Thank you, thank you, thank you. Your images of being on the edge certainly resonate with where I am, and where my congregations are. May I use some of your words in my message for Sunday (with credit given, of course!)
This was inspiring without being exactly comforting. Which illustrates the point, I would say. But it makes me wonder: Can the edges be nurtured, or are they the result of tending to the center? Jesus spoke on and to the edges, but he also ate and drank and visited with the establishment figures interested in him. I suppose, as long as there are margins, they will always be the Christian’s true calling. “For ye have the poor always with you” — for example — and the way Jesus puts it should probably be seen much more like a gift than a burden.
Thank you, Diana, for this reflection. On the Edge we just need faith & courage and to walk through the chaos that surrounds us and to continue with the work we are given to do. Thank you again, for a great post!
This was truly helpful. I don't like heights either or edges. But we are on the edge, all of us. Some of us are faking it better than others. Jesus just walked on--not off, not then at least. Well, so can I. For now, at least.
Thank you Diana for this very helpful reflection. In your acknowledgment of all the things we experience at the edge, you offer the gift of “Hope on the horizon” in looking at the Luke 4 story and in reading the poetry and quotes of other guides who call us to a kind of community at the edges-a hopeful place filled with new possibility. I recently experienced a kind of calmness and hope in the stillness and beauty of the Hoo doos at the edge of the path at Bryce Canyon. Thank you again for the sharing out of your experience and wisdom. Blessings!
Thank you, Diana, for this wisdom and reflection. I have been grappling about what I am going to preach about tomorrow and this helped to solidify much of what I have been thinking and feeling (and I have not been feeling so hopeful lately...but...yes, on the edge.) A great reminder that when Jesus was at the edge, he just turned on around and kept on keeping on... (Rev. Pat Langlois, North Hollywood)
This was a great read. I love the story from Luke. To walk through the crowd, where it is full of hostility and anger, to carry on the work to be done is a powerful example. Thank you for your words.
Spelling error: blind instead of black: All of this reminds me of Luke 4. In the story, Jesus read from Isaiah in his hometown synagogue. “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me…to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the black, to let the oppressed go free.”
A wise and penetrating view of our present very real crises. Fear is not always to be avoided. It can drive us to search for alternatives. Fear breeds courage we may not realize we possess. Use fear to be more.
thank you for your very candid insight. I would say that of the few months; we all to some degree, live in fear and anxiety. We (collatively) need to re-learn the basic tenets of faithful living- let go the fear(s) that paralyze our being.; regain an open heart, and an open mind; along with the strong willingness to open our gates and build bridges
On the Edge
Thank you, thank you, thank you. Your images of being on the edge certainly resonate with where I am, and where my congregations are. May I use some of your words in my message for Sunday (with credit given, of course!)
This was inspiring without being exactly comforting. Which illustrates the point, I would say. But it makes me wonder: Can the edges be nurtured, or are they the result of tending to the center? Jesus spoke on and to the edges, but he also ate and drank and visited with the establishment figures interested in him. I suppose, as long as there are margins, they will always be the Christian’s true calling. “For ye have the poor always with you” — for example — and the way Jesus puts it should probably be seen much more like a gift than a burden.
Thank you, Diana, for this reflection. On the Edge we just need faith & courage and to walk through the chaos that surrounds us and to continue with the work we are given to do. Thank you again, for a great post!
We all needed to read that. Thank you for your honesty and insight
This was truly helpful. I don't like heights either or edges. But we are on the edge, all of us. Some of us are faking it better than others. Jesus just walked on--not off, not then at least. Well, so can I. For now, at least.
Thank you Diana for this very helpful reflection. In your acknowledgment of all the things we experience at the edge, you offer the gift of “Hope on the horizon” in looking at the Luke 4 story and in reading the poetry and quotes of other guides who call us to a kind of community at the edges-a hopeful place filled with new possibility. I recently experienced a kind of calmness and hope in the stillness and beauty of the Hoo doos at the edge of the path at Bryce Canyon. Thank you again for the sharing out of your experience and wisdom. Blessings!
Thank you, Diana, for this wisdom and reflection. I have been grappling about what I am going to preach about tomorrow and this helped to solidify much of what I have been thinking and feeling (and I have not been feeling so hopeful lately...but...yes, on the edge.) A great reminder that when Jesus was at the edge, he just turned on around and kept on keeping on... (Rev. Pat Langlois, North Hollywood)
When fear comes, I say "GOD I'm afraid...I know you are always with me and I can lean on you. I'm not alone. And I know it's true. I feel some peace.
This was a great read. I love the story from Luke. To walk through the crowd, where it is full of hostility and anger, to carry on the work to be done is a powerful example. Thank you for your words.
Spelling error: blind instead of black: All of this reminds me of Luke 4. In the story, Jesus read from Isaiah in his hometown synagogue. “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me…to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the black, to let the oppressed go free.”
Thank you, I’m glad that we are in this together!
A wise and penetrating view of our present very real crises. Fear is not always to be avoided. It can drive us to search for alternatives. Fear breeds courage we may not realize we possess. Use fear to be more.
This made me smile and nod-
"Sadly, people who are on edge often look for others to throw off the edge - imitating the primal impulse to placate angry gods?"
Humanity has been dealing with things we can't control and don't understand forever. Thank you for putting it all in perspective again. 💜
thank you for your very candid insight. I would say that of the few months; we all to some degree, live in fear and anxiety. We (collatively) need to re-learn the basic tenets of faithful living- let go the fear(s) that paralyze our being.; regain an open heart, and an open mind; along with the strong willingness to open our gates and build bridges