I’ve gotten some very kind birthday wishes and I’ve decided to seize the opportunity to put forward a few personal requests. I offer them for your reading pleasure. You’re welcome to act upon them, but please, feel no pressure. Where there is grace, there is no shame.
Happy Birthday, David Dark. Thank you for sharing your gift. It's hard to put into words what your thoughts and witness have meant for me.
In response to your last question, David Bunker says, "What is this world asking of us? Not demanding but asking? Are we listening? When the needs of others becomes the possible voice of God, we listen differently. We begin to see their needs not as burdens to bear but opportunities to share. In the sharing we deepen our own humanity and begin to have solidarity with others around their deepest most human parts and not the superficial issues of acquired wealth and status."
What a great question. I don't always carry my burdens well. I think seeing the harm others suffer because I am burdened and lash out (not at them, but at the world, they are collateral damage) helps me the most.
Happy 52nd anniversary of your first breath, young man. I’m learning how to lay me and my burdens down at the foot of the cross. The trick is to stay there…
I find the times I’m least present ie living in the moment is exactly the time I’m likely to act destructively. If I focus on what I’m doing in the moment I’m more likely to be measured and constructive about what I’m doing. I’m also more conscious of options like whether to eat a bowl of ice cream before bed when I’m really not hungry. Not always successful at being in the moment mind you but I try. And I should add sometimes I eat the damn ice cream anyway. THH
Happy Birthday, and thank you for the work you do.
That last question has been wearing me down lately. A few weeks ago, I came across this from Paulo Freire: “If we have hope, then we must fight, and if we fight with hope, then we can wait.” Something about diligence and patience keeps coming to mind. I think Eugene Peterson talks about doing our work as Christians with the attitude of a farmer - working diligently but not hurriedly, cultivating righteousness, justice, etc., rather than trying to manufacture. I’m not too good at it most days, but that’s the attitude I try to have in mind.
In regards to your final question, a few thoughts come to mind.
I think my initial response would be that we can learn to carry our burdens less destructively by beginning to live through a lens of gratitude. I believe gratitude may be a most powerful force for internal peace/composition/change. When we attempt to foster gratitude and intentionally lead ourselves to name and to recognize that which is worthy of being grateful for, it opens up space within ourselves.
Whether it is the feel of the wind blowing in the morning time, the jacket of a passing stranger, or the sound of laughter over a crowded place, it seems there is always something that is worthy (to each individual) of warranting gratitude. This, in turn, provides room and margin to hold both our burdens and both our boons in the same space. And when we are able to take our eyes, for a moment, off of our burdens and recognize that both can live in the same realm - our burdens and boons - it becomes a slipstream that can lead to a river of stepping back and gaining a clearer perspective on these burdens.
When we allow our burdens to exist - not out of a sense of complacency or giving up but in a sense that allows us to remove ourselves from continual dwelling and obsession - it seems we are better able to lead ourselves towards solutions to these burdens. In addition to this, embracing our burdens and rejecting our cultural belief that burden = weakness inhibits grace towards ourselves.
Our belief and viewpoint of what we think our burdens say about us may be the biggest catalyst of carrying our burdens less destructively.
When we foster gratitude and work towards creating space and removing the urgency/desire for perfection that is often ingrained in us, I think it leads to grace and margin within ourselves that leads us towards greater stillness and a higher propensity to carry our burdens well.
Happy Birthday, David Dark. Thank you for sharing your gift. It's hard to put into words what your thoughts and witness have meant for me.
In response to your last question, David Bunker says, "What is this world asking of us? Not demanding but asking? Are we listening? When the needs of others becomes the possible voice of God, we listen differently. We begin to see their needs not as burdens to bear but opportunities to share. In the sharing we deepen our own humanity and begin to have solidarity with others around their deepest most human parts and not the superficial issues of acquired wealth and status."
What a great question. I don't always carry my burdens well. I think seeing the harm others suffer because I am burdened and lash out (not at them, but at the world, they are collateral damage) helps me the most.
Happy 52nd anniversary of your first breath, young man. I’m learning how to lay me and my burdens down at the foot of the cross. The trick is to stay there…
I find the times I’m least present ie living in the moment is exactly the time I’m likely to act destructively. If I focus on what I’m doing in the moment I’m more likely to be measured and constructive about what I’m doing. I’m also more conscious of options like whether to eat a bowl of ice cream before bed when I’m really not hungry. Not always successful at being in the moment mind you but I try. And I should add sometimes I eat the damn ice cream anyway. THH
So kind of you to give these gifts on your bday. Thanks very much. Hope the day was a good start to a beautiful year.
Happy Birthday, and thank you for the work you do.
That last question has been wearing me down lately. A few weeks ago, I came across this from Paulo Freire: “If we have hope, then we must fight, and if we fight with hope, then we can wait.” Something about diligence and patience keeps coming to mind. I think Eugene Peterson talks about doing our work as Christians with the attitude of a farmer - working diligently but not hurriedly, cultivating righteousness, justice, etc., rather than trying to manufacture. I’m not too good at it most days, but that’s the attitude I try to have in mind.
Dr. Dark, happy belated…
In regards to your final question, a few thoughts come to mind.
I think my initial response would be that we can learn to carry our burdens less destructively by beginning to live through a lens of gratitude. I believe gratitude may be a most powerful force for internal peace/composition/change. When we attempt to foster gratitude and intentionally lead ourselves to name and to recognize that which is worthy of being grateful for, it opens up space within ourselves.
Whether it is the feel of the wind blowing in the morning time, the jacket of a passing stranger, or the sound of laughter over a crowded place, it seems there is always something that is worthy (to each individual) of warranting gratitude. This, in turn, provides room and margin to hold both our burdens and both our boons in the same space. And when we are able to take our eyes, for a moment, off of our burdens and recognize that both can live in the same realm - our burdens and boons - it becomes a slipstream that can lead to a river of stepping back and gaining a clearer perspective on these burdens.
When we allow our burdens to exist - not out of a sense of complacency or giving up but in a sense that allows us to remove ourselves from continual dwelling and obsession - it seems we are better able to lead ourselves towards solutions to these burdens. In addition to this, embracing our burdens and rejecting our cultural belief that burden = weakness inhibits grace towards ourselves.
Our belief and viewpoint of what we think our burdens say about us may be the biggest catalyst of carrying our burdens less destructively.
When we foster gratitude and work towards creating space and removing the urgency/desire for perfection that is often ingrained in us, I think it leads to grace and margin within ourselves that leads us towards greater stillness and a higher propensity to carry our burdens well.
I would love to hear your thoughts.