To Try Again

So I took another little break from writing, but hopefully I'm back. Still healing from this surgery, and somehow my scar looks worse? And there's anger in the healing. And I didn't like the tone of my words, the direction I had headed. So I took a pause to reconsider. Thought about stopping all together, but I can't. Words well up and need to spill. Hopefully they'll spill more cautiously, considerately...less angry and whiny, more encouraging because we all need that encouragement. Not just from time to time but always, every minute, because this life is hard and the world is brutal, wanting to tear us down, leave us broken and battered, shattered in the dark. We all need hope and light and a reason to keep moving forward. To heal the bruises this life leaves. To try again.

So I'm trying again.

What's been going on? We've had a good run of showings now that the weather is warming up, so hopeful on that front. Physical therapy is going well but hard--it hurts! Sore this morning, but I suppose that's progress, right? No healing without the hurting. Hoping to get in a little run today. Busy packing. Michael's had a good week at school so we're heading to a fish fry tonight at a church down the street that I've heard is spectacular--I think that's my favorite part of Lent, Friday night fish...why can't we do that year round? Though that would take the joy out of it to make it so regular and mundane...fish again?? Yeah, okay...maybe not. Tucker celebrates his first birthday next week, the big lug! He's really grown into such a beautiful dog and so full of love and happiness! He is probably the happiest dog I think I've ever known, and that's really saying something after knowing Willow, though she is still the loviest dog I've ever known, by far. Oh! And I've been offered a little artwork job that's been inspiring and challenging...more on that later as we see how it goes!

And it's St. Patrick's Day this weekend. I'm not Irish, nor do I pretend to be, but for those who are and do--enjoy your green! And a little prayer from St Patrick for you as well:

The Prayer of St. Patrick

I arise today
Through the strength of heaven;
Light of the sun,
Splendor of fire,
Speed of lightning,
Swiftness of the wind,
Depth of the sea,
Stability of the earth,
Firmness of the rock.

I arise today
Through God's strength to pilot me;
God's might to uphold me,
God's wisdom to guide me,
God's eye to look before me,
God's ear to hear me,
God's word to speak for me,
God's hand to guard me,
God's way to lie before me,
God's shield to protect me,
God's hosts to save me
Afar and anear,
Alone or in a mulitude.

Christ shield me today
Against wounding
Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me,
Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ on my right, Christ on my left,
Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down,
Christ in the heart of everyone who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,
Christ in the eye that sees me,
Christ in the ear that hears me.

I arise today
Through the mighty strength
Of the Lord of creation