Saturday, April 23, 2022

Cup Our Hands, Open Our Hands, Scatter Love


" Lord, we cup our hands to gather the
pieces of heaven you shower upon us. Help
us to open our hands with generous
spirits and scatter your divine love
in the darkest places. Amen. "
from COMMON PRAYER, p 243


It's a bit of stream of consciousness writing today. You might need a large mug of your favourite beverage to sustain.

A couple of days ago, I woke up in the night and felt out of sorts in my soul. I wasn't having any awful dreams, but sometimes for no apparent reason the night has an unfriendly feel to it. That night it felt bleakish. I have basically learned to ignore that feeling. No, that's not quite true, I don't ignore it but I have learned to accept that's how it feels sometimes. It will pass. It's not just me, I know, for many of us the sad of the world seems ever present, even when we're not consciously thinking about what's going on, even when our own lives are perfectly pleasant for the most part.

The soft light from my lamp soothes me.

You may recall I have been slow reading for a couple of months now a book by British author, Matt Haig. It's titled Notes on a Nervous Planet. We see a world falling apart. Matt reminds us that parts of the world have always been falling apart. It's just that now with social media we have access to all the corners where ructions are going on. The book is one I recommend—it's filled with tiny essays about the author reminding himself and his readers to accept the sadness around us, to accept that it affects us. And then he shares how to recalibrate our thoughts so we remember 'the big importance of small lives', jogging our memory that a 'million unsung acts of kindness' happen every day. A million acts of love. Quiet human goodness living on'. I imagine being one of the million in such a count. To be intentional about kindness and love every single day I live on this earth. It's life as it ought to be.

The bleakness lessens.



" The last part of a man's life is his little, nameless,
unremembered acts of kindness and love. "
WILLIAM WORDSWORTH


I open my journal and flip through the pages—I look for a poignant quote, a soothing thought, a consoling text of Scripture. Something I wrote down earlier that might help me move past this bleakness filling the air. I even visit my social media; yes, even in this hour, for folks in different time zones have already begun their day, and many fill their feeds with good thoughts and positive intentions. For example, Bertie Lakeland, a very dapper British Lakeland Terrier, along with his human dad, has his own Twitter page. On it, Bertie spreads joy as he lives his happy doggie life and shares it with his followers. Bertie posted these words the other day, "If you root yourself in love and kindness, your heart will always bloom." What a smart fellow.

Then I catch sight of the tweet pinned at the top of my own Twitter page, a line I once read on author Shawna Lemay's blog Transactions with Beauty that I never want to forget: "You've got to live this life with joy, I've learned. You've got to transform the ugly stuff into love." Yes, that's what life is about, learning to transform the ugly stuff into love. It's a full time job. In the middle of the night, this inspires me; it's work I can do in my corner of the world.

Back to Matt Haig's book. He talks about not letting the fear and the ugly be in charge. Oh yes. I am immediately reminded of much loved verses in the Bible: "Be anxious for nothing. . . Cast all your cares upon the Lord for He cares for you. . . Fear not, for I AM with you always."

Soft light as if from my lamp now seeps into my thoughts. Did I mention the bleakness has moved on? 

" Even in the darkness, we will trust :
that our lives are still in your hands. "
from COMMON PRAYER, p 243




As if you don't have enough, here are a few more lines I found in my journal that night. I loved being reminded of these good words:

" Hello World...
Hello; sun in my face,
Hello you who made the morning
and spread it over the fields . . .
Watch, now, how I start the day
in happiness, in kindness. "
MARY OLIVER


" Keep faith with your awakened heart . . .
sit in silence each day and reground yourself in
that which is so fleetingly glimpsed, which is
God loving you through and through and through . . .
just as you are . . . always . . .unexplainably . . . "
BODMIN HERMIT, on Twitter


"Lord, we cup our hands to gather the
pieces of heaven you shower upon us. Help
us to open our hands with generous spirits and
scatter your divine love in the darkest places. Amen.
from COMMON PRAYER, p 243


I close this post with the same quote I opened it. I've cupped my hands to gather the pieces of heaven I found in these wee hours. I open my hands to scatter them, like bits of joy, hoping something in these few lines will send any sad shadows fleeing. And that light will fill your thoughts today, just as it did for me the other night.


