Joy can feel like abstraction or
open, sun-lit meadow,
a winding path,
a declaration or a hope.
Joy can be grace and love’s overflow or
picked and chosen like flowers from weeds
or rope-burned hands
clinging to a rescue line.
Joy can feel easy and natural, a bubbling up of freedom
or an act of defiance in the belly of
darkness, death,
depression, sickness,
pain.
Joy is of another world and of this place right here.
It is birdsong and shafts of light through prison doors and
rescue and don’t ever forget that it’s
fierce, holding head high when every earthly thing says
crumble.
___________
Joining with Lisa-Jo Baker and the free writing Five Minute Friday community with today’s prompt: JOY.
Connecting through the power of stories written, spoken and lived
Oh my goodness. What a beautiful post. I love the juxtaposition and the contrast. Thank you for sharing.
Thank you so much, Heidi. Grateful for your presence here.
I love you. That is all. (Oh… and this… when I come here, and read your heart put into words… I find Joy. Every time.)
What beautiful encouragement, Karrilee. But that is who you are and what you do…now, isn’t it? :-)
Right from the outset, your Dogwood photo brought joy to moi. Love Fridays.
Thank you, Uncle Don. When I took it, I’d been on a walk with my Lala and just had a moment to snap the shot. I’d wanted all those “ugly” boards out of the way, but, as it turns out, that made the photo. Always appreciate seeing you here.
“rope-burned hands
clinging to a rescue line.”
That one resonated with me most. Being rescued isn’t always so Disney and fairy-tale happy- like a handsome prince climbing your prisoned tower. It’s nail pierced bloody full of tear streaked pain. It’s a humble Prince unable to carry His own cross. I’m so thankful for it and wouldn’t have it any other way. I’ve ‘seen’ you on Twitter, and I think I really saw you at the Faith & Culture Writers Conference. I’m glad I stopped by :)
Glad to see you here, Stephanie! You are so right about the rescue….what a picture of real love you’ve painted, and how that changes our picture of well, so much — everything.
Following you now on Twitter, too. I enjoyed catching up a bit with your blog words the other day. Bless you in these new faith steps, and I hope to see you face to face at the next FCWC!
Reading this was like a sweet walk on the first day of spring. The first day you don’t have to wear socks or tights and your toes wiggle from a freedom they haven’t known for months. I loved this Ashley. The way you played with opposites and danced gracefully back and forth from beautiful to gut-wrenching. Yes Joy!
Lisha, what a beautiful gift you’ve given me with this comment. I’m feeling the freedom with my bare feet, delighting in the free delight of this spring day. Grateful for you. Thank you!