I've missed you so much all these weeks. Your writing spreads out a table, and I was deeply glad to fast while you were practicing rest, but awaiting the feast all the same. In Andrew's Eiger picture (in his facebook stories) it isn't the mountain that gets me, it's the meadow carpet pointing at the sky. That wildflower valley is so Tolkien-y. The beauty both of you put in the world, resting, feasting, walking backwards up gravel, keeps tumbling out over us. Oh, thank you!
Elizabeth, I love this! You've given me much to ponder -- the idea of taking the pressure off "rest" and accepting that work is what conditions us for work. And practicing rest makes us better at rest. Somehow this resonates with my can't-sit-still soul. I can get better at rest! And... all this explains that post-rest (or post-vacation) re-entry feeling of "Did that even happen? Did I even rest? Because I feel more tired than ever!" Thank you for your wise words (which are also warm and witty).
Thank you for this, Laura! I really enjoyed meeting you in March. Please excuse this very late acknowledgement of your kind letter to me. I thought as I read it, "I think Laura and I would make great friends." We need a coffee date!
So much depth in this piece, Elizabeth. Thank you for taking us with you, and for having the courage to name things: Work prepares us for more work. Rest teaches us to rest. Andrew’s hike descriptions are (mostly) true.
Thank you for this piece. It is doing so many things to me. It is comforting the part of me that misses Europe. It is touching my wife-mama heart. It is teaching me things and asking me things. It is doing all of this in your voice that tells the truth in love and in the light.
I think you have a special capacity to carry us along through story to a place...a little special spot you have found. And you set us down and point and say "look there"... And suddenly, from this place you have led us to, we have a particular view of a beautiful and needful truth. It's like you found a better angle or place where the light hits things so the truth shines or is more clearly visible.
You have encouraged me and given me so much to think about! Thank you! I'm the "trip planner" in our family - and we do have fun! - but I'm starting to understand why I'm tired!
I've missed you so much all these weeks. Your writing spreads out a table, and I was deeply glad to fast while you were practicing rest, but awaiting the feast all the same. In Andrew's Eiger picture (in his facebook stories) it isn't the mountain that gets me, it's the meadow carpet pointing at the sky. That wildflower valley is so Tolkien-y. The beauty both of you put in the world, resting, feasting, walking backwards up gravel, keeps tumbling out over us. Oh, thank you!
Elizabeth, I love this! You've given me much to ponder -- the idea of taking the pressure off "rest" and accepting that work is what conditions us for work. And practicing rest makes us better at rest. Somehow this resonates with my can't-sit-still soul. I can get better at rest! And... all this explains that post-rest (or post-vacation) re-entry feeling of "Did that even happen? Did I even rest? Because I feel more tired than ever!" Thank you for your wise words (which are also warm and witty).
Thank you for this, Laura! I really enjoyed meeting you in March. Please excuse this very late acknowledgement of your kind letter to me. I thought as I read it, "I think Laura and I would make great friends." We need a coffee date!
I was smiling the entire time I read this. I laughed out loud twice. What a gift.
I (still) can't stop laughing at mediocre ice cream. That and "Just zig zag."
Elizabeth Harwell makes me want to write. Thank you for this feast, Elizabeth.
So much depth in this piece, Elizabeth. Thank you for taking us with you, and for having the courage to name things: Work prepares us for more work. Rest teaches us to rest. Andrew’s hike descriptions are (mostly) true.
I concur!
I concur!
Dear Elizabeth!
Thank you for this piece. It is doing so many things to me. It is comforting the part of me that misses Europe. It is touching my wife-mama heart. It is teaching me things and asking me things. It is doing all of this in your voice that tells the truth in love and in the light.
I'm so grateful.
I think you have a special capacity to carry us along through story to a place...a little special spot you have found. And you set us down and point and say "look there"... And suddenly, from this place you have led us to, we have a particular view of a beautiful and needful truth. It's like you found a better angle or place where the light hits things so the truth shines or is more clearly visible.
This is a gift. I thank Jesus that you share it.
Gee wiz. Thanks, Sarah. 🥲 This is such a generous comment— I’m so glad this piece was good to you. I wish we could sit down together and chat!
You have encouraged me and given me so much to think about! Thank you! I'm the "trip planner" in our family - and we do have fun! - but I'm starting to understand why I'm tired!
beautiful.