I'm in a reflective mood. I've lived near a railroad at most places where I've truly living. I wonder if there is something true to that or if it's just a happy coincidence?
Well...I just wrote a bunch of prayer for Jesus Kitchen so now I no longer have energy for this post...so that's it. Yeah...mayhaps I will write more later...for now, I say adieu, to you and you and you.
Sunday, June 9, 2013
Sunday, March 24, 2013
The Struggle against Cynicism
Today as we were driving home from the a real church's Palm Sunday service we were listening to Garrison Keillor on a Prairie Home Companion talk about all the upcoming Holy Week service's in the radio program's fictional Lake Woebegone. He said next week was Easter Sunday when the preacher would "tell us why we believe what we think we believe." I had to smile a little but then I realized the reason why it was funny to me is because the statement is all too relevant. Perhaps Keillor is nodding his hat to the idea that religion is a kind of "opiate of the masses" as Karl Marx proclaimed but whether or not that is where he was going what I found in it was the disconcerting reality of struggling to believe. In many ways, I feel it is a struggle of faith against cynicism.
I just turned 30 this past week. I am not all that concerned about the "big 3-0" because I see age as rather irrelevant to so many other factors in my life...."age ain't nothing but a number." People often tell me they think I am younger (I have looked younger and acted youthful often) so that's not really an issue. Also, I feel more or less satisfied with my life to this point and the direction it's going. However, as I've gotten older my eyes have been opened more and more to the deep sadness and injustices there are and the "childishness" of simply believing has become harder and harder. I want to be mature and yet "childlike" at the same time. It's constantly a struggle though in a culture that is full of cynicism. It's true, sometimes I feel like I am in church to have others tell me "why I believe what I think I believe."
I've blogged about this difficulty recently here and I guess I'm just acknowledging that it's still going on. Yet, when I think of the things I tell myself I believe I also dearly want to believe them. I think of how audaciously epic Jesus is and his words that cut to your heart. I think of the incredibly profound and beautiful overarching story of God in the Bible. Then I think of how mysterious all of it is and it's at once comforting and terrifying. Part of what makes me cynical at times is when I realize that what I say I believe is not what I live. I'm distracted by comfort. I'm distanced from being faithful by my own fears. So frustrating. In the end, I guess, if I don't come home to Jesus I know I'll just be a sorry cynic drowning in my own tears. What I need is his transcendence to break my objections. I want to believe because if I don't believe I'm left to myself. I am not enough and I'm certain of that. If Jesus can "make me enough" through his Grace and Power and also save the world, well, I'm all for that. Hope, that's what cynics want. A hope that transforms and makes things really change on the inside and outside...and this is what I'm hoping for now.
I just turned 30 this past week. I am not all that concerned about the "big 3-0" because I see age as rather irrelevant to so many other factors in my life...."age ain't nothing but a number." People often tell me they think I am younger (I have looked younger and acted youthful often) so that's not really an issue. Also, I feel more or less satisfied with my life to this point and the direction it's going. However, as I've gotten older my eyes have been opened more and more to the deep sadness and injustices there are and the "childishness" of simply believing has become harder and harder. I want to be mature and yet "childlike" at the same time. It's constantly a struggle though in a culture that is full of cynicism. It's true, sometimes I feel like I am in church to have others tell me "why I believe what I think I believe."
I've blogged about this difficulty recently here and I guess I'm just acknowledging that it's still going on. Yet, when I think of the things I tell myself I believe I also dearly want to believe them. I think of how audaciously epic Jesus is and his words that cut to your heart. I think of the incredibly profound and beautiful overarching story of God in the Bible. Then I think of how mysterious all of it is and it's at once comforting and terrifying. Part of what makes me cynical at times is when I realize that what I say I believe is not what I live. I'm distracted by comfort. I'm distanced from being faithful by my own fears. So frustrating. In the end, I guess, if I don't come home to Jesus I know I'll just be a sorry cynic drowning in my own tears. What I need is his transcendence to break my objections. I want to believe because if I don't believe I'm left to myself. I am not enough and I'm certain of that. If Jesus can "make me enough" through his Grace and Power and also save the world, well, I'm all for that. Hope, that's what cynics want. A hope that transforms and makes things really change on the inside and outside...and this is what I'm hoping for now.
