Sheryl Crow is my voice and songwriting hero of the moment. Only because she’s a girl, she’s gutsy, her voice sounds like hell and heaven all at once. She’s a more refined Joplin and a sassy rock Dixie Chick.
When I think about all the people, self-diagnosed or otherwise, who have ever burned out.. it’s never the job, the environment, the workload, the expectations or the other people that did it.
It’s usually the person themselves, burning so hot with a passion, a flame, an anger, a burden to see things change.. that forgets to guard the flame, to fuel the fire well, to manage the temperature… that forgets they themselves are the fire and end up burnt, consumed, blistered.
So if the spark is there, and you throw in expectations, workload, accelerant…boom.
….what is as what is, knowing that what is could change but in the present hasn’t changed, therefore Is.
….pain like i know, is the beauty and art of life, the depth being carved out in my soul.
….three things that can appear endless: possiblity, opportunity and truth, are in fact, finite. don’t miss out on me, please.
Lord, it was already dark by the time it was 4pm you know. I think I am most tired of seeing people end up being less than they could be, everywhere.. and i keep thinking – if only you saw the spark of Elohim I see in you.. you would know you were worth more than that.. and it would let you be more of who you are.
The Generation Game I’m pondering since conversations with the interim senior pastor, recent demographic directions in our evening gatherings .. the disparity between what the term ‘seeker-friendly’ means to the Boomer, Po-Mo and Millenial generations.
My hypothesis is that whilst distinct definitions and boundaries for good practice could be easily formulated within each one (where boomer[R] and po-mo[L] are perhaps forming the outer poles of a spectrum where millenial is slightly center-left), thereis such a leap between the expectations of what a boomer-seeker and a millenial-seeker are, let alone their pathways to that place.. that there is a certain requirement for us to clear the decks and start again.
I am not sure that there are pathways for integrating congregations that have been separate in any way that appeases all or any. All three are theologically dissatisfactory to me in some way, but all encounter people who are genuinely seeking.
When do we start over with the simple things? Take me out to the desert.
Song Of The Moment : A Mirror Is Harder to Hold by Jon Foreman
You could stay a while longer We could stay up and talk about last summer We could go down to the water, watch the sunset goin’ under Its not that I’m a stranger to lonely moments I’ve had my share of those Please don’t go please don’t leave me alone A mirror is so much harder to hold
I could try to point a finger But the glass points in my direction Sure you’ve got your sharp edges but my wounds are from my own reflection You’ve got nothing I could ever hold against you Ive got fatal flaws to call my own Please don’t go, please don’t leave me alone A mirror’s so much harder to hold
I met a man who was looking for perfection Said he’d never met a girl who was good enough His eyes are getting old like they’d love to love again Such a lonely man Such a lonely man
I see him in my reflection taking steps toward me these days So I hold you that much closer and pray we don’t throw this away It’s not that I’m a man who couldn’t love you I know what these arms are for
Please don’t go please don’t leave me alone A mirror’s so much harder to hold A mirror’s so much harder to hold Please don’t go please, don’t leave me cold A mirror’s so much harder to hold
The Satisfaction Inspired by a really off-the-mark sermon on sexual desires and temptation, I’ve been contemplated many things along the lines of gender stereotypes, church mythology, social sexuality … some of my favourite topics.
The Christian ideal of perfection (espoused on Sunday “whatever sexual mistakes you make before marriage will absolutely create a negative impact and baggage that is unavoidable in your future marriage, jeopardising your future sexual relationship”) becomes increasingly prevalent..
…. perfect sexual morality (complete lack of sexual thought & engagement prior to marriage) …. the trade-off for this sexual purity is the provision of a perfect sexual & relational harmony in marriage
They are similar myths to…
…. because you are a Christian God will provide a husband/wife who is (select as many of the following that apply to your tastes) perfect | goodlooking | sexually expressive | spiritually competent | suits your tastes completely | able to satisfy you completely
or in simpler language – Mr. Right and Princess Perfect.
But it’s our imperfections that drive us to the heart of God. It’s others imperfections that compell us to the character of Christ.
My fear is that too many of us/friends/whoever have traded in learning to love well for the certainty and assuredness of finding a love we are convinced will satisfy us.
I am heartbroken for I recognise I am less than satisfactory, ill-equipped to satisfy many. I have pretty words, a deep heart and plenty of laughs to share .. but I could never satisfy completely.. I am not the complete Love.
Perhaps I am too hard on myself. Perhaps I am too hard on others.. but I do not want to be entirely satisfied. I want always to be left a little wanting. A little space that reminds me, completion is not in the life of a Lover, but in a triangle of Lovers… unHoly and Holy pieces coming together.
oh i’m less than satisfactory but i am hidden mysteries and depths so deep you could search me for centuries and still i’d surprise you but you don’t know anything about how i could satisfy you
you’d learn to love the whiskey on my tongue and the tattooed things you’d see when i’m undone and you’d be satisfied with the food of my table and the songs of my journals, all the words i gather setting you on fire, the people i love and the God i follow, you’d love the taste of honey ‘cos nothing is what is seems, least of all, the satisfaction.
The ring was made by seventysix design. From the design I took to them, they made a model, ordered the rubies and created the piece all within 2 and a half weeks. More than that, it felt like making something with friends.
Tash McGill is a broadcaster, writer and strategist who works with people and organisations to solve problems and create transformation. She believes people are the most important thing and that stories are powerful ways of changing the world. You can find out more at tashmcgill.com or by visiting her LinkedIn profile.