Why do I keep doing this podcast? Encouraging heartfelt words from great people

Henri Nouwen

https://www.instagram.com/henrinouwensociety/?hl=en

Holley Gerth

https://www.instagram.com/holleygerth/ https://email.cloud.secureclick.net/c/7048?id=2631465.2201.1.a01ccf5fbaa3c449fd327eabe85e57d9

Derek Walcott

https://allpoetry.com/love-after-love https://g.co/kgs/unk1Bw

Ronne Rock https://ronnerock.com/

https://www.amazon.com/Try-Softer-Approach-Mode-Connection-ebook/dp/B07T76JM1V?ref_=ast_author_mpb

https://www.goodreads.com/author/quotes/1890390.Ann_Voskamp

https://kaitlynbouchillon.com/

https://emilypfreeman.com/

https://jenniferdukeslee.com/

The poem entitled LOVE AFTER LOVE by St. Lucian, Caribbean poet and writer Derek Walcott:-

The time will come

when, with elation

you will greet yourself arriving

at your own door, in your own mirror

and each will smile at the other's welcome,

and say, sit here. Eat.

You will love again the stranger who was your self.

Give wine. Give bread. Give back your heart

to itself, to the stranger who has loved you

all your life, whom you ignored

for another, who knows you by heart.

Take down the love letters from the bookshelf,

the photographs, the desperate notes,

peel your own image from the mirror.

Sit. 

Feast on your life.

After a few months of medical uncertainties I share about some things that kept me going and what I discover about creativity and rest.

CREDITS:-

Steffany Gretzinger "Pieces"

https://youtu.be/fl9aqfmVmPc

Strahan Coleman on Instagram: @commoners_communion

Books Written: Prayer Vol. 01; Prayer Vol. 02; Prayer Vol. 03; Beholding

Ronne Rock website ronnerock.com Instagram @ronnerock linkin.bio/ronnerock

Henri Nouwen: Instagram @henrinouwensociety https://www.henrinouwen.org

This is about how frustrating passwords can be, stressor points, and how my depression has looked, and insights that maybe you can relate to.

What restlessness looks like for me, a poem about depression, simple suggestions about managing emotions and a prayer for you!

Some amusing perspectives on compromise.

Episode 9 Transcript

Have you ever compromised yourself?

I can think of many times that I have. 

I have compromised my health.  I have pushed myself to the limit and then some, to prove something, be someone who I thought people would admire, or, what was expected of me.

Everyone has their own limitations, and what is a high threshold for one person could be a little one for another. ..  and vice versa.  The thing is to know yourself, and not compromise.  It can be easier said than done, though, especially if you choose to go down the comparison track/route.  

Take for example when I am sick.  The one time I have a good excuse for resting and relaxing in order to heal, and I play it down, and behave like I am well.  I find it hard to rest when I know I need to .. why? It is the simplest and best way to get better, so why make it difficult to do?  I live in a house with many steps so I am used to going up and down a lot, never batting an eyelid.  When I’m sick, drained of energy, I get quickly reminded of how exhausting climbing them can be, a bit like climbing a steep hill on a hot day.   

Do you do this? Compromising who you are with who you THINK you’re expected to be? Yes! I’m guilty of that!  I have always been good at saying and doing the right things / the things expected of me.  Why is it so difficult to be my own authentic person? No matter who might like it or not?  More on that another time ..

When I am out on the road, I tend to try to accomplish as much as I can, making multiple stops, getting errands done ..  I come home drained, irritated, and in a way, cheated.  Is that the right word?  Perhaps I mean annoyed with myself for choosing to make that one last stop, that tips me over the edge.  I grudgingly cook dinner that night, and I’m in a bad mood for the rest of the evening.  

So Everything does not have to be done in one trip, and much of the time the errands are not urgent or time sensitive.  So picture this, I’m in town in the heat of the day, doing the errands, and then something pops into my head - isn’t it someone’s birthday 3 months down the line .. I stop and go off track to look at this store JUST WHILE I AM HERE .. and I get distracted with what was not even on my list in the first place.  The rest of the list I had made for that day is now null and void as I ramble on to find that gift.

So ..

Next time I won’t compromise : Here’s my list:

1. Don’t go down two flights of stairs to feed the cat at 9 pm if I’m exhausted 

2. Don’t make the Cookies for … (what are their names??)

3. Don’t think doing stuff for other people is more important than my stuff

4. Don’t Push myself to the limit just because that’s what women (or at least women without a 9-5 jobs ) are expected to do … in my mind’s eye

5. Don’t give others advice when I do exactly what I’m advising them not to do!!! 

Thanks for listening to Episode 9 of .. His Calm in My Storm!

Thank you to Stephen Lovell for the sound editing

My experiences with letting go - and, it doesn't have to be hard!

Transcript of Episode 8

What does Letting Go have to do with shoes? Let me tell you.

I have been struggling a lot recently with letting go. My husband has always said that I am like a dog with a bone, when I have an idea in my head, or decide something I never let it go. It is the same in situations where I should let it drop but still I hang on to a piece, or two, or three ...

I was leader of a prayer ministry for many years. I felt nudges at different times in my ministry leadership, telling me that it was time to pass it on, to make room for other things in my life. Even good things you have to let go of at times, and it is to recognise it and follow through without picking it back up, trusting that it is in good hands.