Sunday, March 10, 2013
Walks and Weather
Alright, here I am continuing with the alliteration. You know, it ain't a half bad way to title a post. ;o)
I just came back from a walk out in the cold, wet, *nearly* spring world. I had on my trusty black rain boots which I purchased from Practical Goods (a treasure trove of hand-picked items from estate sales and the like in a storefront) and so with this and some English, Irish and Scottish coursing through my blood, nothing phased me. I came alive in the plodding about up and down the hilly neighborhood. I feel so blessed to live in neighborhood with it's own charm of older houses, some well-kept, some not so much (but nothing falling apart), many interesting Victorian inspired designs and divergent roads that go zig-zag on the hill. I even found a little slushy path that went down through the wooded hillside with blackened brambles set against the white snow.
I realized as I was walking about that I may be one of the only ones to voluntarily (without dog, without child) go on a walk "just because." I guess I have developed this habit because I like weather. I was thinking of quoting one of C.S. Lewis' characters in "That Hideous Strength" but I think I'll quote the whole passage because it makes more sense that way:
"Don't you like a rather foggy day in a wood in autumn? You'll find we shall be perfectly warm sitting in the car."
Jane said she'd never heard of anyone liking fogs before but she didn't mind trying. All three got in.
"That's why Camilla and I got married, "said Denniston as they drove off. "We both like Weather. Not this or that kind of weather, but just Weather. It's a useful taste if one lives in England."
"How ever did you learn to do that, Mr. Denniston?" said Jane. "I don't think I should ever learn to like rain and snow."
"It's the other way round," said Denniston. "Everyone begins as a child by liking Weather. You learn the art of disliking it as you grow up. Noticed it on a snowy day? The grown-ups are all going about with long faces, but look at the children - and the dogs? They know what snow's made for."
"I'm sure I hated wet days as a child," said Jane.
"That's because the grown-ups kept you in," said Camilla. "Any child loves rain if it's allowed to go out and paddle about in it.”
― C.S. Lewis, That Hideous Strength
I just came back from a walk out in the cold, wet, *nearly* spring world. I had on my trusty black rain boots which I purchased from Practical Goods (a treasure trove of hand-picked items from estate sales and the like in a storefront) and so with this and some English, Irish and Scottish coursing through my blood, nothing phased me. I came alive in the plodding about up and down the hilly neighborhood. I feel so blessed to live in neighborhood with it's own charm of older houses, some well-kept, some not so much (but nothing falling apart), many interesting Victorian inspired designs and divergent roads that go zig-zag on the hill. I even found a little slushy path that went down through the wooded hillside with blackened brambles set against the white snow.
I realized as I was walking about that I may be one of the only ones to voluntarily (without dog, without child) go on a walk "just because." I guess I have developed this habit because I like weather. I was thinking of quoting one of C.S. Lewis' characters in "That Hideous Strength" but I think I'll quote the whole passage because it makes more sense that way:
"Don't you like a rather foggy day in a wood in autumn? You'll find we shall be perfectly warm sitting in the car."
Jane said she'd never heard of anyone liking fogs before but she didn't mind trying. All three got in.
"That's why Camilla and I got married, "said Denniston as they drove off. "We both like Weather. Not this or that kind of weather, but just Weather. It's a useful taste if one lives in England."
"How ever did you learn to do that, Mr. Denniston?" said Jane. "I don't think I should ever learn to like rain and snow."
"It's the other way round," said Denniston. "Everyone begins as a child by liking Weather. You learn the art of disliking it as you grow up. Noticed it on a snowy day? The grown-ups are all going about with long faces, but look at the children - and the dogs? They know what snow's made for."
"I'm sure I hated wet days as a child," said Jane.
"That's because the grown-ups kept you in," said Camilla. "Any child loves rain if it's allowed to go out and paddle about in it.”
