Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

UU Collective

Home
New Visions
A little respite for our souls…

A little respite for our souls…

Last updated on: September 8, 2015 at 8:51 pm by Rev. Deanna Vandiver

A little respite for our souls… 2015-09-08T20:51:21-06:00 Rev. Deanna Vandiver

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.

I need a little respite for my soul, soul, soul

take a little time to leave my cares behind,
find a little comfort and some peace of mind,
some time to sit with myself and be still.
–Pat Humphries, Same Rain

This Labor Day, I went for a long walk with a friend and then came home and went upstairs to the attic space that serves as my sewing room, Mardi Gras costume storage space, and guest bedroom (among other assignments). There I found a little respite for my soul.

In the scraps of fabric – some silk from my mother’s once fancy tunic, chenille from her old robe, denim from my favorite pair of jeans that finally gave up the ghost, tartan flannel from the Mardi Gras long ago that involved Scots and cloned sheep (that one made sense at the time…maybe? Dolly, that was her name!) – I found memories and stories and just what I was looking for to make the waves for a quilt top ocean I am creating for my niece. In the space of re-membering and creating anew, I found a little respite for my soul.

Friends, the organizing goes on and on. Art, too, is a form of resistance. Creative time, relational time – these are important parts of disrupting the internalized narrative of a dominant culture that thrives on manager time and individuality. Whatever brings a little respite for your soul – may you be able to take the time, to find a little comfort and some peace of mind.

Because sometimes we need to sit with ourselves and be still in order to join with others and build the movement. It is, always, a both/and kind of world, beloveds. Even as we navigate the turmoil of the struggle, may we give ourselves permission to know an inner peace that can sustain us for the long haul.

Previous Post

September 3, 2015

Integrity and the Big Hole in Wholeness

Next Post

September 10, 2015 Five Reasons to Congregate in a Congregation

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category #9/11 Abortion Class community conflict Digital Life Diversity Divorce Environmental issues Evangelism Faith Development Foregiveness Garden glbt Gratitude Grief Healing health care Holidays Hospitality Interfaith LGBT Issues Military Service Mortality Orlando Parenting Peace Politics Power Prayer Racism Relationships Religion Scripture Senior citizens Sermons simplicity Social Justice Spirituality Sports Sustainability Uncategorized Unitarian Universalist Values Women's Issues World Community Worship

Select a Month 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 August 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

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What famous prayer did Jesus teach his followers?

Select your answer to see how you score.

The Lord's Prayer The Jesus Prayer The Hail Mary The Prayer of Jabez