Patheos

BuddhistCatholicContemplativeEvangelicalGeneral ChristianHinduJewishLatter-day SaintMuslimNew VisionsProgressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Patheos

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos Patheos on Facebook Patheos on YouTube

Emergent Village

I walk the line

Last updated on: November 22, 2015 at 9:02 am   by Anita Brown

I walk the line 2015-11-22T09:02:30-06:00 Anita Brown

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Verbally abused in an unwarranted and shocking attack in my home this week by someone 4 years under my employ , I attempt to process what and why this happened.  I nearly called the police in fear for my personal safety and pray for this person’s well-being as I ask the resurrected ONE in my heart to reveal a path to peace in the midst of my hurt.  I look back and see the signs of months of resentment building.

A few years ago, I would have guilted myself to forgive and find a way to re-employ the person. A few years before that I might have thrown fuel on the fire and added my unhealed trauma’s drama.   I am grateful for clarity today and healthy, strong boundaries necessary for my and my family’s safety.

I even find myself reflecting on my own occasions of ‘snapping’  over the years.  I reflect on our interconnectedness and how often I speak and teach that ‘my liberation is all tied up in your liberation.’

I dwell in the mystery  and GRAY of it all.   I am in awe of our being drawn to one another to facilitate healing.  When I am at a loss to do much else, my thoughts form poetry-like verses and so I share my desire for us all to choose peace beyond our own understanding that can only stem from the heart space  in the midst of upset, anger, + trauma.

I walk the line

because i have tasted sweet, merciful freedom in being yours

and your air alone  as my sustenance

i walk the line
because i have trusted this tattered heart
to be true

i walk the line
because i have faced down the enemy within
and i can encounter + duel the enemy without

i walk the line
because i know our center
as love,
as peace
as a creative, quiet witness

i walk the line
because you re-arrange our crazy bits
into sane bits

and because these crazy bits somehow decipher
the language of God better
than the ‘normal’ bits

i walk the line
because i feel alive
and miraculously purposed
in my emotional
sobriety

i walk the line
so that i may serve
the prince of peace + reconciliation

I pray Luke 7:13
When the Lord saw her, He felt compassion for her, and said to her, “Do not weep.”

I bow to you (hurting one) because I have been there and you have been here. May we all look at the light in others and recognize it as our own. May we also see other’s darkness and ask ourselves how we too, can bravely face our ‘ugly bits’, asking God to transform a crown of thorns to a crown of glory .

 

There is only GOD and the need for GOD– this is what the darkness reveals:  A GIFT.

Bible

Healing

Personal

Poetry

Trauma

american christianity

compassion

faith

grace

humility

love

peace

Prayer

reconciliation

trauma

Previous Post



November 20, 2015

Remembering All We Have Lost — #TDOR

Next Post



December 5, 2015 The Lie of Separation


Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Addiction Advent Atheism Authority Bible Cartoons Christian Year Christmas church church planting Civil Rights Community Contemplative Spirituality Culture emerging church Empire Eschatology Evangelism Events Gender Healing Humanism Islam Justice Kingdom Lent Movement Building Multi-Faith Music mysticism New Wave Emergence origins Personal Poetry politics Prayer Preaching Privilege Racism Religious naturalism Resurrection salvation SKEPTIMERGENT Theology Trauma Uncategorized

Select a Month December 2017 November 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011




TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What did Peter see in his vision on the rooftop in Joppa?

Select your answer to see how you score.

A ladder reaching to heaven A large sheet with unclean animals An angel with a sword A burning bush

Related posts from Emergent Village

Progressive Christian

The Body Never Lies

Emergent Village

Progressive Christian

I hope you kneel

Emergent Village

Progressive Christian

My Body and My Faith

Emergent Village

Progressive Christian

What Should I Say When I Have Nothing...

Emergent Village

TRENDING AT PATHEOS Progressive Christian

What Being a Modern-Day Apostle Means to Me

In my last column, I discussed the ins and outs of modern-day...

Did Ancient China Once Worship the God of...

Across human history, a common thread weaves through the origins of the...

Love Your Neighbor – Including Earth-Kin: Lev. 19,...

God’s command to love your neighbor means acting in an ethical and...

Lead a Church Study of “Jesus and Lao...

Guest writer Jack Thomas (The Irreverent Reverend) reflects on leading his church...

Pastoral Wisdom for Responding to Sermon Pushback

Getting sermon pushback on your social justice sermon? Learn practical, Proverbs-based strategies...

Principles for Understanding the Apostolic Ministry Today

Whenever people discover that my formal ministry title is "apostle," as in...

view all Progressive Christian blogs

Patheos on Facebook Patheos on YouTube

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Copyright 2008-2026, Patheos. All rights reserved.

Subscription Support Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In

Follow Patheos Patheos on Facebook Patheos on YouTube