― C.S. Lewis, That Hideous Strength
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
Sugar and Sin
So, I should begin by stating I am doing MUCH, MUCH better. I do think it was/is good for me to question but I want to assure you all that I actually am pretty much solid in faith now. After a few days I wrote out a lot of the things God has done for me in my life either in a very supernatural way or a very personal way (or both). That testimony to myself made me remember why I could trust God and the Bible (although I can't explain or phantom all that is in it). Perhaps I need to work out things more myself but I think it was more of an emotional crisis than an intellectual one. I have always leaned more towards emotional dealings anyway. I welcome all your thoughts/comments on this. Mostly I just wanted to let you know I am doing fine and feeling closer to God even in slight ambiguity. In fact, part of what draws me to God is the Mystery.
On to "sugar and sin": the reason I decided to title this post that is because for lent (well, to be honest, I think it's kind of more of an experiment) but PARTLY for lent I've decided to try and forgo sugar. That sounds a little easier (or harder?) than it is. Even though I already buy minimally processed foods and mostly organic/natural foods I have already found that I've eaten sugar in salsa and bacon by accident! Sugar is in almost everything -- even bread. So, I'm eating Ezekiel bread right now and might make some bread with honey or get a bread from the bakery that doesn't have any sugar in it (rye?). I don't know. I am also trying to give up discouragement (mostly for my husband) and replace it with encouragement. That is more of my "real" lent fast.
So far I've definitely had cravings which is partly why I'm trying to fast from sugar. I realized I've been using it as a crutch. I'm also curious to see if I do have more energy and feel better if I don't eat if for a while. Well, as I said before sugar is pervasive and although I certainly don't think it's a sin to eat sugar it made me think of the Bible Study we went to earlier tonight. We read Ephesians 4:17-5:20; here it is in full:
5 1 Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children 2 and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
3 But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. 4 Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving.5 For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a person is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.[a] 6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient. 7 Therefore do not be partners with them.
8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light9 (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) 10 and find out what pleases the Lord. 11 Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. 12 It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret.13 But everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light. 14 This is why it is said:
On to "sugar and sin": the reason I decided to title this post that is because for lent (well, to be honest, I think it's kind of more of an experiment) but PARTLY for lent I've decided to try and forgo sugar. That sounds a little easier (or harder?) than it is. Even though I already buy minimally processed foods and mostly organic/natural foods I have already found that I've eaten sugar in salsa and bacon by accident! Sugar is in almost everything -- even bread. So, I'm eating Ezekiel bread right now and might make some bread with honey or get a bread from the bakery that doesn't have any sugar in it (rye?). I don't know. I am also trying to give up discouragement (mostly for my husband) and replace it with encouragement. That is more of my "real" lent fast.
So far I've definitely had cravings which is partly why I'm trying to fast from sugar. I realized I've been using it as a crutch. I'm also curious to see if I do have more energy and feel better if I don't eat if for a while. Well, as I said before sugar is pervasive and although I certainly don't think it's a sin to eat sugar it made me think of the Bible Study we went to earlier tonight. We read Ephesians 4:17-5:20; here it is in full:
17 So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. 18 They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. 19 Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, and they are full of greed.
20 That, however, is not the way of life you learned 21 when you heard about Christ and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. 22 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
25 Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body. 26 “In your anger do not sin”[d]: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 and do not give the devil a foothold. 28 Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands,that they may have something to share with those in need.
29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
3 But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. 4 Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving.5 For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a person is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.[a] 6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient. 7 Therefore do not be partners with them.
8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light9 (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) 10 and find out what pleases the Lord. 11 Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. 12 It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret.13 But everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light. 14 This is why it is said:
“Wake up, sleeper,
rise from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you.”
rise from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you.”
15 Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. 18 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, 20 always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Alright, so I know that's a lot. It's a lot and the reason I bring it up is because just reading it made me think of fasting from sugar. Sugar is in nearly everything. Reading through this passage made me realize sin is in nearly everything as well. Just thinking of anger, greed or foolish talk (ok, this happens) and I'm already out. Then I realize, it's not that I am called out to give sins I am also called to replace them with good things. It's not so simple as not doing something as much of our culture presumes. I like that there is a positive for every negative, so to speak. For example, "Be careful, then, how you live-- not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity because the days are evil." Anyway, realizing this in full it's no wonder I need the Holy Spirit! I most definitely NEED to be "made new in the attitude of my mind; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness." -Ephesians 4:24
So, yeah, there's some food (without sugar hopefully) for thought. Haha. It's interesting how fasting from something or even being intentional about doing/forming a new habit really brings things into clearer focus. It's like, oh, wow, I need God to save me from sin and recreate me into the person I really am. Yeah.
