Surprise Blessings
Living in a home with books all around (even flooding the closest), you often find treasures. Words that speak from pages right when you needed an escape into a novel, or a poem widening your perspective, or soft gentle words from a theologian.
These I call surprise blessings!
Below are some of these readings where you may find a “friend” or a specific grace from God.
God Speaks Through Wombs by poet Drew Jackson
A little more:
Drew lives in New York City
These poems are drawn from the gospel of Luke
They are “declarative poems, faithfully proclaiming the gospel story in all its liberative power.” [IVP Press.com]
Annie Dillard, a well known writer, and poet landed in my lap this week. In this book, we are graced with this
short autobiography describing her physical spaces of writing, and some of the obstacles and rhythms of putting words on pages.
“As the work grows, it gets harder to control; it is a lion growing in strength” —Dillard
It is inspiring to hear the story of an author’s journey, and how much of ordinary life and God’s creative breath unfolds what we read.
If you’re a writer or one who enjoys autobiographical books, you may like The Writing Life by Anne Dillard
The surprise blessing came, when taking a moment in the afternoon, where sitting on the floor to pause gave perspective and a force leading me to trust God is close—He is a living reminder.
What was found within these pages, is Nouwen drawing our attention to God’s healing, sustaining, and guiding ways.
Some refreshing words to hear,
“Good memories offer good guidance. We all have had the experience that in times of distress, failure, and depression it is the good memories which give us new confidence and hope.”
and more, so beautiful,
“When we walk in the Lord’s presence, everything we see, hear, touch, or taste reminds us of Him. This was what is meant by a prayerful life. It’s not a life in which we say many prayers, but a life in which nothing, absolutely nothing, is done, said, or understood independently of Him who is the origin and purpose of our existence.”
—Henri Nouwen
Sabbath Poems
Curiosity struck— the small description at the top of the book cover luring me in. I learned that Wendell Berry spent “his Sunday mornings in a walking meditation”—maybe an invitation for us to explore. There are numerous ways to rest and enjoy sabbath life!
Enjoy this excerpt from section 1985, V
“Why must the gate be narrow?
Because you cannot pass beyond it burdened.
To come in among these trees you must leave behind the six days’ world, all of it, all of its plans and hopes.
You must come without weapon or tool, alone, expecting nothing, remembering nothing,
into the ease of sight, the brotherhood of eye and leaf.”—Wendell Berry
The painting on the book’s cover, also brings a leisure to what Sabbath rest might be like. The painting I discovered in its small print is by artist Ben Shahn, titled Sunday Painting.
