It’s so great to be back, I’ve missed you all! I hope your summer offered some old-fashion warm weather fun: barbecues, picnics, lake swims, ocean walks, watching sunsets and butterflies, and many sacred moments of reflection, renewal and self-care. Mine was a simple, uneventful summer- what I needed. Aside from my normal diligence with work, I stayed put, rooting in the glory of home, walking to the beat of a slow rythym drum. The highlights — swimming in the great, unusually warm-water Pacific, hours by our lovely community pool reading soul-quenching books , adoring bright-eyed, bald-headed babies, especially the stout all-boy twins not quite two. I often helped their exhausted young mama, holding one hefty one, little iron-man, his always furrowed brows and distrusting squints staring me down, as she showered the other little bruiser. I also loved special time with dear friends, local theater and what seems like endless dinners and movies at home. Ahh Summer! My favorite!
To see the Summer Sky is Poetry
though never in a Book it lie–
True Poems flee — Emily Dickenson
A surprise — I’m not facing the empty nest afterall. My son decided to take a gap 6-months before jumping into college, to work and refocus his dreams. He had an amazing journey solo to Europe over the summer, I told him it was a hero’s journey, every boy-to-man needs one and many, even if I was behind-the-scenes on many long distance phone calls navigating some rocky passages. Every hero’s journey has those, but once transcended, a young man is born. I’m enjoying his presence here at home lately, my tall son towering over me, or perhaps I’m just a shrinking mom. His tender kisses goodnight, and when he leaves the house, sink deep into the core of my soul like baby chipmunks burrowed in a mother’s breast fur. Our rumbling arguments have taken a softer turn, hormones, on both parts, have mellowed. After Europe, he wanted tea time with me, 4 pm ish, and requested more sweets in the house. This is a typical afternoon for a family he stayed with in Vienna, sweet tea, Austrian chocholate and hearty, meaningful conversations. It made an impression on him enough to bring this sacred ritual home as a bonding glue. How sane for our often frazzled American families! Like his British grandpa, no longer alive, he says the tea should be made just so, lots of honey, and a bit of milk once the tea bag is out. Our pseudo European afternoons are a welcome pause in our day, a chance to just listen as I sip honey infused, hot tea on a summer’s day. During these afternoon respites, I hear the beat of his teenager heart, dreams he has I never heard before. I want these European style tea times to last, to not forget.
He comes and goes now like a free bird — school free, free from the burdensome homework we both agreed was never any good. For my teen, now considered an adult, taking a break from school is as important as taking a break from writing is to me. During such times, a quiet growth occurs in our depths. Writing goes on even when we’re not writing. Learning happens when we’re not learning. It’s a sort of empty space where God is at work behind the scenes, where transformation happens in silence and slow rhythms. Letting go becomes an art in itself as we’re faithful knowing, with God, we’re in good hands. It’s like giving ourselves permission to be held in a mother’s arms for a while, receiving the invisible nurturing, nourishment and thirst quenching needed to grow.
But how the writing call beckoned from the summer horizon this past week in August’s dawn, it’s sacred tug stirring in my servant heart. Getting back to writing after a long break feels like putting on new running shoes in preparation for training. I’m adjusting to the strange snugness after wandering barefoot and fancy free through wild flower fields of more leisurely, writing-free days, and I’m somewhat reluctant. In Aikido, they say there’s a thin line between fear and excitement, a reluctancy that holds in it energy and power. I fear I’ll have writers block. That I lost my connection with divine inspiration. Writing takes discipline, focus and time. Can I carve out the time? Anticipation stirs in the thin space between fear and exitement as I put words on paper. Words, words, words, God will move through me, and I as co-creater will share what needs to be said today. Like art, writing is an exciting process because it can be a vehicle for sharing aspects of God, and what a delight to touch the hem of mystery. As faithful writers and artists we become like prisms for God’s light entering earth from heaven. We get to be hosts for God’s light and love, shaping light and divine love into words. Now isn’t that amazing and what an honor. Writing connects us with others who know and long for God’s grace, who crave the mystic language of the divine, and whose very passion is to be engaged in this beloved story. It is here in the words we gather in communion.
As I stand at the starting line, I feel a bounce, eager to put pen to paper. This is the moment when summer breaks free, easing it’s way out like the tide, handing over the baton, allowing the fall tide to prepare it’s way toward the shoreline. It is here I’m catapulted into the mystery of writing. Will the words come easily?
I find when I sink into the humble calling like a kneeling child in prayer, I simply become a vessel.
Taking a break from writing is like leaving home for a vacation, and returning to pen and paper is like coming home. As I prepare for any vacation away from home, I make my bed, tidy up, pack my bags, and before heading out, I glance back at my bed knowing I’ll enjoy slipping between soft, warm hotel sheets for a while, putting bedmaking and household chores aside. Yet, upon returning, when I open the front door, I take a deep breath, and my heart smiles. The couch beckons, bright floral tropical pillows, look like bright-eyed puppies. My bed is as I’ve left it, tidy, ready to serve. My books on the nightstand sit like monks, my Bible waits for morning scripture readings. As a vessel for God’s words, I’ll receive and offer God’s gifts today. Returning to writing is like coming home.
