Tuesday, January 29, 2013

The Little Engine That Could

It was -45C with the wind chill factored in this morning. The windows are frosted up nearly to the top but the sun is shining through them. The northern version of stained glass windows courtesy of Jack Frost. A good day to stay inside and keep warm.

I'm healing. It feels like there is light at the end of this year long tunnel. And hope that this cancer journey will truly be a distant memory one day.  I look forward to when I don't tag a post with the word cancer. My mood swings are lessening. My goal this week is to get through it without telling someone to eff themselves. So far so good.

I'm learning that skinny people really do need a cushion for their chair because otherwise their butt hurts too much to sit for very long. I had to ask only daughter last night if that was true because it's a brand new phenomena for me. After I asked her I excused myself and went and got a cushion for my kitchen chair so we could continue our talk via Skype.

I took a writing course last December where the instructor told us that a good writer didn't write about their relationship with God in a post because she said it put up a wall between writer and reader. That intimate place where really only the two involved could enter into it. I've mulled her opinion over a lot since then.

My prayers of late have mostly been silent ones. Except for the time after communion where I knelt and the only words that came to mind, in the vein of the little engine that could, were, "I need you. I need you. I need you."

6 comments:

owenswain said...

To me it's more about how one writes about ones relationship with God. There are those who write in such a way that walls. I guess your workshop leader hasn't read the blogs I've read; like your own and Heather King's among not a few others.

- - -
Like you, we (MB&me) look forward to that cancer-tagless day.

Daisy said...

Agree with Owen about the writing. Definitely.

Glad to hear you're feeling better. Made me smile with the "eff themselves" thing.

-45 sucks. We've been getting the same with a couple of days of reprieve but its dipping back down tomorrow. Brrrr

Heidi Renee said...

it ate my comment - hate that!

i think it's her baggage - i still disagree with that idea - and we as your readers love to hear about your journey with god - she must have a different audience...

glad you're seeing light at the tunnel end and that you're much less "swingy" :)

Rebekah Grace said...

I'd have to disagree as well. I've written on my blog and facebook page (Grit & Grace) about my relationship, struggle, awe, and love for God. The people who have replied tell me it's inspiring. But, I don't teach a writing class. So what do I know.

"I need you! I need you! I need you!" His favorite plea. And He shows up. Every. Single. Time.

Blessings to you!

Anonymous said...

I'm with everyone on this one. While our relationships with God are personal and unique, history is redolent with classic and abundant writings that describe one's relationship with God as they see it. For those who are threatened by someone's relationship with God, then they need not engage in the reading. Perhaps she was referring to those who she perceived as being aggressive. Nonetheless, I am all for reading about other's relationships with God. Why not? Better than reading about what they ate for breakfast...(not that there's anything wrong with that...lol)

Emily J. said...

I've always found it hard to write about my relationship with God - but admire those who can, and find sustenance for my own relationship from those words. Maybe the wall exists for people who already have a wall between themselves and God. No one can write to please everyone.

I imagine at -45 degrees it's hard to pray anything because your teeth are chattering too much!