Look after each other.


Sending heart hugs,

Brenda

Top Image by mysticsartdesignfrom Pixabay
(2) Image by Farbsynthese from Pixabay
(3) Image by Alicja from Pixabay


 



25 comments:

  1. Of the quotes that you have shared here today, this one stands out: " Even in the darkness, we will trust :
    that our lives are still in your hands. "
    It is true! Encouragement for the traveler . . .

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    1. Cheryl, I do love that line too. Its message is so restful. Thanks, fellow kindred traveler!

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  2. That quote stood out for me too, as it did for Cheryl. Thank you Brenda for your thoughts today.

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    1. Hope you are keeping well, Barbara. Thank you, dear friend. xo

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  3. I'm trying not to cry reading this but you've written words for the scratched up heart I hold within me now. There are good days and days too when it seems like all the hours have colluded against you, when everything you have to offer up seems so puny against all that has risen up in enmity. Today is one such day. Yet, your words and all the quotes you have shared here offer tender hope that even if I have failed to live today in strength and in prayer for others, if God wills it, I will have tomorrow to try to live better.

    Thank you so much.

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    1. Oh Caitlynne, what a boon to read your dear comment. Thank you so much for your visit. Your phrase 'the scrached up heart' sure resonated, for that is exactly how it feels some days, and especially some nights. Wishing you His grace for the days ahead. xo

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  4. Such a precious extending of the truths you learned in that dark night. Of course, we have been told that the days will grow darker and darker...we all see it. I think that's when we lift our eyes knowing that God is going to make things right one day and that day is getting closer all the time. In the meantime, we trust.

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    1. Oh yes, in the meantime, we trust. Thank you, dear Vee, for your note today. xo

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  5. God has a way of providing just what we need, even if it is in the darkest of night.

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  6. Those night hours can be so bleak, yet you've written about how to overcome the darkness with truth and goodness and beauty and light. Yes, we will trust the One who loves us.

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    1. So grateful for His abiding love and presence during those bleak hours that come.

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  7. “Hello World. Hello Sun in my face ...” Hello dear Brenda, Beacon of Beauty. Your words have breezed the bleakness away. 💝🌷

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    1. Oh Joy, you make my heart sing. Loved your words. Thank you!

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  8. Beautiful words, Brenda, and so inspiring. We are all struggling these days as the world makes less and less sense, hopefully there is still enough goodness and kindness around to pull us through.
    Amalia
    xo

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    1. Goodness and kindness have a way of going about their business so gently and quietly - never directing attention to themselves, so we don't always see the good going on. Thankfully it is, every day, everywhere. Thanks, dear Amalia, for your lovely thoughts.

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  9. Dear Brenda, you truly scattered love and joy with this post. It is beautiful and gave me a heart flip. Many blessings, my friend.

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    1. I giggle with joy to image today's post giving you a heart flip. Thank you, dear Sandra. xo

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  10. Hi Brenda. It's comforting to think of scattering bits of joy. Your newsletters are always a joy to read . They lift up the soul and mind so perfectly! I always love reading them when I see they are available. You are a wonderful writer. Hugs. Susan

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    1. Susan, thank you so much for your lovely words today. They lift me up too. I appreciate your kindness. xo

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  11. lovely thoughts. I like Mr. Rogers of tv children's show fame who said after a disaster his mom always said look for the helpers and they are there in Ukraine, and all over the world.

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    1. Thankfully, they are there, and as you say, all over the world. Thank you, Lin. xo

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  12. I Lin Floyd am the anonymous commenter...

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    1. Lin, I love your comment about Mr. Roger’s Mom’s comment; the reminder to “look for the helpers.”💗🙏. Thank you!

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  13. Brenda, my heart needed this beautifully written post. You not only shared what so many of us must be feeling and experiencing but some answers that we are all looking for. It makes me want all my loved ones to read it. And then what a caring sentence to end with, "Look after each other."

    I sincerely thank you.

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To My Beautiful Readers,

Some people come into our lives, leave footprints on our hearts, and we are never the same. ~ Franz Peter Schubert

Thank you so much for leaving your 'footprint' here in my comment box. I do appreciate you taking a moment to share your thoughts today.

Brenda xo