with the ones you allow me to

And so I wait
I stay in the silence
until my answer comes
and God speaks
I am listening, Lord
As You have before,
Speak when you are ready

AL 4/13/12

Posted in Alone, Becoming Yourself, Beginning, Beliefs, Blessing, Career, Change, Choice, commitment, courage, determination, do, Encouragement, Faith, find art at pinterest, Freedom, Gratitude, Grieving, Growth, Habits, Happiness, healing, inspiration, Joy, Letting Go, Life, Lonely, Losing, Love, Miracles, Passion, Patience, Peace, People, Poetry, Prayer, Purpose, quiet, Reality, Reflection, Relationships, Respect, Solitude, strength, success, Tears, Tenderness, thankfulness, Thoughts, time, Today, Trust, truth, Uncategorized, Vulnerability, worry
11 Apr 2012
2 Comments

No matter what – Jesus will still be there

This morning I am reading Still: Notes on a Mid-Faith Crisis, and the words of Laura F. Winner resound in my heart –

And again, to church. Sometimes I cannot say much about why I go to church other than what people who go to the gym say: I always feel better once I’m there; I feel better after; it is always good for me, not in a take-your-vitamins way, in a chidingly moralistic way, but in a palpable way. Perhaps this is to turn religion into therapy. But church is therapy, that is one of the many things it is, and as my friend Mike once told me, the real problem lies not in recognizing the therapeutic balm of the gospel; the real problem is going through life thinking that the health you need can be found anywhere else.

http://thecripplegate.com/

Posted in beauty, Becoming Yourself, Beginning, Beliefs, Blessing, Change, Choice, commitment, courage, determination, do, Encouragement, Faith, find art at pinterest, Freedom, Gospel, Gratitude, Growth, Habits, healing, Hope, Impossible, inspiration, Letting Go, Life, Lonely, Losing, Love, People, Prayer, Reality, Reflection, Relationships, Solitude, strength, thankfulness, Thoughts, time, Today, Trust, truth
26 Mar 2012

In the stillness

20120326-090706.jpg

Posted in Alone, art, beauty, Becoming Yourself, Beginning, Beliefs, Blessing, Change, Choice, confidence, courage, determination, Dreams, Encouragement, Faith, find art at pinterest, Glory, Gratitude, Growth, Habits, Happiness, healing, home, Hope, Imagine, Impossible, inspiration, Leadership, Letting Go, Life, Love, Miracles, music, nature, Peace, People, power, Prayer, quiet, Reality, Reflection, Relationships, Respect, Solitude, strength, Tenderness, thankfulness, Thoughts, time, Today, Trust, truth, Uncategorized, Vulnerability | Leave a comment
07 Mar 2012

One Lost Sheep

What if it was just me?
If I was the only one
in the world
lost
wandering
searching
hurting

What if no one else needed saving?
If I was the only one
in the universe
alone
wrong
broken
insecure

What if there was only one lost sheep?
What if it was me…or you?
good
bad
ugly
hate-filled

What is the value of one soul to God?
What would Jesus do?
come
die
rise
give

There are so many that feel alone
Lost and struggling on their own
love…unconditional
love…so real
love…for one
love…for all

AL/3-6-12

Posted in Alone, Beginning, Beliefs, Blessing, Choice, Encouragement, Faith, find art at pinterest, Letting Go, Life, light, Love, Miracles, People, Relationships, Solitude, Tenderness, thankfulness, time, Today, Trust, Vulnerability | Leave a comment
25 Feb 2012

face the truth

Where the Wild Things Are

Go with him
into the deserted places
where mind won’t survive,

deep in your wilds, exposed,
with the beasts,
feral, shifty, wise

in their wordless ways,
their primal hungers,
their devouring instincts,

disappearing easily
into your canyons and outcroppings.
You don’t vanquish them,

you watch,
and learn to survive among them,
and witness the mystery,

how they lie down beside him.
Even they know
these washes and gulches

are a palm.
In this extremity,
you find your place

among your terrors,
your wastelands,
your angels.

