14 Comments

Thank you for these words and perspective. I've been thinking a lot lately about my "life on paper" vs. my "life in the flesh". Even with my nest almost empty, things rarely go as planned, like the Berry quote says. Dreams are hard to let go of--praying God fills in the empty spaces with brand new, good things you can't even imagine.

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Timely reminder for me. “Living the given life” will be stewing in my mind for a while 💜

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“I’ve wanted it to be what it wasn’t and then got annoyed with what it was.” — well, yes. How many times have I been here? Railing against reality. I never get to move into anything new until I accept what is, but that’s the hardest part. Sometimes it just feels like dying, again and again. But like you say, the leaves keep doing it.

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"If I attempt to live the plan, I will destroy the given life that I am tasked with cultivating." <3 Thank you.

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“I am praying for the creativity and the courage to reimagine our lives, to let go of what might have been and do something with what is, to think outside of the box, to lean a new direction, to let something else beautiful grow.”

Love these ideas, Lisa. Beautiful words and thoughts. Praying, too.

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Every Moment Holy has a liturgy called "Death of a Dream" that I find myself reading and working through almost daily. I loved the Wendell Berry quote that you shared - and I too was unprepared for the "letting go" of plans that accompanies this life.

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I always appreciate your words. Learning to cultivate the life we are given.. man that's such a timely reminder for myself.

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Much needed gift of words to explain my inner thoughts these days. Trying to curb discontentment with what is not and embrace what actually is. Thank you 🩷

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