Monday, January 28, 2013
Everything that becomes visible is light
This is one of those painful posts that I hesitate to write.
Anyone who has been reading my blog knows that moving here to Mankato has not been a cake walk for me. I have been deeply rooted in Minneapolis and I still am I guess.
The thing is (as I've stated before) I let people in my community in Minneapolis become kind of like one of those breathing devices for people with respiratory problems because I've needed them to breath in the Holy Spirit practically.
Right, and it absolutely says to not give up meeting together (Hebrews 10:25) and that believers are built up together (Ephesians 2:19-22) but it also says Jesus is the cornerstone.
So that whole Jesus is the cornerstone -- mmm -- even though Jesus is amazing -- that's hard.
I do not want to be over-dramatic but I've been struggling with different lies for these past months. Some of them have been about my "goodness" and I have realized that I'm not "good" but I do believe I'm redeemed by God's grace (Ephesians 2:8-10). Okay, I knew this before but it's come across to me even plainer lately. Let me state this: for those who know me; and a lot who read this probably do; I appear very "good" but it's just not true. I say that trying to separate the self-deprecation from the reality of just being a person affected by sin but yeah I just feel the need to state that. I may look good but I AM NOT. Thank God my life does not rest on my being good!
We've been going to a church in Mankato and it's okay. It's probably a pretty great church for a lot of people. I do not want to disrespect it but partly going there has made me question my faith.
This weekend I thought to myself: perhaps none of this is true and I've just surrounded myself with people who I like who believe it so I've believed it. I was actually sitting in a dark theater watching a band called "All Eyes" play their very brooding, futuristic sounding music and I thought: this could be just a big theater production. It could be no more that that. It wasn't even that I was doubting Christianity (although I was) but underlying it all the things we do in our lives for ourselves and to make ourselves feel something and the meaninglessness of it all and what if I was swallowed up by this meaninglessness: could this be it?
I know it sounds melodramatic. Yet, I have not really questioned my faith though and it was/is hard. I also had just starting reading the book "1984" where the main character cannot trust anyone essentially so I think that set me on edge too.
The next day I went to Messiah Episcopal (I love this church) and I talked and cried with Chris and allowed myself to just be real and admit I do not know everything and it may not all make sense and I can continue to question and it's okay. It actually made me talk to God more genuinely and I found myself doing so. Being on the edge of losing faith actually compelled me to want real faith and a real God. I have been just "going through the motions" a lot in Bible reading and prayer and the way I relate to God lately.
I read "The Cloister Walk" by Kathleen Norris recently and I just finished it last week. She is a poet and speaks about how she lost faith but found it again after realizing that she didn't have to have all the answers and maybe relating to God was more like a poem than a math equation. I take from her here and have to say that's how it is with me. There is certainly some ambiguity and a lot of mystery about God. Yet, as I read the red letters of Jesus in my Bible last night it was crazy how real they actually seemed! I think I had finally let go of all the pretense and He. just. spoke. to. me. I will not let doubt get in the way because God is a lot fucking bigger than those. I can rest in the hand that guides me even as I wonder quite who He is and why things are as they are. Maybe it sounds weird but I think I believe more now.
Thank God for light.
"All things become visible when they are exposed to the light. For everything that becomes visible is light." -Ephesians 5:13
"For this reason it says,
'Awake, sleeper,
And arise from the dead,
And Christ will shine on you."
-Ephesians 5:13-14
Anyone who has been reading my blog knows that moving here to Mankato has not been a cake walk for me. I have been deeply rooted in Minneapolis and I still am I guess.
The thing is (as I've stated before) I let people in my community in Minneapolis become kind of like one of those breathing devices for people with respiratory problems because I've needed them to breath in the Holy Spirit practically.
Right, and it absolutely says to not give up meeting together (Hebrews 10:25) and that believers are built up together (Ephesians 2:19-22) but it also says Jesus is the cornerstone.
