I love the collage to correspond! It uncovers the erasure even more. Living in our own skin with the Lord is the safest place to be 💕 thanks for the reminder.
I call my publication “Dancing With Jesus Today” because of a personal experience borne out of tragedy. When I lost my first wife Susan to mesothelioma I was devastated yet was the pastor of a decent mid-sized church at the time. When I was coming back to the pulpit after a month off to heal, I heard the Lee Ann Womack song, “I Hope You Dance” when I was sitting in a pizza shop, by myself, wondering how or what I would preach when I stepped back into the pulpit, with a heart still raw. I share that to say that what this erasure spoke to me is the need to have Jesus with us in this dance called life. Otherwise, it is, as Bruce Springsteen once wrote, “dancing in the dark.” One addendum: in that time I have experienced much in ministry. And so my benediction ever week (now that I am back in the pulpit though retired) mirrors that. Go in peace. Go in love. And smile (that is for my second wife Connie who died after a nine-year battle with metastatic breast cancer. People were captivated by her smile). And walk (that is in tribute to one my first wife’s Susan’s songs, “Walk with Jesus today, words I put on her tombstone). And sing (that is for my friend Sam, a boisterous Christian from my last church before “retiring, “ who sang solos and died suddenly of a widow-maker heart attack - toughest funeral I ever had to do, but also the most Holy Spirit filled). And dance with Jesus today (that was in honor of that first sermon back in my grief - keep on going). So, as you can see, this erasure reminded of a lot of stuff! God bless you, Mandy, and Jake and your little girl as well.
Wow, hits close to home…I was raised to “dance” and “mimic life,” even as a Christian, I had to look good, thankfully it finally unraveled, laid bare before the Word…
Dancing in armor, what a daunting task to do! Makes me think of knights in shining armor. Yet who are these knights, and is their armor really shining? I love the final line of the reflection, standing bare before the Lord. We have watched different versions of Robin Hood with our kids, and this makes me think of Prince John. Why is he so greedy? Does he really want to end up alone? I’d rather be bare before the Lord, sin laid out before Him than trying to dance in armor that makes me look like a fool before Him.
Love this reflection so much especially what you said about armor not truly shining. Better to stand bare before the Lord than hidden beneath something shiny but false.
I did a weekly roundup of favorite posts from this week and I had to include this. This felt like such a quiet but honest confrontation—in the best sense. The line about standing bare before the Lord was something I couldn't let go of.
Your collages are always so thought-provoking. You should consider finding a publisher for a mixed-media book of the collages, the erasure poems, and text pieces. They are unique and full of intrigue. Love them.
Everything about this is dope. The images drew me in first. The prose had weight, and I had the feeling you could say the same thing but with even more teeth; like it was heavy but you still spared us by speaking generally… probably for our own sake. Needless to say, I like it a lot and like the challenging aims of truth
Love, love this one. Each of us face this truth at least once in our lives. And then continually reminded that the beauties around us are mere reflections which ought to point us to One greater.
I love the collage to correspond! It uncovers the erasure even more. Living in our own skin with the Lord is the safest place to be 💕 thanks for the reminder.
I call my publication “Dancing With Jesus Today” because of a personal experience borne out of tragedy. When I lost my first wife Susan to mesothelioma I was devastated yet was the pastor of a decent mid-sized church at the time. When I was coming back to the pulpit after a month off to heal, I heard the Lee Ann Womack song, “I Hope You Dance” when I was sitting in a pizza shop, by myself, wondering how or what I would preach when I stepped back into the pulpit, with a heart still raw. I share that to say that what this erasure spoke to me is the need to have Jesus with us in this dance called life. Otherwise, it is, as Bruce Springsteen once wrote, “dancing in the dark.” One addendum: in that time I have experienced much in ministry. And so my benediction ever week (now that I am back in the pulpit though retired) mirrors that. Go in peace. Go in love. And smile (that is for my second wife Connie who died after a nine-year battle with metastatic breast cancer. People were captivated by her smile). And walk (that is in tribute to one my first wife’s Susan’s songs, “Walk with Jesus today, words I put on her tombstone). And sing (that is for my friend Sam, a boisterous Christian from my last church before “retiring, “ who sang solos and died suddenly of a widow-maker heart attack - toughest funeral I ever had to do, but also the most Holy Spirit filled). And dance with Jesus today (that was in honor of that first sermon back in my grief - keep on going). So, as you can see, this erasure reminded of a lot of stuff! God bless you, Mandy, and Jake and your little girl as well.
Dan, this genuinely moved me. Thank you for sharing something so personal here. Your benediction was beautiful.
Wow, hits close to home…I was raised to “dance” and “mimic life,” even as a Christian, I had to look good, thankfully it finally unraveled, laid bare before the Word…
Thank you for sharing this. I’m grateful the unraveling led you toward truth laid bare before God.
Dancing in armor, what a daunting task to do! Makes me think of knights in shining armor. Yet who are these knights, and is their armor really shining? I love the final line of the reflection, standing bare before the Lord. We have watched different versions of Robin Hood with our kids, and this makes me think of Prince John. Why is he so greedy? Does he really want to end up alone? I’d rather be bare before the Lord, sin laid out before Him than trying to dance in armor that makes me look like a fool before Him.
Love this reflection so much especially what you said about armor not truly shining. Better to stand bare before the Lord than hidden beneath something shiny but false.
I did a weekly roundup of favorite posts from this week and I had to include this. This felt like such a quiet but honest confrontation—in the best sense. The line about standing bare before the Lord was something I couldn't let go of.
your erasure poetry gives me life ❤️ this one is very joyful!
Thank you
always such beautiful work !!!
Your collages are always so thought-provoking. You should consider finding a publisher for a mixed-media book of the collages, the erasure poems, and text pieces. They are unique and full of intrigue. Love them.
Thank you Henry
Wow, love this Mandy! Such beautiful words that hold such holy conviction!
The simplicity and beauty of this has me FLOORED. So excellent, Mandy.
Everything about this is dope. The images drew me in first. The prose had weight, and I had the feeling you could say the same thing but with even more teeth; like it was heavy but you still spared us by speaking generally… probably for our own sake. Needless to say, I like it a lot and like the challenging aims of truth
Love, love this one. Each of us face this truth at least once in our lives. And then continually reminded that the beauties around us are mere reflections which ought to point us to One greater.
The artwork is amazing, as always.
Mandy, I think it's very accurate, if we only clean the outside of the vessel then the inside filth will destroy what it contains, our souls.
And your artwork is great. I found a lot of your hidden msg in it!