Being the dork that I am, one of the first things that popped into my mind after reading this was a quote from Princess Leia, "The more you tighten your grip, Tarkin, the more star systems will slip through your fingers." The more you try to control/force something, the more that very thing will want to leave. Unclenching my hands could allow me to hold more of what I want/need in my life...and avoid being blown up on the Death Star. Thank you for the reminder.
Kathy I love this so much! Please keep bring all this beautiful dorky goodness to me! I agree with you completely. We can hold so much more when our hands are open, because we are in a position to both give and receive. I love you with all my everything Kathy!
“Release the tension”. I realized how much tension my hands were holding. I thought I was relaxed! Thanks for bringing the present to mind, Duane! I love you with all of my everything. 😊
I’m always amazed by how much tension I’m holding without even realizing it, sometimes release feels stranger. But it’s so needed. I love you with all my everything right back Martha!
So true. You may not have intended this to be beyond general spirituality, but I look at things through a now reformed-Scots Presbyterian lens. Sorry if I got off the rails. I interpret your excellent essay as "Be still and know I am God." I love it when God asks, "Do I have your attention now?" I got my last parental spanking at age 7 and the real and Godly 2 X 4 upside-the-head, around 40 years ago. Why, why, why do we push the boundaries until we meet the end of a big stick (or a flyswatter)? I guess it's baked-in, being a part of Club Human. How else could we learn grace and humility? Thanks Duane. I don't know your life experiences to write so deeply, but I'd sneak into the Church of Duane any Sunday.
The thing I love most about sharing work, both written and visual, is hearing what people bring to it and take from it. Those are the points of true meaningful connection. When the deepest parts of me meet, see, and hold the deepest parts of someone else. And you my friend, never fail to do exactly that. I relish and resonate with the perspective you’re offering here. I grew up Pentecostal, and even though I left the church and that particular faith a long time ago, there are many aspects of that lens that still exist for me. My faith and beliefs look different but I still have some. I have faith in the work and I believe in us and what we do. Thanks for sharing so much of this with me. I love you with all of my everything.
With clenched hands we crush the flower, it loves it's form and fragrance. With a gentle, opened hand, we hold it, we preserve beauty. They say that an open hand equals an open heart. May we spread and stretch our fingers out as far as they can possibly go. 🩷
Danni! That is such a beautiful blessing! Thank so much for that! That was a reminder I very much needed. I appreciate it. I love you with all my everything
To wait empty handed and not tremble at the thought that now there is nothing left to hold on to, nothing to support or save us if we fall?
To tremble at the thought that maybe what we so tightly held onto was the sum of what we are?
What if we had been clutching for so long, our fists clenched so closed, we no longer remembered, could no longer see exactly what it was we held on to?
What if we really didn’t want to know?
What if, on loosening our fingers, empty handed now, we sit and we wait. Then we realise that this thing most longed for is sitting there and waiting with us. Waiting for us to take its hand.
“The present of the present” that is such a beautiful gift of tenderness. Thank you Kay. I’ve been clinging so tightly to expectations and ideas. Versions of things. Versions of myself . The way I think things should be. The things that I think are missing, all the missing the tremendous blessing of what’s already right here. Thank you again Kay! I love you with all my everything.
Being the dork that I am, one of the first things that popped into my mind after reading this was a quote from Princess Leia, "The more you tighten your grip, Tarkin, the more star systems will slip through your fingers." The more you try to control/force something, the more that very thing will want to leave. Unclenching my hands could allow me to hold more of what I want/need in my life...and avoid being blown up on the Death Star. Thank you for the reminder.
Kathy I love this so much! Please keep bring all this beautiful dorky goodness to me! I agree with you completely. We can hold so much more when our hands are open, because we are in a position to both give and receive. I love you with all my everything Kathy!
“Release the tension”. I realized how much tension my hands were holding. I thought I was relaxed! Thanks for bringing the present to mind, Duane! I love you with all of my everything. 😊
I’m always amazed by how much tension I’m holding without even realizing it, sometimes release feels stranger. But it’s so needed. I love you with all my everything right back Martha!
"Hold on loosely. But don't let go..."
thanks, dad. Love you.
The timing of this one 🙏🙏🙏
Thank you Vanessa! I’m so glad it landed when it was needed❤️
So true. You may not have intended this to be beyond general spirituality, but I look at things through a now reformed-Scots Presbyterian lens. Sorry if I got off the rails. I interpret your excellent essay as "Be still and know I am God." I love it when God asks, "Do I have your attention now?" I got my last parental spanking at age 7 and the real and Godly 2 X 4 upside-the-head, around 40 years ago. Why, why, why do we push the boundaries until we meet the end of a big stick (or a flyswatter)? I guess it's baked-in, being a part of Club Human. How else could we learn grace and humility? Thanks Duane. I don't know your life experiences to write so deeply, but I'd sneak into the Church of Duane any Sunday.
The thing I love most about sharing work, both written and visual, is hearing what people bring to it and take from it. Those are the points of true meaningful connection. When the deepest parts of me meet, see, and hold the deepest parts of someone else. And you my friend, never fail to do exactly that. I relish and resonate with the perspective you’re offering here. I grew up Pentecostal, and even though I left the church and that particular faith a long time ago, there are many aspects of that lens that still exist for me. My faith and beliefs look different but I still have some. I have faith in the work and I believe in us and what we do. Thanks for sharing so much of this with me. I love you with all of my everything.
We’ll keep on keeping on. Have a good rest of the week!
We will indeed brother. Right back at you!
With clenched hands we crush the flower, it loves it's form and fragrance. With a gentle, opened hand, we hold it, we preserve beauty. They say that an open hand equals an open heart. May we spread and stretch our fingers out as far as they can possibly go. 🩷
Danni! That is such a beautiful blessing! Thank so much for that! That was a reminder I very much needed. I appreciate it. I love you with all my everything
I just saw there was a typo. Autocorrect does it every time. 🙃 It loses its form and fragrance. Only love today. xo
Haha! No worries Danni! I promise I make far more typos far more often than you. I’ll take love over loss any day lol!
Thank you for this, Duane.
To wait empty handed and not tremble at the thought that now there is nothing left to hold on to, nothing to support or save us if we fall?
To tremble at the thought that maybe what we so tightly held onto was the sum of what we are?
What if we had been clutching for so long, our fists clenched so closed, we no longer remembered, could no longer see exactly what it was we held on to?
What if we really didn’t want to know?
What if, on loosening our fingers, empty handed now, we sit and we wait. Then we realise that this thing most longed for is sitting there and waiting with us. Waiting for us to take its hand.
The present of the present.
“The present of the present” that is such a beautiful gift of tenderness. Thank you Kay. I’ve been clinging so tightly to expectations and ideas. Versions of things. Versions of myself . The way I think things should be. The things that I think are missing, all the missing the tremendous blessing of what’s already right here. Thank you again Kay! I love you with all my everything.
I love you with all my everything, Duane.
"... the hands need to be occupied with something other than wringing themselves." (@esteezales)
That is exactly it Richard!! Thank you so much!!