I like to imagine yes as all invitation and fullness, but the reality is that yes carries on its heels a hundred different nos.
I sit in the room that has held one of my yeses: my promise to myself to write. Not to let the whisper or treasure or holy nudge wither on the vine. The wall in front of me is covered with flowers and birds, typewriters, letters of a certain font that remind me of the practice of sitting down here — not waiting for time (I don’t ever feel I have it) or inspiration (which flits like a frightened feathered thing).
This morning, this is my yes. A casting of seed, germs of belief.
My hands hover over keys, coffee warms my throat, now the top of my belly. In the still of the house, in my Writing Room, before the day’s clamor, among all the yeses of mothering, all the vegetable chopping and crock potting and back and forth drives, among the part-time work and the needs that make themselves known with sad eyes and question marks and loaded backpacks, this is my yes.
Writing because I can. Writing because I must. Writing because it’s a way to see all the ways I limit time and story. Writing because it opens the cage and calls out to the frightened one, be free.
I’ll be honest with you lovelies. I’m trying to figure out what this writing deal means in the midst of my life. Where shared words intersect with mothering and speaking and volunteering and ministry and just being a human who wants to be available to the good and the pain of those in this everyday life. I’m a bit wrung out lately, and so I’m doing what my husband tells me I need to do when I don’t know what to do…I am writing.
This morning, joining with Five Minute Friday and today’s prompt: YES.
Connecting through the power of stories written, spoken and lived
Right there with you, Ashley, between a longing for quiet away from the world to sit and listen to my Jesus…and the dailyness of This Life. I just keep falling forward, hands cupped to my ears.
Love you.
What a beautiful image you’ve left me with, friend. I so relate to this both/and you express. Bless you! <3
I love that you are writing and that you too have a good man who encourages you to do what gives life.
Me too, sister. Thank you for your encouragement today, as well. xo
I hear you, sister. Glad you listened to your husband (and what a smart man he must be!) and said yes today. Whenever you get the chance to write, take it – your words are lovely.
He is a smarty for sure. Best decision I ever made. :-) I always love reading what you write, too, sister. Thank you for the encouragement to keep on writing. xo
write when you don’t know what to do – yes, yes. Most often my writing happens in my journal as i journal my way out of something (or into it). Thinking without writing sends my brain into endless circles. glad you are here this morning Ashely Larkin. I always like hearing from you.
Thank you, Carol. The endless circles — that’s exactly what it’s like for me too. So grateful to have found you through this writing world. You are a gift.
Yes. Your hubby and his support are so good. Keep writing, in those days when you’re not sure why, so that we can read your words and be changed in the reading of them.
Thank you, Barb. I’m so grateful for our near-daily connecting, eye to eye, heart to heart, so we can cheer one another on in this gathering and sharing of words here online. Love you.
Oh, I hear you friend in all those ways. Mothering, ministry, home, school and writing… it all blurs together and our passion to play out our words gets lost in the jumble of the everyday! I’m glad to see you here though and happy that you listened to your hubby and shared words with us! It’s always good when we live out our passion and go forward in our calling even when it’s difficult and other things pull us away! Keep writing friend and we will keep reading! Love your words and your heart! Happy Friday to you! :)
It’s so easy for the words to get lost, isn’t it, Rachel? I’m still learning the ways of living out my passion in the midst of so much everyday, but it seems part of that is just grabbing hold of the moments. Thank you for your encouragement today. Bless you!
It’s 2:30 am. Yesterday, our first day home after our trip to London, I fell asleep so early that I am wide awake now. It’s been almost a month since I’ve written anything due to the chaos of moving and the wonder of this God given trip. Here in the darkness, I read your words on my iPhone, my husband snoring next to me, and I am loving the beauty of your words. They inspire me to go ahead and record in words the ugly and the beauty of recent weeks,
Cheering you on, Elizabeth! I know you have many stories to tell. Can’t wait to read them when you have the space and a little rest. :-) Sending love. It will be so good to catch up! xo
Yes my dear, that is what you must do, is write….so lovely to hear your voice.
Write away here or any where, just keep writing!
love you!
Thank you for being a powerful voice in my life – cheering me on to write, write, write. So much of this started with our little writers’ group all those years ago. Grateful. I love you.
I love you so much, dear heart. In light of our recent conversations, your yes of sitting down to write this post and all the offering of these words is particularly poignant and so beautiful. I am moved by the faith of your yes here, to do the one thing you know is needed to care for yourself right now. So yes, write, love. Keep writing. I am cheering you on.
Thank you for Voxing this through with me. :-) I know how much you understand this tension. Words can be slippery and a torrent…they are complicated little beasts. I’ll keep saying yes to the writing and a good number of no’s, too. (Thank you for profound thoughts on the “no.”) Grateful to do life with you. I love you, Amber.
Hey, beloved friend. I am so, so glad you wrote. Always. Just wanted to say so. Holding you in my heart. Love you more than words.
Your presence in my life and here are such a gift. It always makes my heart so happy when you write, too. I know the courage it takes…especially when you’re walking the painful seasons. I love you, friend.
Love your honesty friend, love you!!!
Thank you, sweet pea. I adore you.