So that whole Jesus is the cornerstone -- mmm -- even though Jesus is amazing -- that's hard.
I do not want to be over-dramatic but I've been struggling with different lies for these past months. Some of them have been about my "goodness" and I have realized that I'm not "good" but I do believe I'm redeemed by God's grace (Ephesians 2:8-10). Okay, I knew this before but it's come across to me even plainer lately. Let me state this: for those who know me; and a lot who read this probably do; I appear very "good" but it's just not true. I say that trying to separate the self-deprecation from the reality of just being a person affected by sin but yeah I just feel the need to state that. I may look good but I AM NOT. Thank God my life does not rest on my being good!
We've been going to a church in Mankato and it's okay. It's probably a pretty great church for a lot of people. I do not want to disrespect it but partly going there has made me question my faith.
This weekend I thought to myself: perhaps none of this is true and I've just surrounded myself with people who I like who believe it so I've believed it. I was actually sitting in a dark theater watching a band called "All Eyes" play their very brooding, futuristic sounding music and I thought: this could be just a big theater production. It could be no more that that. It wasn't even that I was doubting Christianity (although I was) but underlying it all the things we do in our lives for ourselves and to make ourselves feel something and the meaninglessness of it all and what if I was swallowed up by this meaninglessness: could this be it?
I know it sounds melodramatic. Yet, I have not really questioned my faith though and it was/is hard. I also had just starting reading the book "1984" where the main character cannot trust anyone essentially so I think that set me on edge too.
The next day I went to Messiah Episcopal (I love this church) and I talked and cried with Chris and allowed myself to just be real and admit I do not know everything and it may not all make sense and I can continue to question and it's okay. It actually made me talk to God more genuinely and I found myself doing so. Being on the edge of losing faith actually compelled me to want real faith and a real God. I have been just "going through the motions" a lot in Bible reading and prayer and the way I relate to God lately.
I read "The Cloister Walk" by Kathleen Norris recently and I just finished it last week. She is a poet and speaks about how she lost faith but found it again after realizing that she didn't have to have all the answers and maybe relating to God was more like a poem than a math equation. I take from her here and have to say that's how it is with me. There is certainly some ambiguity and a lot of mystery about God. Yet, as I read the red letters of Jesus in my Bible last night it was crazy how real they actually seemed! I think I had finally let go of all the pretense and He. just. spoke. to. me. I will not let doubt get in the way because God is a lot fucking bigger than those. I can rest in the hand that guides me even as I wonder quite who He is and why things are as they are. Maybe it sounds weird but I think I believe more now.
Thank God for light.
"All things become visible when they are exposed to the light. For everything that becomes visible is light." -Ephesians 5:13
"For this reason it says,
'Awake, sleeper,
And arise from the dead,
And Christ will shine on you."
-Ephesians 5:13-14
Sunday, January 20, 2013
Cat-bus
I have been busy and not thinking I have much to say, thus, the lull in posts.
Yeah, but I did a drawing of a cat-bus today (from the classic anime movie My Neighbor Totoro) which I plan to send to a friend in a care package this week. I tried to turn it but it won't work for me so I guess I'll just post it looking like it's about to rocket into the sky.
"Cat-bus" is also what my husband and I call the kitty that lives above us since it sounds as loud as a cat-bus.
:o)
I feel like my winter blues have passed and I'm getting into new things. I've started volunteering by attending a Women's Craft Cooperative designed to get immigrants, refugees and native Minnesotans to mix and have fun doing crafts, speaking English, and sharing life. I learned to knit there just this Friday. I also went to a "Re-skills" workshop where we learned about baking bread. I am baking my own bread right now! See, an old dog can learn new tricks...hehe.
Well, just wanted to say hey and wish you all a vivifying day/evening.
Yeah, but I did a drawing of a cat-bus today (from the classic anime movie My Neighbor Totoro) which I plan to send to a friend in a care package this week. I tried to turn it but it won't work for me so I guess I'll just post it looking like it's about to rocket into the sky.
"Cat-bus" is also what my husband and I call the kitty that lives above us since it sounds as loud as a cat-bus.
