This isn’t a reflection on today’s readings, as meaningful and powerful as they are. No, this is an expression of gratitude on my part for all of you who have offered such positive and powerful feedback to me since I began this blog. Some of you have shared a bit of your own stories with me. Somehow, you found something in one of my posts helpful to you in your own life’s challenges. Somehow, the Lord spoke to you through some words of mine. A few of you told me stories about yourselves or others you know who are Aspies as well, and how my blog seems to offer them some hope of finding their own voice and place. I cannot claim much credit for any of this. I share what I am given. You, in turn, have shared what you were given. In such sharing, received in love and gratitude, we experience the healing touch of the Holy Spirit.
Of all my posts, the one that has generated the most feedback thus far (and by far) is the one I wrote a week ago yesterday, on the occasion of my last meltdown. It is called The Resurrection and the Life. In it, I allowed myself to be more vulnerable while linking my story with the account of the raising of Lazarus. When I began to write it, I did not know how it would look or how it would turn out. It came together as I wrote it. It was as though I myself were the keyboard. The idea to write it came on the spur of the moment. It’s always a good thing to be obedient to such things, I find. One learns to recognize the subtle, gentle voice of the Spirit, at least once in a while.
Please know that each and every one of you (whether you have sent me feedback or not) is in my daily prayers.
I have enjoyed writing these posts and sharing them with you. My personal favorites? So far, in no particular order: Announcing the Jubilee, Breaking Trail, Be Perfect?, Feed the Birds, Seeing, Listening and Believing and The Resurrection and the Life. Of course, this list could change tomorrow!
As a token of my gratitude to you, I am offering you a song. Reading your feedback, I hope that you will find it meaningful and a source of encouragement. It has been for me. The song is called “By Way of Sorrow”, written by Julie Miller. There are several recorded versions out there, including her own; you can check them out on YouTube. Here are the lyrics:
You’ve been taken by the wind
You have known the kiss of sorrow
Doors that would not let you in
Outcast and a stranger
You have come by way of sorrow, you have come by way of tears
But you’ll reach your destiny meant to find you all these years
Meant to find you all these years
You have drunk a bitter wine with none to be your comfort
you who once were left behind will be welcome at love’s table
You have come by way of sorrow, you have taken a long way home
But the love that waits for you
You will one day come to know
You will one day come to know
All the nights that joy has slept will awake to days of laughter
Gone the tears that you have wept
You’ll dance in freedom ever after
You have come by way of sorrow, you’ve come over a stony ground
But when love calls out your name
You will lay your burden down
You will lay your burden down.
You have come by way of sorrow, you have come by way of tears
But you’ll reach your destiny meant to find you all these years
Meant to find you all these years
Julie Miller, from the album “Blue Pony”
Hightone Records 1997