Weekly Wildflowers #6
Weekly Wildflowers #6
Anniversary, 3 Quick Takes, We are Tired
Friends,
It’s mid-afternoon as I write this and it has been one of those days where everything is working out just perfectly. The kids woke up in wonderful moods, we had breakfast with no grumpiness, my oldest son and I listened to a morning news program for kids, and talked about world events. I even made it into the garden while it was still below 90 (!!) and cloudy - absolutely gorgeous weather after the past few weeks.
Today, about four days before this arrives in your inbox, also happens to be our 15 year wedding anniversary. It feels slightly strange to write it out. It is such a big milestone and one that felt so far off in the distance that I never really thought it would get here so quickly. Joe and I had talked for the past few years about all the sorts of things we would do for this anniversary, maybe a cruise, or re-visiting Yosemite where we honeymooned, something to mark these 15 years of life lived in the trenches together.
While we aren’t doing any grand trips (maybe next year?) in light of August plans, there is something sweeter and more beautiful that has been taking shape in those trenches these many years and is sustaining us during the stress of the current season - love. I don’t mean the sappy kind of love at first sight full of hand holding and butterflies, or even the pretty kind of love that is all flowers, farmers markets, and meals for two. Those are good and definitely have their moments in our life. Still, I’m talking about something weightier. I’m talking about the gritty, borne under pressure kind of love that is stalwart, rich, and powerful. That kind of love that holds another person up through both peaks and valleys of life, and grounds you in the reality that life lived together is better than alone. This love has been in constant development, from having kids young, to raising a special needs child, to moving way too many times to count. This gritty love has carried us in our most difficult and beautiful moments, and has been the best gift we could have given one another for these 15 years together.
3 Quick Takes
I finally finished The Opt-Out Family by Erin Loechner. It was a good read full of information and practical suggestions for families on how to opt-out of the social media and tech that has inundated our society. What struck me the most though was towards the end when Loechner writes “I am reminded of a conversation I had with a Silicon Valley developer years ago who predicted, accurately, that Big Tech isn’t after only your attention. It’s after your companionship. Your mind and, mostly, your heart. Intimacy. Togetherness, closeness, understanding. Warmth.” Read this great summary by
.Recently, I was cutting up some wrinkly apples nearly past their prime and couldn’t help but get excited for Fall. I know, we still have all of August and September, depending on where you live, before it even begins to feel like Fall, and yet all I could think of was cozy sweaters, soup and rainy, chilly days. I used to say that I was a fan of each season for they each bring a beautiful change to the landscape and to my garden, yet as I’ve gotten older I think Fall has come out on top. It’s not quite in the craze of the holidays and yet the cooler temperatures beckon us to slow down, to savor and to create. I am definitely ready for some of that.
For the past 14 months I’ve been on a bit of a wild and crazy health journey. I got pretty sick on Easter Sunday 2023 and began to dig deeper with the help of my PCP. She wasn’t even supposed to be my doctor but the one I was scheduled to see cancelled last minute and Dr. A became my gal. She was thorough and also direct. So I shifted my diet (read no dairy, no gluten) and waited for test results. After a food allergy came back, I shifted my diet again, now I was to avoid corn as well. However I like food, calories are pretty important, and if you know me I’ve actually always struggled to put on weight. In my efforts to find a diet that would actually allow me to live the life I wanted, I came across something called the animal-based diet. It’s a lot like paleo with some small differences. Still, the fact that I went from under 110lbs, hypoglycemic, and low energy, to approaching 112 lbs with actual muscles (!!), regular blood sugar levels, and the best mental clarity and energy I’ve had in years is enough to convince me. My doctor has been thrilled too. If you’re curious to learn more I invite you to check out this podcast, and have a frank conversation with your doctor.
Devotional Corner
I hit a wall this week friends, and it finally occurred to me - I. Am. Tired. That’s the raw truth, and honestly I had a different devotion all written out but last night as I prayed, these words hit me and I knew what I would be sharing with you all this week.
I prayed to the Lord “I am so tired. You know why. You know the source. Help me” and then I fell asleep without a response or much thought. Somewhere deep in my soul I knew my prayer had been heard.
There have been times in my faith that I have felt such peace, an invigorating peace, and been able to rise above the din of the world as it shouts, heaves, and throws down whatever chaos it has been brewing. Then there have been times when I’ve felt truly desolate, wandering in the dark, praying in the dark, and crying in the dark. Still there are other times when I find my glass empty, my bones ache with exhaustion, and my mind wanders over to the bright lights and sounds of social media, the news, shouting ever louder “look at me!” and it’s just so much easier to zone out.
I used to feel guilty, like I wasn’t being a good Christian if I kept landing in those less than ideal spots, drained, distracted, exhausted from life. That somehow I wasn’t praying enough, living a life holy enough, or in general seeking after God enough. That I should be strong enough, faithful enough to avoid falling back into these same places. Maybe I wasn’t really growing in my faith.