:o)
I feel like my winter blues have passed and I'm getting into new things. I've started volunteering by attending a Women's Craft Cooperative designed to get immigrants, refugees and native Minnesotans to mix and have fun doing crafts, speaking English, and sharing life. I learned to knit there just this Friday. I also went to a "Re-skills" workshop where we learned about baking bread. I am baking my own bread right now! See, an old dog can learn new tricks...hehe.
Well, just wanted to say hey and wish you all a vivifying day/evening.
Saturday, December 1, 2012
On Princesses
From the beginning of George MacDonald's "The Princess and the Goblin":
Working in a preschool I get my fair share of princesses as you can imagine. I have been compared to a princess and also been informed that the little girls I work with are princesses as well as being a scribe for a handful of stapled together "books" containing stories about the girls who are little princesses. Oh yeah, and then there is the ever-invasive Disney princesses which are not so terrible as I first thought, but also don't do justice to what I believe George MacDonald gets at in the beginning of "The Princess and Goblin." Princess Irene, if ever there was one, is the real deal in princess stories. She is simply uncommon.
When I was a little girl I was not into dolls or dresses or anything remotely like princesses. I just didn't seem to care about any "girly" thing. According to my mom, I liked to draw and I liked to run around and be a "little monkey." However, after reading the "Princess and the Goblin" and having my eyes widened to this great world I see. what. the. princess. thing. is. about.
Like a poet, I know I cannot quite put it into words, but, it's something about being lovely. A daughter of a king ought to be lovely simply on basis of being the king's daughter, shan't she? If she is not, as George MacDonald says, she will at least need to hear these things about herself so that she might start to grow into truly having this quality. I shy away from saying thing like "I am a daughter of a KING," (really the King of Creation) and yet when I find myself aware of this my whole being changes. I begin to act it because I begin to believe it...and that is what being a princess is about.
THERE was once a little princess who—
"But Mr. Author, why do you always write about princesses?"
"Because every little girl is a princess."
"You will make them vain if you tell them that."
"Not if they understand what I mean."
"Then what do you mean?"
"What do you mean by a princess?"
"The daughter of a king."
"Very well, then every little girl is a princess, and there would be no need to say anything about it, except that she is always in danger of forgetting her rank, and behaving as if she had grown out of the mud. I have seen little princesses behave like children of thieves and lying beggars, and that is why they need to be told they are princesses. And that is why when I tell a story of this kind, I like to tell it about a princess. Then I can say better what I mean, because I can then give her every beautiful thing I want her to have."
"Please go on."
There was once a little princess whose father was king over a great country full of mountains and valleys. His palace was built upon one of the mountains, and was very grand and beautiful. The princess, whose name was Irene, was born there, but she was sent soon after her birth, because her mother was not very strong, to be brought up by country people in a large house, half castle, half farmhouse, on the side of another mountain, about half-way between its base and its peak...
When I was a little girl I was not into dolls or dresses or anything remotely like princesses. I just didn't seem to care about any "girly" thing. According to my mom, I liked to draw and I liked to run around and be a "little monkey." However, after reading the "Princess and the Goblin" and having my eyes widened to this great world I see. what. the. princess. thing. is. about.
Like a poet, I know I cannot quite put it into words, but, it's something about being lovely. A daughter of a king ought to be lovely simply on basis of being the king's daughter, shan't she? If she is not, as George MacDonald says, she will at least need to hear these things about herself so that she might start to grow into truly having this quality. I shy away from saying thing like "I am a daughter of a KING," (really the King of Creation) and yet when I find myself aware of this my whole being changes. I begin to act it because I begin to believe it...and that is what being a princess is about.
Psalm 21:1-6 (King changed to princess)
"O LORD in your strength the princess will be glad
And in your salvation how greatly she will rejoice!
You have given her her heart's desire,
And you have not withheld the requests of her lips. Selah
For you meet her with the blessings of good things,
You have set a crown of fine gold on her head.
She asked life of you
You gave it to her,
Length of days forever and ever
Her glory (through Jesus) is great through your salvation,
Splendor and majesty you place upon her.
For you make her joyful with gladness in your presence."
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