2.10.2014

Women, Listen Up: Where Is God Moving Next? {An Abstraction on Listen}





sit in front of her in the old linoleum-floor bathroom, squatted low on a stool, and think how this is the way it ought to be, I, made low, serving the least of these, and wonder why I can't do it more often. I zip up her footie pajama, and push my face into her hair. I'm drunk with her still-fresh from heaven, fresh from night time bath tub scent. She lures me in with it, and I know this is the very best moment of my day, and maybe I'm a fortune teller because I can see it's also perhaps the best minute of my life, excepting only the second she slipped out, warm and wet, the doctor needing me to hold her in for safety's sake, me begging to let her go, to have a chance in this world. Yes, her chance. Me and God, co-conspirators, creating life together.

Yes, do you see it friends? How beautiful a chance at life is?

I warm up a leftover quesadilla for myself and we lie on the couch together, and though she's eaten earlier, she snuggles up to me, Mama, you gonna eat all o' dat? 

Yes. I inhale an intoxicating bite and she asks Is that yummy?

Yes, baby. You want Mama to share? She nods. I'll share with you, baby, okay?

Because you love me. Forking a scrumptious bite of my small dinner into her waiting tiny mouth, I melt into a million dissolved pieces, like chocolate on a stove. Oh yes, baby I do. 

Moments. Some days are so chock full of these that make us love and be loved, that it makes me listen more intently. It hushes me and makes me wonder where I went wrong in those days that felt love-less. I know He's here, always, but sometimes, I get to feel the glory-weight, and it's His hand upon my heart, upon my moments, blessing me fully. Fully here, fully human.

I wander outside in the cold stillness of dark, and inhale and exhale. I remember to look up, because this is what listening to the stillness does to me, and I'm surprised to see a star-lit sky after many days of shrouded, blanketed veil. Through her bare-naked branches, reaching up to Him, scrony, dry and thirsty--a little like the way I feel--the half moon winks down at me from her throne in the expansive universe. I feel so small, like the not quite awakened buds on tree's branches that speckle across her glowing orb. Dogs bark in the neighborhood nearby, a train rattles in the distance, but all feels still and holy. I just notice, listen and breathe. I pay close attention. This is how I pray, silently.

In the grocery store on Saturday, I'm a little bit of a mess, and I do my best to be calm, energetic daughter by my side, asking for candy and other things I can't afford.

A dear family friend sees me, comes over, and asks how we're doing, asks about my tiny Lilly who was a shrunken newborn, mal-nourished, the bones in her forehead protruding and my milk the only thing her stomach could take, but it wasn't enough. I tell her she's great, about to go to preschool this fall--she's almost five, and her birthday comes late. She tells me her daughter, one of my best friends, has a fibroid tumor the doctors just found. Is there a worry for cancer, I ask. Says she isn't sure. And I tell her I know, how I know, when life is a heavy weight, how it can suffocate, and it's impossible to even pick up the phone to call a friend. She asks me to pray--I say I will. She's had so many problems--she doesn't need anymore --I'm thinking of four years ago, when her only child, only three days old, died, and how then and only then, did she get to hold her in her loving mother arms--and I break.

The tears stream down my crumpled face, and her mother catches me in her arms. I love her so much I whisper into her shoulder. Thank you for being a good friend to my daughter, she tells me, holds me close. I feel the weight of glory, God so close, Emmanuel.

I think of that embrace later, when I walk into the house, putting away toilet paper. My lips don't move at all. But my heart beats with this desperate plea--God, be with her, she needs you now. She needs your healing hands in a most powerful way. 

This is how I worship. I know no other way. Because the dancing, the raising of hands {though you can find me lifting them from time to time because I can't help myself}, the conjuring of His presence--they just don't cut it. I hope you don't mind me saying, they don't work for me anymore.

No, I listen instead.

So, on bright, clear Sunday morning, I call this new friend God's given. She's an old friend, and a new friend. New, because we've bonded more recently, and these relationships online--this community He's given? Miracle being worked out--Him working all things together for good, because I love him, because He loves me.

She says so tell me what's going on, what you're thinkin'. She jumps right into the frying pan with me, right in the middle of the sticky stuff, the very messy, screwed-up stuff no one really wants to hear--my kinda girl. I tell her I'm having faith God will complete the good work He began, and I'm holding on hard, to grace. That's all I can do. She cries with me, laughs so hard with me, and prophesies His goodness, the love He has for me, over me.