__________________
Steve Garnaas-Holmes
Unfolding Light
www.unfoldinglight.net

Posted in Adventure, America, art, beauty, Becoming Yourself, Beginning, Beliefs, Blessing, Blog, Change, Choice, courage, create, Dancing, Death, determination, do, Dreams, Encouragement, Faith, find art at pinterest, Freedom, fun, Gratitude, Grieving, Growth, Habits, Happiness, home, Hope, Imagine, Joy, Life, light, Love, Miracles, People, Poetry, Prayer, Reality, Reflection, Relationships, Solitude, strength, Tears, Tenderness, thankfulness, Thoughts, time, Today, Trust, Vulnerability | Leave a comment
23 Feb 2012

Can you feel the music?

A lot of the daily messages I get right now are about Lent. I didn’t grow up with Lent and so I find it somewhat exotic. Over the past several years I have observed the practice and have found it so beautiful and beneficial. It is an important event, and it is a time to go deep into some tough issues. The messages I get in my daily inspirational doses are great (for the most part) and present Lent as both difficult, but joyous! Which I believe is true. We must begin to be vulnerable to our brokenness, if we want to feel our deepest joy!

It is interesting to me the contrast of when I hear people talking about Lent in everyday conversation. Like at my job, or in a restaurant. It seems a lot of people feel like Lent is about deprivation and punishment. I over hear them dreading ‘giving up’ chocolate, beer or meat and wondering if it will interfere with their entertainment schedule, or if is just too hard. Most of them seem to be dreading it. When I can, I try to insert myself into their  conversation (I hope they appreciate it at some point! ha) and assure them that is not what Lent is about – we are not called to punishment! We are called to a deeper experience of life. We are called to freedom, love and joy! Life is beautiful  – that is the message!

I try to encourage the people who feel this way to turn it around this year. Don’t be punished by ‘giving up’ use the 40 days to ADD something special. Write a 40 day journal and concentrate on looking for one good thing a day to be thankful and write about!

Lent is about reflection about deepening our lives in every way. Let’s try to get the message out that Jesus never wanted religion – his beautiful life and death was because of love to give us truth and freedom. He wants our love, relationship, communion, fellowship, passion. Yes, it’s all about love.

 

Posted in Adventure, Alone, art, beauty, Becoming Yourself, Beginning, Beliefs, Blessing, Career, Change, Choice, courage, create, Dancing, Death, determination, do, Dreams, Encouragement, Faith, find art at pinterest, Freedom, fun, Gratitude, Grieving, Growth, Habits, Happiness, home, Hope, Imagine, Impossible, Joy, kindness, laugh, Letting Go, Life, light, Lonely, Love, Miracles, music, Party, Passion, Patience, Peace, People, power, Prayer, Proof, Purpose, quiet, Quotes, Reality, Reflection, Relationships, Respect, Smile, Solitude, strength, success, Sweet, Tears, Tenderness, thankfulness, Thoughts, time, Today, Trust, Vulnerability, words | Leave a comment
20 Feb 2012

dreams & ideas are for doing

Trust that little voice in your head that says

‘Wouldn’t it be interesting if…’

And then do it.

– Duane Michals

Posted in Adventure, America, art, beauty, Becoming Yourself, Beginning, Beliefs, Blessing, Career, Change, Choice, courage, create, Dancing, determination, do, Dreams, Encouragement, Faith, find art at pinterest, Freedom, fun, Gratitude, Growth, Habits, Happiness, Hope, Imagine, Joy, kindness, laugh, Leadership, Letting Go, Life, light, Love, Miracles, music, Passion, Patience, People, Poetry, power, Prayer, Quotes, Reality, Reflection, Relationships, Solitude, strength, success, Tenderness, thankfulness, Thoughts, time, Today, Trust, Vulnerability, Winning | Leave a comment

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