One could characterize the circumstances of the past few years of my life as unlucky, unfair or unfortunate. And in some ways, they have been. But what stands out most to me is the outrageous levels of love and support I’ve received from my tribe of family and friends as well as the way God orchestrates things to encourage, embolden, strengthen and heal. I just had a glorious overnight with Lisa Pratt Slayton, my mentor and lovely friend who has done so many kind things for me and taught me so much, and Jennifer Schlieper, my beautiful, creative, thoughtful friend who has been my truth speaker and healer many times. These women didn’t know many months ago when this weekend of tattoos and rest was first conceived how bad I’d need it. Neither did I. But God did.
I had a very hard couple of weeks recently, emotionally. Coming down from the heightened senses of battling through chemo takes a toll. I had a lot of dark, foreboding, fearful thoughts that were quite difficult to shake or to share. I felt like a dark cloud was above me. I was always on the verge of tears.
But the past 24 hours have been full of healing, hope, laughter, love, truth and encouragement. Between the prayer breakfast – a room full of hope-filled leaders, all of the blue shirts on all of you beautiful people, the drive out of the city and through the country, the conversations of real things, the skillful hands of a top-notch massage therapist, a good night’s sleep in a cozy Inn…the cloud has lifted. The skies are clearer. Shalom is closer. I can flourish again. I even did my training run today. Slow as molasses, but run, I did. Thank you to each of you who had a hand in all of this. I am so grateful.