You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.- 2 Corinthians 3:3
Do not let kindness and truth leave you; Bind them around your neck, Write them on the tablet of your heart. -Proverbs 3:3
You shall therefore impress these words of mine on your heart and on your soul. – Deuteronomy 11:18
We love your comments!
Such beautiful images here! Taking pauses allows deep inhales to expand us and then a call to exhale all to share and grow His kingdom. I look forward to reading more of these exhales of your current season. Welcome back! And may those tea times continue. They sound deliciously satisfying!
thanks so much Lynn for your beautiful words! I will enjoy those tea times! It’s great to be back!
No empty nest after all? That can be a sweet season to steal a few more months of time with your son. Enjoy!
It is sweet surprise! Afterall, they’ll be the time he’ll be on his way!
Isn’t is such a blessing when those hormones calm down and manly adventures bring our sons back to us to talk (of more adult things, certainly) and abide with one each other. I love those times of sharing with my 22 year old. Those times of mothering and friendship are such a treasure.
ha yes! The hormones are so unpredictable both ours and the teens! I love how you share from a mother who has gone through it, and inspiring to hear you, too, are loving your times with your son now past those teen years! Love hearing from you Sandy!
I love that the two of you are able to enjoy these European tea times together! What a blessed time of bonding.
Also, I love, love, love this quote from your post: “As faithful writers and artists we become like prisms for God’s light entering earth from heaven. We get to be hosts for God’s light and love,”
Prisms for God’s light. Wow! What an awesome privilege!
Thank you for your inspiring comment, and reminding me how special the tea times are with my son I will cherish! So grateful for your visit Ruth! It is a blessing to be able to write and become like prisms for God’s light!
How lovely… your writing, the tea time tradition your son brought home, the verses at the end, and your return to writing. This, perhaps my favorite line — I find when I sink into the humble calling like a kneeling child in prayer, I simply become a vessel…. Amen. Can’t wait to read more. Happy to have met you through #testimonytuesday today!
Thanks so much Heather for visiting and your thoughful comment! I’ll look forward to sharing again and reading your writings, too!
Whenever I don’t write, I can always feel Him tugging at me, pulling me. C.S. Lewis called Him “the Hound of heaven” and that is exactly what it is like for me and writing!
That’s a great description of how writing pulls and tugs at us..the Hound of Heaven!. that’s also a poem by Francis Thompson, a classic poem! Thanks for visiting!
Such a sweet surprise I’m sure. Enjoy those moments! Welcome back!
Thank you Marie!
So true! You are such a gifted writer and I can see why you see it as “home”. Glad you have more time with your son!
Karin, I’m blessed by your visit and encouraging words!
Bringing Christs’ light into the world… why I named my blog the “fresh lens” love your words!
Thanks for visiting Taylor, will visit you soon!
Kathy I wouldn’t worry that the words won’t come as you re-start your writing. It’s like having letters stuffed in a drawer that were written long ago–only yours are written deep in your soul.
I look forward to what God will bring out as you ‘read’ the letters to us.
(p.s. I was in Encinitas for four days in August….whew–the water WAS warm and so much fun!)
What a beautiful way to consider writing! I’ll be contemplating your words, and look forward to the ‘letters’ to come forth!!
How fantastic you were in Encinitas..I know the water in August and even July was so very warm and beautiful! I loved it and hope you
had a fantastic time! Next time let me know if you have time for tea!
Truly writing is a sacred act and art and a holy commitment. Thank you for your faithfulness to our Divine Author and for obeying His call. You are a blessing, as are your sacred words.
Lynn
Thank you much Lynn for your beautiful words!
You have done such important work this summer as a momma, wife, friend, caring neighbor (love image of you holding babies for exhausted mothers) and filmmaker …my dear friend Kathy. You wisely made space for these incredible community and spirit building activities. Ahhhh…that tea ritual with your beautiful son is wonderful. It brings back memories of being part of this sacred tradition in Senegal, West Africa. Tea time teaches all ages the art and importance of connection through conversation. Even if the temperatures was at 100 or above, the ritual was honored daily. Ingredients: Gun Powder Tea, mint and sugar. The tea time ritual included 3 rounds of tea…..the first round has only a bit of sugar to symbolize the bitterness of life; the second round …mint is added and more sugar and the third round more mint and sugar to remind us that the longer a friendship the sweeter it becomes. The honoring of all included in tea time is a lingering memory that I will never forget. It not only fed our souls but energized us to go back out into the peanut and millet fields in the heat of the Sahelian desert. I imagine you and your son sharing sweet precious sacred thoughts and stories and it brings me to tears. Bravo to you both for working through those hormonal and life transitions always coming back to a place of demonstrating your love for each other. This tea time is yet another creative example of your artistry of integrating the divine sacred in your life: “As faithful writers and artists we become like prisms for God’s light entering earth from heaven.” Your tea time ritual is a huge symbol of God’s light entering earth from heaven and your relationship with your son will be blessed forever because of it. You are precious dear sacred heart sister
what a beautiful share here Theresa with this absolutely amazing tea ritual from the heart of Senegal! I’m so impressed by the
power of such a ritual in bringing people together, it never struck me as an essential aspect of community and family until
I read your words here. Yes, I felt the sweet beauty of time with my son, but only as I read your words do I feel it’s essential
we bring these rituals into our lives here. I’m always so blessed by your comments and encouragement, Theresa, and will always want to hear more about your friendships in Africa — over tea?