Life Giving Words

Over the last week I have entered into many conversations and words were an essential part of those communications. I am listening to a cello sonata by Brahms and the deep haunting sounds emitted speak of life. A beautiful saffron gold cord that has been woven into this day has been that of life giving words. Words that made the heart leap, the vision more focused and the companionship of the Divine more tangible.

Many life giving words have been spoken to the women I was surround by in the last week. I cannot communicate to you the words they received as that is their story to tell. Their words spoke life to me.

Much of my life I have struggled with the Mary and Martha issue. Mary was the good one, Martha the inappropriate one. Mary was the one held up for honor while Martha was excused as having no depth or substance because she was not serene and Christ-like. Mary was allowed to sit and Martha was banished to the kitchen so she wouldn’t speak out of turn. I have been Martha all my life; getting the work in the kitchen but not the fun of the party in the other room. I have wrestled with it for years because the kitchen became a place of isolation from the big things that happened with the others sitting down. Over the last while the wrestling has changed to acceptance as I feel the companionship of the Divine in my art studio – the kitchen. This last weekend I had a wonderful time with our kitchen team creating, preparing, and then seeing the passion of my heart come through and be diffused into the room as they shared, laughed, cried and let life be gloriously evident. I never thought about the Martha thing at all until the most glorious life giving words were held out to me. This is your worship, your creations are your worship they said. As I stood, letting these words sink in, their truth caused a paradigm shift within. It was not Martha at work in the kitchen, but rather it was Mary. For me there is a reverence about food - art that reaches deep within me to create, share and let each detail speak to the recipient as I honor God’s gift to me. It is my worship I place at Jesus feet and accept these life-giving words.

Today I walked “my bit of beach” with a precious friend who spoke honest truthful words. She can read my heart so well and she spoke words that honored difficult choices with the generous love her heart is so full of. They were life-giving words.

I stopped at Intime to inquire about a lost article that may have been there since last week. This name is pronounced In-Tee-May, which means Intimate. This is my favorite place to go and as I sat there and enjoyed the sunshine and food made with loving care, the pages of my journal were being filled up. In a time of sharing with the owners they told me of how they desire the sacredness of sitting down to eat to be felt by those who linger in their intimate café. Oh my heart danced at this common thread between us. When I shared with her that this was her worship to the Creator the tears came trickling out and she said, Yes, yes you get it. We together shared life-giving words.

When Jesus saw His disciples grumbling about life He said to them The words I have spoken to you are spirit, they are life.

Holy Spirit I open my heart to words of life. As they are written all over the walls of my heart and the thought passages of my brain may they soak in deep. Let me see them how ever and through who ever You choose to speak them. Continue to teach me how my femininity and life giving words go together. Continue to show me how to worship in ways that are carried to me on the wind of Your Spirit. Let me be a carrier of words that breathe life to others.