Made Things

Adjusting the View

Lake Quinault, WA Coast
It’s a long weaning, a letting go,

This gradual goodbye

To the everyday anchors holding me here,

This life-giving circle of friends,

Cheering from the sidelines

I t N   B h E e T  W o E  l  E d N

And

T t H h E   N i E s W?

Or This??

Emptying out the pockets

of my full and comfortable past,

Laying the scraps on the table,

Used up crumbs from bread

I cannot taste and do not need.

Winnowing the weights on the way—

Where to?

Who with?

How so?

What now?

Now?

Only this leaving, stretching out the farewells

Like labor bringing new birth.

I’m attending to tracing

The faces and voices,

Smiles, warm hands

And all-welcoming ways.

Soon it will be “so long”,

Me with a suitcase of well-wishes,

Pictures emblazoned on the side,

Reminding me of those

Who wave from the sidelines

As we push away from the shore

One slow, sure stroke at a time.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sharing with Emily for Imperfect Prose on Thursdays

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6 thoughts on “Adjusting the View”

  1. emily, thank you. Jesus gave me the words…and the pictures. I'm anxious to see what He means. Only time will tell about this change and where it will lead.

    By the way, I think of you and your husband and family way up there in Canada and pray for you often.

    (and about the letter to Anne Lamott–who knows what God will do?)
    bless you.

    Reply

  2. this is gorgeous, sweet jody. “it's a long weaning…” i felt the ache, the distance, even though you hadn't gone yet. great writing! bless you friend.

    Reply

  3. Brandee, thanks for 'stopping by'….my husband and I are in a transition time right now–he's leaving his job and retiring. But I feel like the Holy Spirit's saying it's time for another kind of change. I'm just not sure what/where…
    God is faithful.
    Bless you.

    Reply

  4. This reminds me a little of Robert Frost's “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening” in that I want to believe you're just leaving town, but I can't help but wonder if you're writing about something more. Regardless, goodbyes are hard. God bless.

    Reply

  5. wow what a beautiful writer you are.. thanks for sharing! look forward to continuing to get to know you!
    Blessings
    Jenn Hand

    Reply

  6. “those Who wave from the sidelines As we push away from the shore One slow, sure stroke at a time.” Sure like the poignancy of this. So glad to follow, friend!

    Reply

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