We talk about listening. I tell her what the Spirit is saying. And how do we know what the Spirit is saying--when it's Him speaking? He comes to me in a cave, and asks me what I'm doing. It makes me pay attention, makes me take notice, makes me think.

You've heard from God. And it's that one statement I can't get out of my head--no, two statements.

You are capable--from every side, you're being told you aren't capable, but you so are.

I listen. Hard. With the phone up to my ear, so hot, my soul is hungry for living bread, and she breaks it open with me, piping hot, shows me where freedom is and where to plant my feet. This step here, then that one there. See, friend? See how God wants you to not only be delivered, but also free?

I don't have much {beautiful laugh}, but I have this: stories, stories that you and I share. Her southern accent, so dripping sweet and soft, sings sweet peace over me like a lullaby.

Women, listen up: Let's be this kind of friend to one another? The kind that can listen to the pain. And be okay with it. Laugh with me. Cry with me. Don't balk when you see something brassy or bold. No, call it what it is--the way God did in the beginning--call out the good in me. Can we do this for one another?

Listen. Yes, let's listen. To the stars, to the spirit, to the trees, to the pain, to the beauty, the glory and the mess, the screwed-upness, and the words that aren't being said. Perk up your ears, soldier-sister. Where is God moving next?

Just Listen with me.







***Will you do this with me, friends? Let's explore the practice of listening! This week, before you write, take a walk, in the woods, at the lake or park, down your neighborhood road, listen for the wind, watch the trees, the sky, pay attention to the small, seemingly unnecessary details of your day. It is here you will find wholeness, here you will find strength, beauty, brokenness, goodness, joy, pain... Here you will find God. THEN write about it-- Our prompt is Serve, but our focus is on the practice of listening and then writing. Excited? We'll connect on twitter and facebook with the hashtag, #listentoyourlife and of course as always, #concretewords. Do me a favor and use these on social media and share with friends--invite them?
What this link-up is about: We "write out spirit" by practicing writing about the invisible using concrete words. In case you are going "what in the world is a concrete word?!"--this just means (using the prompt to inspire) write out what's around us--concrete words make the senses come alive, gives place. In every story, there is always an above and beneath, a beside, something tucked away, aromas in the air, something calling in the trees or from the street, notes in our pocket, rocks in our shoes, sand between our toes. Go here to see Amber's take on this. It was very helpful to me--I think it will be beneficial for you, too.

A few simple guidelines:       1. Be sure you link up the URL to your Concrete Words
                                             post and not just your blog home page URL.
                                         2. Put a link to this post on your blog so that others
                                             can find their way back here.
                                         3. Try to visit one or two others and encourage their efforts
                                         4. Please write along with us, using concrete words--
                                             and the prompt--Please no entries with how-to's, advertising,
                                             or sponsored posts
                                         5. We connect on twitter with the hashtag #concretewords--
                                               please share so others can join!

Today's prompt is Listen. GO!


**{This link up will run until next Sunday, the 16th, 11:59 pm., giving you plenty of time to write and link-up before the next concrete words is posted the following day. Sometime between now & then, I will read your stories and highlight one of them from this link-up on social media. On the 17th, the prompt will be SERVE .}

9 comments:

  1. I love this in all the ways you're thinking I do. ALL THE WAYS.

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  2. Yes, I do know all the ways, even before having to ask. But so glad I get to, whenever I want, because I love talking to you. Can't. help. my. self. ;) xo.

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  3. More awesomeness, Nacole! You breathe beauty on the page as you exhale His grace. Love this post and love your tender, receptive heart. Yes, I want to listen better. I Need to do so! Let's do it together in community and help one another along the way in this challenging yet oh so worth it art of listening. Blessings and love :) x

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  4. Nacole,
    So beautiful how you listen then share it with us...joining you in listening to God and to others with an attentive heart..Thank you :)

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  5. Thank you for being here, always, Joy. Even when you can't, there is grace in all. But know you are so loved here.

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  6. Thank you Dolly, for your heart. It's beautiful, friend. I appreciate your encouragement.

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  7. I love hearing you...and I love that you are listening...isn’t He just calling all of us to abide with Him...rest in His love...no striving if we are held by Him as the grafting gets stronger so the flow is unhindered. beautiful journey you are on...let’s all listen with One heart.

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