“I am so tired. You know why. You know the source. Help me”
The reality is we’re human and will often find ourselves exhausted, overwhelmed, distracted, and in dark places. It is what we choose to do while we are there that defines our lives and relationship with God. It is what we choose to do that shows the growth that has slowly been taking place in our hearts. It is what we choose to do that reveals the fruits of the soil of our soul.
Friends, I know I’m not alone in feeling tired. Not alone in feeling overwhelmed, or distracted or frustrated or not even being sure where to start. A lot is happening in our world, from such grand things as politics and wars or, closer to home, keeping little people alive each day, shaping hearts and souls, to the more mundane tasks such as trying to eat healthier, putting the laundry away, or cleaning up the kitchen each night before bed. We have a lot on our plates and that is exhausting. It can seem at times that we should be able to handle more, do more and not be tired because if we are truly following after Christ we can handle anything.
Yet if I’ve learned anything from my own pilgrimage of faith, it is that in turning to the Lord when we are depleted, when we are overwhelmed, when we are wandering in the dark that makes the difference. It is in choosing Him, no matter how little we have left to offer, that can lighten our load. It allows us to grow, to heal, to move beyond the moment we find ourselves in and rest. It is in choosing Him in these hard moments that can change our hearts, our minds, and our souls. And ever so slowly we become holy - we become saints.
It can be easy to look at the known saints, such as St. Benedict, or St. Thérèse of Lisieux and think there is no way you could be like them, all holy and seemingly perfect. Friends, I’m here to tell you that the saints were never perfect, what made them holy was that they never gave up choosing God. They heroically chose the Lord in their everyday situations, the good ones and bad.
And choosing Him doesn’t have to be some grand gesture either, it can be a simple, tired prayer uttered at the end of a long day, on top of a long week, month or year “Lord, I am tired. You know why. You know the source. Help me” and then falling asleep, knowing that He heard you and is with you. Always.
God would never inspire me with desires which cannot be realized; so in spite of my littleness, I can hope to be a saint.
St. Thérèse of Lisieux
Discussion Questions:
This section is a starting off point to help you go deeper with topics discussed above.
What is one small way you can choose God this week, over anything else? How can you place Him as the priority for even 5 minutes? I’m always blown away with what He can do with even the smallest things we give Him. Imagine if we chose bigger things too?
July is the dedicated to the Precious Blood of Jesus. As Catholics we are encouraged to meditate on this, an ancient devotion going all the way back to Pope St. Clement I in 96 AD who wrote “Let us fix our gaze on the blood of Christ and realize how truly precious it is, seeing that it is poured out for our salvation and brought the grace of conversion to the whole world.” In this spirit, consider praying the Novena of Confidence to the Sacred Heart or the Litany of the Most Precious Blood of Jesus. Offer your struggles, challenges, frustrations, all that you are battling in your life and let the Blood of Jesus cover your requests, and grant you peace.
Quote of the Week
To fall in love with God is the greatest romance; to seek him the greatest adventure; to find him, the greatest human achievement.
- St. Augustine of Hippo
Is a Hotdog a Sandwich?
So this is the question that has sparked heated debates. Caused feathers to ruffle and to overall be a point of contention for many. Yet, here the majority of you are throwing down on the side of “Nope!” I admit I’m a bit of a contrarian and would side with the “Yes, Obviously!” if only because a hot dog has the minimum requirements for what makes a sandwich - meat, bread, and condiments. Still, it was fun to see how this poll shifted throughout the week!
This week’s poll!
Two thoughts occurred to me as I read this (Three, if you count "HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!!!" as one!)
First: If there's a piece of advice I have given most often, it is to rest. I don't have any responsibility, not a doctor, etc, so no one has to listen to me but more than a few folks in my life have had some version of the joke conversation with me: "Doctor, doctor, when I do a million things all the time constantly, I feel grumpy and achey and I can't recover!" "Well, don't do that!"
Here's an anecdote from history I like to share. Stonewall Jackson's command in the Civil War came to be known as the Foot Cavalry, for how far and how fast they covered ground on foot. He made more than one famous march to save the day (or save his own skin!). His philosophy was to march his soldiers 50 minutes out of every hour, and give them rest for 10. He claimed that he got more out of those 50 minutes than other generals did in a straight 60 minute march. Rest is equally important to the work. Take it seriously!
Second: I've been working on diet as well, and starting just before lent I started doing Keto. You hit the nail on the head with this line: "the best mental clarity and energy I’ve had in years is enough to convince me." I am a different person today than I was even in JANUARY. It's insane. The right diet, the right fuel, clears the mind. My good friend, Hambone, has been doing a lot of research into this, and so many issues are metabolic in nature. All that to say--I hear you on the joys of finding the right diet. That's a huge win!
Another great post, thanks Mandy!