Autumn is certainly here! The air, the smells, the crunch of leaves underfoot and the feeling of a slowing pace in our home. I wasn’t going to write today but I told myself it would be far worse to let all the little beauty-marks of life go unspoken and eventually forgotten all together. So here I am!
It was chilly in our house for a few days before my dear, sweet lineman husband was able to clean the wood and pellet stoves. I’m afraid I’ve subjected him to nightly renovations on our dining room rather than the typical fall prep and hunting he’d likely prefer. But today the flames in both stoves dance hot and orange and have kept me from needing to warm my fingers and nose with unlimited cups of chamomile tea.
I’m selling my candles at a local folk store now which means I’ll need to be more consistent with dipping. I didn’t think they’d have room for them, but to my surprise they excitedly swooped them up and told me to bring back more! I love all candles, but what I really love is the idea of bringing light into other people’s homes, especially during meals. In our house lingering around the table, laughing, talking, leaning back with filled tummies and dish-washing procrastination fighting our faith is a nightly routine! The soul is settled when the candles are burned down low, and the voices are hushed to match - and we do eventually stand to scrub the plates.
We’ve received calls from our adoption agency about birth moms looking to place their babies. I can’t say much else except that I’ve heard nothing more on it. So, we wait, and we pray. And that’s where my heart needs to settle these days. I did spin the little bit of baby clothes I’ve kept in my closet through a gentle wash cycle in case this all happened quickly, but as far as I can tell, it’s going to take some more patience on our part. I’m thankful for the exhale of breathing room, there’s still science books to read and music lessons to get to on time. Those two things alone have been enough to keep my head swirling for a bit. We have peace with the outcome, whatever that might be.
I’m reading the most soul-impacting book (apart from the bible) right now. “The Happiest Man on Earth” - about an Auschwitz survivor who chose to be hopeful despite living through the most despicable, terrorizing years in concentration camps.
My heart can barely stand the descriptions, the cruelty, the injustice…
We talk often about imago dei (made in the image of God) with the children. They are learning the depths of the words as we draw attention to each and every person on earth (including themselves) as created by God, for a reason and with a purpose. If we fail to teach this to our children and if we lack in it ourselves, we are only a Planck length away from orchestrating the evil injustices we’ve only read about.
“I have a believe that if you have good morale, if you can hang onto hope, your body can do miraculous things. Where there is life, there is hope. Why not give hope a chance? It costs you nothing! - And my friend, I lived.” - Eddie Jaku - The Happiest Man on Earth
I don’t know what it is about hope and the riskiness that’s often paired with it in my mind, but I believe with my new friend, Eddie that giving hope a chance might just make living that much powerful.
I highly suggest the book. It’s hard because it’s real, and real life isn’t always a Norman Rockwell painting - but you don’t need me to tell you that. Hoping for what is unseen can be difficult, but God is faithful to couple us with His strength and form a faith in us that makes anticipating His goodness safe and certain to our often-hopeless souls.
“Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” Hebrews 11:1
Monday afternoon inspirational breath to draw from (if you please):
Live a beautiful life. Even if your surroundings are dark and depleted. Trust God.
Kick leaves through the yard. Play.
Pour boiling water over tea bags. Drizzle honey.
Read hard books. Cry.
Look for artwork that gives you four things; peace, purpose, plans and pleasure.
Find opportunities to listen to live music. Breath.
Snuggle puppies or children or both! Laugh.
Light a candle (go get one of mine even!). Linger.
Smile at everyone you see in the grocery store. Imago Dei.
Reach out, reach in and hope even if it’s hard, what do you have to lose?
With love,
E
Thanks for writing Emily! your attention to beauty in the ordinary reminds me of reading Ann Voskamp, and I think we need more people calling attention to the ordinarily beautiful ways God is present in the every day.
I love Fall, candles (especially yours), and that book is on my reading list!