I have had a bank account for many years, since UK college days, so when I got a letter from the bank to advise they were closing the account I was upset and angry. I spent frustrating weeks on the phone trying to make human contact, then trying to send faxes that are not accepted, before giving up and letting my son handle the transfers out of the account. One person dealing with it all would be easier and stop account blockage. And Yet, I wouldn’t quite let it go. I started to think of ways I could “help”, checking with my son and basically making a massive nuisance of myself, before finally realising what I should have done all along - to trust him and to LET IT GO!

I guess you’re waiting to hear about the offending shoes. Here goes:

Well, I was cleaning out my closet last week and came across a pair of shoes, a lovely bright colour turquoise with 5 beautiful large shiny beads on the top of each one. I have only worn them a handful of times, and ages ago, and yet .. I still wanted to keep them. They don’t even fit that well, my little toe and heal come over the edge on my larger foot ( maybe that is why I did not wear them a lot). I showed them to Jess, my daughter, and she confirmed what I was thinking: to give them away. LET GO! And yet ... I kept them in a clear bag at the top of the landing by my desk for days. Every time I passed I thought, come on, do it, but every time I admired the colour ... They are still here, but only until I finish writing this and then I will give them a huge leaving party, ending my relationship with them at last.

What are we holding on to that needs to be let go of? God is speaking to me and teaching me things on this journey. Baggage, over-packed things, that are just too weighty and need to be dropped. Letting go does not always have to mean the “end”, as my dear friend put it: “Acknowledge the beauty of the shoe, the ministry, the bank account, what you liked and the season and purpose they served, and your hope for them in THEIR future. In the case of the shoes, they will be treasured and beautiful to someone else. Then, as time goes by, they too will complete their purpose and be laid to rest. And, their impact will remain where they imprinted.”

Let’s Pray:

Father, In life’s journey we have many weights that we don’t need. Help us, Help ME, to let go when the first nudge is felt, and if need be, give us a sharper nudge, so that our journey can be smoother and more comfortable. Set us free to live your abundant life. It’s what you desire for each of us.

Thank you! In Jesus Name

Amen

OH! Just in case you want to see a picture of the offending shoes, you can look for me on Instagram: it’s the same name as this podcast “His Calm in my Storm”.

Thanks for listening to Episode 8 of His Calm In My Storm.

Creation's Light comes in so many forms, colours, shapes and sizes. It is such a gift to experience it in all of its glory; as an eclipse, but also in every day things, like a sunrise, sunset, a cool breeze, in an ocean swim ...

Were you one of those people who were up late on May 15 2022, or who woke up specially to see the Super Blood Moon Eclipse? Sadly, I was not one of them. I did not know about it or I would have been right there to witness it from my balcony. Many were awe struck. I read about it later, or heard descriptions from friends who had seen it. It was actually named the Super Flower Blood Moon because it coincided with the spring blooming season in the U.S.

God is such an amazing creator. My friend posted on Instagram after seeing the blood moon eclipse - “Light and time change everything: vision, colour, perspective; all it takes is five minutes ... Watch the sunset, shine like the moon and marvel at the stars ... God is in the creative details.” HE SURE IS!

The sky has been full of haze lately, with lots of dust in the atmosphere. It’s made it difficult to see light, like In moments of mental struggle, when light seems to have gone dim. I looked up one evening to see how the stars were faring. They were trying to push through the haze, I could almost see them. Later in the night I looked up again. There they were! in all their splendour, Their shining lights could not be stopped.

Psalm 148:3 says:

2 Samuel 22:29 “You are my lamp, O Lord; The Lord turns my darkness into light”.

I’ll end with a prayer :

Join me again next time in His Calm in my storm

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-MmRGSEG2LM        Podcast Editor: Stephen Lovell

Encouraging stories of rainbow encounters

Transcript of Episode 5 :-

Do you sometimes see things in nature that make you feel ‘fuzzy’ inside? What about getting a nudge while watching a film, or you see ‘something’ in your pet’s eyes like they are trying to tell you something?

This episode is about rainbows and the effect they can have.

First of all, the history of a rainbow. In Genesis, when Noah left the arc after the flood had ended, God made a pact, or covenant with Noah and all of his descendants (that’s us!).  The covenant promised that God would never again allow a flood to destroy the earth. As a sign of this perpetual covenant, God said he would hang a rainbow among the clouds, a reminder of sorts to Him of the promise He made to all of us.

I am in different Whatsapp groups or chats, like I have a family chat, a sisters chat, a praying moms chat, a dolphin pod chat, and a few others. We share pictures, family goings-on, prayer requests, little stories of what’s been going on in our lives and so on.

Rainbows came up a lot recently, and I had to share a few snippets. I asked two of my very good friends that had had pretty powerful encounters with rainbows if they would share on my podcast. And they agreed! Thanks Mbonabi and Lisa!

Lisa’s recording

Mbonabi’s recording

I also have a rainbow story! I had been feeling low, tired and worried that I may be sinking into a slump of sorts. I was listening to music in my car trying to shake the gloomy feeling.  A song began to play called ‘Talking to Jesus’. So, I started to talk to him, and tell him how I was feeling. I looked to my right and there was a bright rainbow, and it was as if God was talking back to me, saying that everything was okay. And it was.

Thanks for listening to episode 5 of His Calm in My Storm.