[Magdalen] Crucible

[Jon Egger]

Many of us have known each other and met each other at listmeets for at
least 20 years.  We've all had changes in our lives...sorrows and
joys...and this community has meant much t0 me, and I know everyone else,
too.   Recently, it bathes my soul and for me it's grace upon grace, humbly
taken and wrapped around my shoulders.

+++
Grace & peace,
jon


On Sun, Dec 7, 2014 at 6:31 PM, Ginga Wilder <gingawilder at gmail.com> wrote:

> Jim,
> Your loving care of Marcy has changed your life; your sharing your and
> Marcy's life journeys with us changes our lives.  Thank you.  Thank God.
>
> Ginga
>
> On Sun, Dec 7, 2014 at 6:59 PM, Judy Fleener <fleenerj at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > Jim, I am so grateful for your sharing.  It helps me prepare for what is
> > ahead of us.  There will be a time when Bill and I will be looking at
> > illness and separation.  It may not be as immediate and fully in our
> faces
> > as you are experiencing, but the specter is there.  At 83 and 77 we are
> > especially aware of what a blessing we have.  You and Marcie are in our
> > prayers each day.
> > Judy
> >
> > On Sun, Dec 7, 2014 at 6:05 PM, Capers Limehouse <
> > capers.limehouse at comcast.net> wrote:
> >
> > > Lovely. Holding you in light. Capers
> > > On Dec 7, 2014, at 3:09 PM, James Handsfield <jhandsfield at icloud.com>
> > > wrote:
> > >
> > > > I had a bit of an epiphany today at church.  I’ve been seeing Lindsay
> > > Buehler for spiritual direction - actually both Marcy and I have been
> > > seeing her, sometimes together.  During this time with Marcy’s illness,
> > > I’ve felt sometimes abandoned, sometimes reassured, but most of the
> time
> > > abandoned.  According to Lindsay, it’s not desolation, which I was
> afraid
> > > it was, but it’s finding I’m in a different room of God’s house, and I
> > need
> > > to find God there, not where I used to find God.
> > > >
> > > > My epiphany this morning is that this room is a crucible, and I’m
> being
> > > refined.  Out of necessity caring for Marcy, I’m gradually being rid
> of a
> > > great deal of selfishness, and at the same time finding myself more and
> > > more open to the love of those around me, including at St. Bede’s, in
> my
> > > neighborhood, here in the pub, and many other places.  It’s not an easy
> > > process, and it often hurts - a lot - both in the pain of change, and
> > > perhaps even more seeing what I’d been holding on to and how it made me
> > > sometimes distant from those I love.
> > > >
> > > > I’m grateful that this is a safe place to share such things.
> > > >
> > > > -----------------
> > > > Thinking one can behave their way into heaven is an insult to the
> very
> > > foundation of salvation.
> > > >
> > > > Jim Handsfield
> > > > jhandsfield at att.net
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
> > --
> > Judy Fleener, ObJN
> > Western Michigan
> >
>