…whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. … And the God of peace will be with you. Philippians 4: 8 -9
What is my only comfort in life and in death? That I am not my own, but belong—body and soul, in life and in death—to my faithful Savior, Jesus Christ.
~Heidelberg Catechism
Instructions for living a life:
Pay attention.
Be astonished.
Tell about it.
~Mary Oliver
To do the useful thing, to say the courageous thing, to contemplate the beautiful thing: that is enough for one man’s life.
~ T.S. Eliot
A man should hear a little music, read a little poetry, and see a fine picture every day of his life, in order that worldly cares may not obliterate the sense of the beautiful which God has implanted in the human soul.
~Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
To live is so startling, it leaves little room for other occupations.
~Emily Dickinson
I believe in God as I believe that the Sun has risen, not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else.
~ C. S. Lewis
Remember this. When people choose to withdraw far from a fire, the fire continues to give warmth, but they grow cold. When people choose to withdraw far from light, the light continues to be bright in itself but they are in darkness. This is also the case when people withdraw from God.
~ Augustine
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
The seed is in the ground. Now may we rest in hope while darkness does its work.
~ Wendell Berry
Nothing will sustain you more potently than the power to recognize in your humdrum routine the true poetry of life.~ Sir William Osler
But the effect of her being on those around her was incalculably diffusive: for the growing good of the world is partly dependent on unhistoric acts, and that things are not so ill with you and me as they might have been, is half owing to the number who lived faithfully a hidden life, and rest in unvisited tombs.
~George Eliot’s final sentence in Middlemarch
If the world were merely seductive, that would be easy. If it were merely challenging, that would be no problem. But I arise in the morning torn between a desire to improve the world and a desire to enjoy the world. This makes it hard to plan the day.
~ E.B. White
Geese appear high over us, pass, and the sky closes. Abandon, as in love or sleep, holds them to their way, clear, in the ancient faith: what we need is here. And we pray, not for new earth or heaven, but to be quiet in heart, and in eye clear. What we need is here.~~ “The Wild Geese” Wendell Berry
Let it come, as it will, and don’t be afraid. God does not leave us comfortless, so let evening come.
~ Jane Kenyon from “Let Evening Come”
You can only come to the morning through the shadows.~ J.R.R. Tolkien
Look for what you notice but no one else sees. ~Rick Rubin
If you want to identify me, ask me not where I live, or what I like to eat, or how I comb my hair, but ask me what I am living for, in detail, ask me what I think is keeping me from living fully for the thing I want to live for. ~ Thomas Merton
This life therefore is not righteousness,
but growth in righteousness,
not health but healing,
not being but becoming,
not rest but exercise.
We are not yet
what we shall be,
but we are growing toward it.
The process is not finished
but it is going on.
This is not the end
but it is the road.
~Martin Luther
Ten times a day something happens to me like this – some strengthening throb of amazement – some good sweet empathic ping and swell. This is the first, the wildest and the wisest thing I know: that the soul exists and is built entirely out of attentiveness.
~ Mary Oliver
It is not your love that sustains the marriage —
but from now on, the marriage that sustains your love.
~ Dietrich Bonhoeffer
She has done what she could…
~Mark 14:8
What do you mean? Do you wish me a good morning, or mean that it is a good morning whether I want it or not; or that you feel good on this morning; or that it is a morning to be good on?~ J. R. R. Tolkien from The Hobbit
Barnstorming 
Indeed, Dear Emily, the need to slow down really can come racing up to us. I’ve had three surgeries in the past twelve years that required a resting spell, and have another one coming up — this time, however, assuming we get Connie settled into better care in a nursing home before hand, I won’t have a timeframe to “rest up to.” I certainly have no complaints concerning taking care of Connie for forty-six years, but it will be enlightening to see how much I can heal with a focus on taking care of myself. I might write you a research paper on it!! I profoundly appreciate the gift of a pause to rest; looking forward to seeing what six months would be like. Josh’s photos are so wonderful.
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Some folks need to go somewhere to rest … Me , well I find my rest in the kitchen … cooking a pot of plum jam .. many ask why bother when you can buy any flavor you want at the stores …why slave over a hot stove when I could be out in the summer sunshine instead , My reply to them is that store bought jelly just doesn’t taste like home or convey love … as that is what it takes to make homemade jam … time to pick the plums , wash them , pit them , cook them, jar them up , do a water bath on them and then set them aside for 24 hours under a bath towel on the kitchen counter … try not to peek under the towel ,listen for the pops of the seal , then delight in the beauty the next day as you hold them up to the light to see them sparkle in the diamond shaped glasses … as you label each one and then decide who to give this special jar too … to me that is rest from the world … when things slow down enough on the farm to make jam …
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Bill,
I’m sure Connie wants you to have 100% focus on your wellness and healing. Forty six years is an amazing “on duty” commitment of love that awes me!
Hope it all goes well for you and you are up and about quickly!
Love to you and Connie,
Emily
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Peggy,
what a wonderful picture of “rest” in your kitchen surrounded by that beautiful plum jam! I have yet to find my rest while cooking but I so admire people like you who do!
Emily
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you are loved. I pause at my CME conference to read the Word of God and to be refreshed w the words of his child
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What beautiful photo’s to go along with the words of “rest”. I can remember when I was coming home from Glacier Natl. Park one year, and as I crossed into California that feeling of everything speeding up. That was the moment I decided that I wanted to be able to find the “rest” in every thing I do, to not be in a “hurry” to relax. What a great decision. I know that can be difficult when all around you is rushing. So even when piling the trimmed, dried limbs at my daughter’s house, with 6 grandkids trying to help, I kept thanking God that we have that family house for the 13 family members to all live in right now. Thank you God, thank you God, thank you God. Peace and love. Yes, Emily, you have found the answer to “rest”. Laura
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Kim,
Your words are balm to me, my friend. Precious soothing balm!
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Laura,
you definitely know what I’m talking about. You are living it and sharing it. Bless you!
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Emily, Your words are so kind. Thank you.
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