Dear Friend,
There are seasons of life when we have to batten down the hatches, tuck ourselves away, hibernate and heal.
Last September I had surgery on my foot. And now, five months later, it feels as though life is finally starting to return to a normal rhythm.
Except that I'm not yet able to take the long country walks I love so much . . .
I'll need to have my other foot repaired in the future -- for now, it's a slow steady pace with a slight limp.
And it's enough.
"All shall be well, and all shall be well and all manner of thing shall be well."
-- Julian of Norwich
This time of physical healing has also been a season of spiritual healing. There have been moments of reconciliation. As gentle hands served, old misunderstandings were cleared away and love grew in places where it had once failed to thrive.
Last fall at the silent retreat, dear women -- some of them strangers -- made me comfortable by propping up my fragile foot and bringing me food and drink.
My friend Ana broke the silence to whisper,"Just receive."
Such compassionate words! Words of communion: Just receive.
"He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake."
Psalm 23:2-3
"I knowed you wasn't well. Why you try to hide it?"
"I didn't want to be trouble to anyone," I said.
"Everybody has to be trouble to somebody. And you just come from the hospital too."
I looked up. She sat in the rocking chair bent forward, her arms folded at ease across her aproned lap. Had she searched my pockets?
"How did you know that?" I said.
"There you go getting suspicious," she said sternly. "That's whats wrong with the world today, don't nobody trust nobody. I can smell that hospital smell on you, son. You got enough ether on those clothes to put to sleep a dog!"
~Ralph Ellison, Invisible Man
I've been missing my blog. I've tried to fire things back up a few times, but the return to normal after a few months off my foot has been a bit of a challenge. I've had a lot of catching up to do! Thank you for reading. And thank you so much to those of you who have noticed my absence and checked in from time to time. I'm as excited as ever about moving forward with my quest. It's wonderful to have faithful readers to come back to.
I'm currently halfway through Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison. Then I'll have just five more titles to go and I'll be finished with the WEM novel list. After that I hope to carve out more time to write about what I've read so far. I'm also looking forward to receiving my copy of Pioneer Girl by Laura Ingalls Wilder. In June I'll revisit To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee in anticipation for the release of Go Set a Watchman in July. These titles are pretty much set in stone for me in the coming months.
Are you making time for deep reading? Don't forget to prop up your feet from time to time. Sip and nibble on delicious, nourishing things.
And if it is your season to receive, don't fight it.
Just receive.
With love,
Adriana
