Note to self and any reader(s): This is a long post. Feel free to skim over or skip my words (black font) but if you have have 15 minutes, do check out the links (green text). And if you have 42 minutes, you may want to listen to the Anne Lamott podcast.
Before I begin my day, I need to empty my bulging [mental] pockets. I suppose this is one of the reasons, perhaps the main one, I started and maintain this blog. For periodic brain-dumps. During the past two days, I’ve collected some experiences, words and images of truth and beauty and assorted random thoughts that I want to review, rearrange and then preserve.
Posts and comments here, here and here that help explain why I am being so bold (and shushing my fears and doubts) about publishing a blog (just don’t think about it too much, E.)
Anne Lamott is on my i-pod’s Top-Rated playlist — On the walk to and from the park, I listened for the second time to the CBC Tapestry podcast of Mary Hine’s interview with Anne Lamott in which the writer talks about her faith, fears and writing life. It is searingly honest, funny, reverent and irreverent. (Credit goes to Mary Hines for these apt adjectives.) Oh, there are so many quotes I want to record word-for-word that I’m going to have to listen to the podcast a third time. I know there will be some much-too-long days in the future when I will need to remind myself of Anne’s words on prayer (a simple morning, anytime and end-of-the-day prayer cycle is “whatever”, “wow”, “oh well”), the necessities of life (all we need in life is a cool glass of water and a true friend), and compassion (to take care of one another we must learn to share our bananas).
Kairos — I don’t know if I’ve ever experienced this but maybe I came close yesterday during a seawall walk with a true and forever friend, K., I had not seen in many months. (Thank you, HTTS, for posting Madeleine L’Engle’s reflection)
About anger and forgiveness – NWC provides a brief commentary about and the link to this article on anger management, prayer and the difference between admiration and imitation. Thank you, NWC for the reading recommendation, and also, Tess, for adding and your and Thich Nhat Hanh’s thoughts on cooling the flames of anger by listening.
I have one more very large item in my pocket but will save it for later this weekend as this post is long enough.
Thanks for the links, and looking forward to whatever’s left in your pocket.
Anne Lamott is a favourite of mine, and I’m going to download and save the podcast to savour later.
Thanks for the kind comment, Tess. For some reason, I thought you liked Anne Lamott. I may have read something on your site that gave me that impression.