It’s Friday, and I’m meeting up with the community of Five Minute Friday at the Gypsy Mama for some free writing. Here are the rules: follow the prompt, no extreme editing, write for five minutes flat and encourage the person who linked up just before you.
Today’s word is WIDE.
{GO}
I read this week that God is within all, but not enclosed. That he is so spacious and roomy that in him each may find a place without crowding.
And these are words straight to my heart, where passions to make a difference for the poor, to be a reconciler, to be a writer, to be an encourager to women, to be a mama of intention with focus and hanging in there love seem to rattle and shake against each other.
I’m feeling my heart — messy, small and peeled wide and my vision attuned to this space right here.
For there’s the part of me that picks up the acorn and marvels again at the flaky brown beret and enters into the world of a little child with a necklace. And there are the parts that want to go out there and tell the stories of forgotten ones and the cast to the side, and want to get hands dirtier, and I just can’t do enough.
This week, I’m remembering that God leads all, and I’m seeing the small to see the big.
To see the hurt and wonder of right here to have compassion, vision and hope for out there.
More than necklaces and acorns, I feel the pain of this daily life with its mundane and its anguish, pushing walls. And I hear the pain in the voice of a woman on the playground, whom I’ve never met before, and she tells me her story and cries, and I do with her.
Because I know the struggle, and so my heart breaks open a bit more for her, for me. For the wide world.
{STOP}
Note: Thoughts from the first paragraph are inspired by Madeleine L’Engle’s Walking on Water and The Message, Colossians 1, respectively.
Connecting through the power of stories written, spoken and lived
Utterly beautiful. Isn’t it amazing how the love of God can empower us to feel with others? To truly reach down inside and grip the pain and loss and sadness that they experience, and to join them on the journey to hope? Praying for your new friend, for God to open her heart to the power of His wide love. And thanking Him for yours.
Thank you so much for your comment, and for your encouragement. Yes, to come alongside, but not to feel totally overcome by another’s pain, and to see hope…that’s most certainly God.
Really beautiful, Ashley. This made me think about pushing walls. It sometimes seems that they will never move, but they do. Some Jesus moves aside like the stone and some He presses right through. And we, His body, can, will do likewise and greater, He promises. Thank you for encouraging me to keep thinking WIDE love – everyone love – and for sitting and spreading out your attentive love to those like that dear woman. You in such are pressing down and through those walls that seem to separate us.
( This sounds a little like a teacher, the hat I am wearing in this moment as my students work on a project in lab. Sorry. What I mean to communicate is that you are teaching me!)
I treasure you words, Kim. I didn’t feel “schooled” at all. :-) But truly encouraged. You are so right, and I love that picture — of pushing through walls that can seem impenetrable by sitting and spreading out attentive love. I appreciate the way you put those words to “wide” here. Thank you again.
Ashley- such a poetical beautiful reflection – all from the word WIDE! I love the part where you say, about God, that “he is so spacious and roomy that in him each may find a place without crowding” …Sounds like a neat writing group you are part of- I’d love to learn more-
See you at our prison essay night next week –
PS something like this would be perfect for the essay!
Cornelia
Thank you so much, Cornelia. I loved that fresh reading of Colossians in The Message this week. It inspires me to remember the beauty in how the body functions…with both space and the need for all. I am so looking forward to the visit to the State Pen and learning from the people there.
Ashley this is beautiful, thank you.
Thank you, my friend.
Really lovely.
Thank you for commenting, Denise.
Oh friend, this holds magnificent beauty, tender, whispering, yelling, screaming, blistering beauty. Your poetic voice and heart come rumbling down the wide open spaces, real and really.
I was telling my husband last night how grateful I feel for our new connection in these places. Bless you and your seeking, poetic, big-loving heart.
I need to read me some Madeline L’Engle. I do. I do. How do you do it? Every single post – your words just soar. And I can totally picture you as the stranger that others feel safe with, others can share with – because you truly care. You’re as authentic as they come. You’re such a blessing.
Yes, you do need to read her. She is UNBELIEVABLE and such a mentor to me in the faith and the creative life. I love “Walking on Water” and how she affirms the life of one creating in concert with the Creator. Art is a gift of grace, she says. Fiona, connecting with you over these last months has brought such beautiful joy into my life. Thank you for your jewels of words. Love!
I have always loved the tree in our yard like yours in the photo. I will never see it the same after reading your reflections on the word “wide”. Thank you, Ashley :-) p.s. in fact, when I return home I am taking a picture of our tree! xo
I love those beautiful trees the color of gorgeous aged leather. Madrones? Take an extra shot for me, Deb.
I will, dear one :-)
Oh, Ashley, you are a treasure. Just beauty this week.
Thank you. I’m touched.