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Year Three, Day 23: Blue Sunday

Feeling blue today. But fighting it.  I made it to church. I had my usual "chorizo plate" at Teco's after church.  I did not get up early enough to run, but after I type this blog, I am heading to the gym.  For an attitude adjustment!

I am keeping my eyes on the news.  Several protests are going on downtown Portland today.  In the wake of the stabbings on the Max a week ago, the Mayor wanted to cancel the "Free Speech" rally that had been scheduled due to the recent violence, which was anti Muslim and racist.  But it went on as planned.

There have been some arrests. And some people started to hurl objects at the Portland Police.  So latest news is that the Portland Police closed Chapman Square and asked the protesters to move on. 

This, the day after the terrorist attack in London.

I am trying to stay in touch with God. But I am feeling wounded and vulnerable.  I found solace in the words of Henri Nouwen yesterday. But, alas I did not pack his book in my bag today. 

I did a quick search. These two quotes jumped out at me:

"Nobody escapes being wounded. We are all wounded people, whether physically, emotionally, mentally, or spiritually. The main question is not, 'How can we hide our wounds?' so we don't have to be embarrassed, but 'How can we put our woundedness in the service of others?' When our wounds cease to be a source of shame, and become a source of healing, we have become wounded healers."

 "Did I offer peace today? Did I bring a smile to someone's face? Did I say words of healing? Did I let go of my anger and resentment? Did I forgive? Did I love?' These are the real questions. I must trust that the little bit of love that I sow now will be many fruits, here in this world and the life to come."
 ~Henri Nouwen

I would do well to recite these every morning.

This morning, before I headed to church, I was reading about the heroes that emerged in the London attacks. There are always heroes.  I look for the heroes after each devastating attack against humanity.  And their stories are what I cling to.

I shared a scripture on Facebook. I share these scriptures and quotes, not to preach to others, but to remind myself who I am.  And how to continue living in this broken world.

I will leave you with this scripture.  I am still so soul weary. Not finding words easily.

 1 John 3:18-20
The Message (MSG)
" My dear children, let’s not just talk about love; let’s practice real love. This is the only way we’ll know we’re living truly, living in God’s reality. It’s also the way to shut down debilitating self-criticism, even when there is something to it. For God is greater than our worried hearts and knows more about us than we do ourselves."

I will talk to you tomorrow.

Happy Sunday.

Peace and Love,

Zita 



 

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