What's Saving Your Life Right Now?

A few of us from the HH class of 1991 (Marnie, Lillian, Katherine, Laurin, Laura, Shelley, and Angie) had a huge gift of going up to Lillian's house in Monteagle Saturday and Sunday for a getaway. I wrote this reflection below after the weekend after posing my favorite question from Barbara Brown Taylor at dinner last night that kept us around the table for hours on end. 

I asked a simple, borrowed question—
one I’ve asked before—
and once again
it did not disappoint:
What is saving your life right now?

For one—
it was sinking deep into a book,
like catching one’s breath
after being under water-
grateful for the space,
the quiet,
the permission
to enter new worlds again
after years of carrying,
holding,
being strong for everyone else.

For another—
it was finally saying yes
to the dream—
the book that lived in her heart for decades,
now finding its way onto the page—
a once-in-a-lifetime story
becoming a guide
for this one wild and precious life.

And then there’s the running for some—
running off steam,
running on joy—
feet hitting the pavement,
trails stretching forward,
sometimes alone,
sometimes with the kind of friends
who say yes
to crazy ideas and adventures. 
Miles that become a meeting place—
with God,
with others,
with self.

For one—
it was watching people show up,
make a difference,
refusing to look away—
and something in that
sparking resolve:
keep going,
keep choosing the hard thing,
lead with integrity,
stay steady—
stay rooted. 

For others—
it’s the honest-to-God shorter work week (Alleluia!),
the hormones (Can I get an amen?),
and therapy that brings healing (Thank you, God!)-
all of them
deserving superhero capes.

For some—
it’s faith communities,
circles that hold them close,
draw them nearer
to each other,
to God—
places that give hope,
make room for healing,
and keep hearts tender
in a world that can harden
you if you let it.

For some—
it’s the animals—
twenty-two of them,
great and small,
a whole living, breathing 
ecosystem of love—
of unexpected and
uncomplicated joy. 

And for all of us,
it was this—
this small circle,
this gathering,
this chance to get below the surface,
to share from our hearts,
to remember that we are made
of bits and pieces of each other’s stories.

This—
right here—
this is the thing.
This is what’s saving our lives
right now.
 

Molly and Rafa were such wonderful additions to the mix! 

Sunday morning run with Lillian 

Facetiming with Allyson Bourke to bring her into the mix