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Jody Lee Collins

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Instagram Inspiration

“Lord, loosen in me the hold of invisible things “Lord, loosen in me the hold of invisible things; Help me to walk by faith and not by sight; I would, through thickest veils and coverings, See into the chambers of the living light, Lord, in the land of things that swell and seem, Help me to walk by the other light supreme, Which shows thy facts behind man’s vaguely hinting dream. -George McDonald, Diary of an Old Soul, September 25th entry #GeorgeMacDonald #faith #trust #courage #wordsfortheyear -Stained glass window, Chicago Athletic Club, November 2019
Pantoum for a Rainy Day -K.C. Ireton outside, a cr Pantoum for a Rainy Day -K.C. Ireton outside, a crow climbs the steep angle of the neighbor’s roof rain drips from the fig tree, branches bare and barren inside, heat rattles the registers boys squeal in delighted play on the blue carpet rain drips from the fig tree, branches bare and barren on my lap, a fleecy blanket and an open book boys squeal in delighted play on the blue carpet before me, a cozied teapot and a white china cup, brim-full on my lap, a warm fleecy blanket and an open book why are you cast down, o my soul before me, a cozied teapot and a white china cup, brim-full hope in God, for I shall again praise him why are you cast down, o my soul outside, a crow climbs the steep angle of the neighbor’s roof hope in God, for I shall again praise him inside, heat rattles the registers **** I'm always inspired by other people's work, especially when someone illustrates craft so beautifully. #poetsofinstagram #poetry #rainpoems #pantoum @kcireton
“The only reliable indicator of poetry is an abu “The only reliable indicator of poetry is an abundance of the poetic--that experience of the words drawing attention to themselves, drawing attention to their several provocative associations, and by so doing, inviting the reader to collaborate in meaning making. . . “That’s what poems do, and that’s why we like them so much. Being unfinished, bearing inexhaustible potential, they remind us of ourselves.” -Scott Cairns, essay on Poetry in A Syllable of Water . . . A friend and I were talking yesterday about how much we love words and how that influences our work writing poetry. Sometimes you find a word like “essence” and discover at its root it’s from the Latin ‘esse’, meaning ‘being.’ The depth of a simple word goes deeper still, informing the way you continue to think and write. I love learning about words, especially their roots and meaning. How about you? . . @poetkindpodcast #rootedandgrounded #linguistics #lifelonglearning #philology #amwriting #poetsofInstagram @scottcairns #words #poetry #language
"In a world that for the most part steers clear of "In a world that for the most part steers clear of the whole idea of Holiness, art is one of the few places left where we can speak to each other of holy things." -Frederick Buechner, Whistling in the Dark, An ABC Theologized, 1988 #art #buechner . . . November 2019, jlc
"You cannot go where you cannot see." Erwin McManu "You cannot go where you cannot see." Erwin McManus @mosaic . . . @erwinmcmanus "A New You-Essentials". Thank you to my daughter Leah for sending this message my way. (Sunday afternoon view, #PNW)
Kindergarten, January (a #poem for MLK) I never dr Kindergarten, January (a #poem for MLK) I never dreamed one day I’d be explaining to five-year-olds that yes, a man with black skin was shot and killed because someone hated him for the color of his skin. Telling them that before he died, he had a Dream for children Just like them. And after the story (required), they—with their earnest, “was he real, teacher?” “yes, he was,” and me with my tears spilling, held at bay, I’m the grown up here, after all stunned at their beautiful innocence, so sure of what they believe, too young to know any other truth, with their small-ish hands placed in front of them, like so many skin-made flowers, a spontaneous array of color spread across the carpet. And their words, puzzling, bewildered Again and again, “But I’m just like her," "She’s just like him." "They shouldn’t have done that." "Why did they shoot him?" "We’re all just the same, teacher.” And me shuttered speechless, nodding, mumbling, tears on my cheeks, bungling words that should never be said To five year olds, “They killed him because they didn’t know what you know—We’re all just the same, honey, yes we are. We’re all just the same.” Jody Lee Collins January 2014 #MLK
Yesterday I had lunch with my sister-in-law and we Yesterday I had lunch with my sister-in-law and we talked about transitions. My brother is officially retiring from his position as lead pastor of our church (although he’s got a new job he loves, completely different from what he was doing.) For 37 years he poured out to the people God brought through our church doors, and of course my sis in law was there with him. Our denomination--Foursquare--ordains women and she officially served as a staff pastor for the last 5 years. **** The hardest part of transition is it’s so, well, transition-y. We are sadly more wired to be do-ers rather than be-ers, whether we’re pastors or not. We talked a lot about why the “look busy!” “do something!” mantra is so ingrained in us. I think it’s a lie from the Garden, the one that said we could be like God, the only Creator, the ultimate do-er. Our conversation also dovetailed with the words the Holy Spirit has been speaking to my own heart about the need for more reflection and times of contemplation amidst my busy days. Silence is hard to come by and slowing down is even harder. But I know I need both. . Gods heart is for us to be still, know that He is God, to rest and listen to what he has to say to us personally, so He can create in us and through us. And He is committed to us, no matter how long it takes. Thank goodness for that. #spiritualpractice #bestillandknow #transitions #contemplatives #ps4610 @therabbitroom
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Recent Posts

  • The Next Best Yes {a #poem}
  • A Slow Walk into the New Year
  • When God Disrupts Your Christmas Plans on Purpose
  • What’s in a Name? Only Everything {an Advent Post}
  • Advent-Waiting {a #poem}
  • Book Review:In a Strange Land-Ten Kingdom Poets

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Homepage Headshot by Kris Camealy, all other photos are mine, unless otherwise noted. c. J.L. Collins

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