The Spacious and the Sacred

118 What is Hope part 2

It's spring and in episodes 117-120 we are talking about hope. What is it? How do we talk about this intangible thing? Can it be toxic? We don't have the answers, but we lean into the conversation.  Gathering Word: “Hope” is the thing with feathers by Emily Dickinson “Hope” is the thing with feathers - That perches in the soul - And sings the tune without the words - And never stops - at all - And sweetest - in the Gale - is heard - And sore must be the storm - That could abash the little Bird That kept so many warm - I’ve heard it in the chillest land - And on the strangest Sea - Yet - never - in Extremity, It asked a crumb - of me. ______________ Andi Chatburn: https://www.andichatburn.net/ [https://www.andichatburn.net/] Audre Rickard: https://www.saturatedgrace.com [https://www.saturatedgrace.com/] Heather Fignar: http://www.heatherfignar.com [http://www.heatherfignar.com/] Irene Dunlop: https://www.tendsoulcare.com [https://www.tendsoulcare.com/]  If you need support during this season, please reach out to a friend or call a crisis hotline: dial 988

117 What is Hope?

It's spring and in episodes 117-120 we are talking about hope. What is it? How do we talk about this intangible thing? Can it be toxic? We don't have the answers, but we lean into the conversation.  Gathering Word: “Hope” is the thing with feathers by Emily Dickinson “Hope” is the thing with feathers - That perches in the soul - And sings the tune without the words - And never stops - at all - And sweetest - in the Gale - is heard - And sore must be the storm - That could abash the little Bird That kept so many warm - I’ve heard it in the chillest land - And on the strangest Sea - Yet - never - in Extremity, It asked a crumb - of me. ______________ Andi Chatburn: https://www.andichatburn.net/ [https://www.andichatburn.net/] Audre Rickard: https://www.saturatedgrace.com [https://www.saturatedgrace.com/] Heather Fignar: http://www.heatherfignar.com [http://www.heatherfignar.com/] Irene Dunlop: https://www.tendsoulcare.com [https://www.tendsoulcare.com/]  If you need support during this season, please reach out to a friend or call a crisis hotline: dial 988

116 Dormancy

Episodes 113-116 move us from fall to winter at winter solstice. How do we hold onto hope in a dark season? How do we actively wait in the long dark night? Gathering Word Excerpt from It Will be Okay by Lysa TerKeurst One morning, the Farmer came into the shed, as He had on many days. “Little Seed,” He said as He placed him in His hand, “I have a wonderful plan for you. I have waited for just the right time, and today is the day!” Oh no, please no! I don’t want to go!thought Little Seed. The Farmer went outside and knelt down. He pushed Little Seed under the ground, into the dirt, and down to a deep, dark, messy place. “Now, Little Seed, this is going to be different and it might seem scary, but it will be okay. You can trust Me,” said the Farmer. Little Seed wished he were inside the cozy packet on the rickety shelf in the Farmer’s dusty shed. “I want to trust, even when I can’t see. But how in the world is this good for me?” “Little Seed, come back!” cried Little Fox when he saw the Farmer take his friend away. “Where are you, Little Seed?” He looked in the front of the shed and behind the shed, but . . .Little Seed was not there. He looked on top of the tractor and under the tractor, but . . .Little Seed was not there either. He looked in the horse’s stall, the pig’s pen, and even in the Farmer’s boot, but . . .Little Seed was not there either. Now Little Fox was really worried. “Little Seed?”he shouted “I’m here, I’m here,way down in the dirt. I’m scared and I’m lonely, but I’m not hurt,” came Little Seed’s muffled voice right below him. Now Little Fox was really worried. “Little Seed?”he shouted.” Little Fox thought hard for something to say or something to do that would help his friend not be scared. But he was afraid too. “It’s different and scary to be someplace new . . . but it will be okay, Little Seed.” Little Seed was not so sure. And neither was Little Fox. But the Farmer was good, and the Farmer was kind, and the Farmer was always watching over them.Even when they didn’t know it.” ______________ Andi Chatburn: https://www.andichatburn.net/ [https://www.andichatburn.net/] Audre Rickard: https://www.saturatedgrace.com [https://www.saturatedgrace.com/] Heather Fignar: http://www.heatherfignar.com [http://www.heatherfignar.com/] Irene Dunlop: https://www.tendsoulcare.com [https://www.tendsoulcare.com/]  If you need support during this season, please reach out to a friend or call a crisis hotline: dial 988

115 The Long Dark Night

Episodes 113-116 move us from fall to winter at winter solstice. How do we hold onto hope in a dark season? How do we actively wait in the long dark night? Gathering Word by Alexander John Shaia [https://www.missionalwisdom.com/alexander-j-shaia] Christmas falls at the darkest moment of the year. It is also the very moment when the light is once again made visible to the naked eye. The deepest dark is not the place where grace goes to die. The deepest dark is where grace goes to be reborn. ______________ Andi Chatburn: https://www.andichatburn.net/ [https://www.andichatburn.net/] Audre Rickard: https://www.saturatedgrace.com [https://www.saturatedgrace.com/] Heather Fignar: http://www.heatherfignar.com [http://www.heatherfignar.com/] Irene Dunlop: https://www.tendsoulcare.com [https://www.tendsoulcare.com/]  If you need support during this season, please reach out to a friend or call a crisis hotline: dial 988

114 Dreaming in the Dark

Episodes 113-116 move us from fall to winter at winter solstice. What happens when the winds shift and the days darken?  Gathering Word: Sweet Darkness Written by David Whyte [https://onbeing.org/author/david-whyte/] When your eyes are tired the world is tired also. When your vision has gone, no part of the world can find you. Time to go into the dark where the night has eyes to recognize its own. There you can be sure you are not beyond love. The dark will be your home tonight. The night will give you a horizon further than you can see. You must learn one thing. The world was made to be free in. Give up all the other worlds except the one to which you belong. Sometimes it takes darkness and the sweet confinement of your aloneness to learn anything or anyone that does not bring you alive is too small for you. ______________ Andi Chatburn: https://www.andichatburn.net/ [https://www.andichatburn.net/] Audre Rickard: https://www.saturatedgrace.com [https://www.saturatedgrace.com/] Heather Fignar: http://www.heatherfignar.com [http://www.heatherfignar.com/] Irene Dunlop: https://www.tendsoulcare.com [https://www.tendsoulcare.com/]  If you need support during this season, please reach out to a friend or call a crisis hotline: dial 988