Some fragmented thoughts on the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, the witness of Ivanka Demchuk, an epic roadtrip, and a fat bumblebee amid the bean blossoms
Thank you Jeff…just what I needed this morning. Thanks for writing. Thanks for sharing words from beautiful people in Lviv. Thanks for being a great uncle—that soaking ride is the best! Thanks for being you and sharing you with us. Here’s to gentle hope today 🙏🏼❤️
Thank you for words of hope amid the chaos. I, too, have felt quiet this summer. And a belated thank you for the wonderful playlist you provided for “Good Soil”.
I have listened to it endlessly & it brings me comfort, joy, & a bit of nostalgia along the way. Appreciate you always.💕
I loved following your cross country journey with your nephew on Instagram. Love your thoughts and gorgeous photos. So glad you crossed through my state (Iowa) and made a restaurant recommendation. Honestly, Nodo's whole menu looks tasty - road trip for me! Welcome home.
Thanks, Jeff. It's always good to hear from you and I mean that sincerely. I just finished reading Good Soil this morning. Thank you for sharing your life and the story of your successes and struggles in growing love. I have not paid attention to "eis telos" and the potential that it means more than "till the end." Some of the meanings of the Greek words related to telos include full, complete, and mature. It makes me think that our call is not to perfection, but to maturity. May we continue to grow and reach for love's fullness, completeness and maturity.
Thank you for the updates from Ivanka. I may have mentioned this before, but my mother‘s side of the family is from Lviv and Kiev. Her icons are beautiful, as is her family and her encouraging words in the midst of uncertainty and violence. 🙏🏼
Our garden is overwhelmed with weeds too. And yet the harvest persists. Who knows how much smaller it is? I am just grateful for each green bean and sunny gold tomato, and that I still have the ability to pick them!
Appreciate your humanizing the Russia-Ukraine war which the media can’t easily do. And I’m glad the trip with your nephew went well and provided moments of inspiration. Also appreciated you picture of the bee. For additional encouragement, I was told by my wife that scientists somewhere and figured out some of the bee losses and have seen bee hive populations rebound up to 15 times. It is those things that we forget in our pessimistic news cycles that there are people much smarter than me doing what they can to solve our current world problems. Here’s to being guided to those things and stories in our lives. Thanks for doing what you do to share yours.
Thank you for your words 💛 I’ve been reading Good Soil as I’ve transitioned back to work after maternity leave, a chapter at a time on my pumping breaks. Your story and mine are so different, but I see myself and feel seen as I read your thoughts. Your cyclical storytelling feels like life in all of its interconnectedness, and despite different stories, the weaving of grief and uncertainty through all of the beauty of life feels so right. I am grateful.
Hi Jeff! Thanks for this post -- particularly the update from the Ukraine. Appreciated the link to the beautiful artwork. Just spent a weekend with cousins, nieces, nephews of all ages -- and reading of your trip with Caleb was a good reminder of why these moments are so special. Had an interesting conversation with a peer-aged cousin during which I mentioned your book; just had it delivered to him. Good to read and ponder more about growing, transforming and belonging.
Thanks for sharing this post, for your writing, and for highlighting how hope can show up again and again. (And also for sharing Nadia Bolz-Weber's "If you can't take in anymore, there's a reason" essay. I didn't realize how much I've been needing to read that!)
Thank you Jeff…just what I needed this morning. Thanks for writing. Thanks for sharing words from beautiful people in Lviv. Thanks for being a great uncle—that soaking ride is the best! Thanks for being you and sharing you with us. Here’s to gentle hope today 🙏🏼❤️
Thank you for words of hope amid the chaos. I, too, have felt quiet this summer. And a belated thank you for the wonderful playlist you provided for “Good Soil”.
I have listened to it endlessly & it brings me comfort, joy, & a bit of nostalgia along the way. Appreciate you always.💕
I loved following your cross country journey with your nephew on Instagram. Love your thoughts and gorgeous photos. So glad you crossed through my state (Iowa) and made a restaurant recommendation. Honestly, Nodo's whole menu looks tasty - road trip for me! Welcome home.
I needed a dose of hope today - and a reminder for something I've been considering for a while (PUT. THE. PHONE. DOWN.)
I really hope it wasn't my brother driving that truck! I'll have to ask him to be more careful!
I so look forward to reading your work – such good storytelling and preaching and artistic creation altogether within your words. Thank you.
Thanks, Jeff. It's always good to hear from you and I mean that sincerely. I just finished reading Good Soil this morning. Thank you for sharing your life and the story of your successes and struggles in growing love. I have not paid attention to "eis telos" and the potential that it means more than "till the end." Some of the meanings of the Greek words related to telos include full, complete, and mature. It makes me think that our call is not to perfection, but to maturity. May we continue to grow and reach for love's fullness, completeness and maturity.
Thank you..I needed this!
I am so glad you took time for yourself. I will be here whenever you write as it is always insightful and helpful in getting through this life
Thank you for the updates from Ivanka. I may have mentioned this before, but my mother‘s side of the family is from Lviv and Kiev. Her icons are beautiful, as is her family and her encouraging words in the midst of uncertainty and violence. 🙏🏼
Our garden is overwhelmed with weeds too. And yet the harvest persists. Who knows how much smaller it is? I am just grateful for each green bean and sunny gold tomato, and that I still have the ability to pick them!
Thank you for again reminding me through sharing your experiences, “what is mine to care about and what isn’t “.
Being a grandmother of a 4 and 2 year old helps keep me grounded in the present, but also helps me see the future through their eyes.
Love your contemplative writing.
I so understand enjoying something and yet never wanting to do it again. My husband and I were in GR earlier this week. We both love your city.
Appreciate your humanizing the Russia-Ukraine war which the media can’t easily do. And I’m glad the trip with your nephew went well and provided moments of inspiration. Also appreciated you picture of the bee. For additional encouragement, I was told by my wife that scientists somewhere and figured out some of the bee losses and have seen bee hive populations rebound up to 15 times. It is those things that we forget in our pessimistic news cycles that there are people much smarter than me doing what they can to solve our current world problems. Here’s to being guided to those things and stories in our lives. Thanks for doing what you do to share yours.
Thank you for your words 💛 I’ve been reading Good Soil as I’ve transitioned back to work after maternity leave, a chapter at a time on my pumping breaks. Your story and mine are so different, but I see myself and feel seen as I read your thoughts. Your cyclical storytelling feels like life in all of its interconnectedness, and despite different stories, the weaving of grief and uncertainty through all of the beauty of life feels so right. I am grateful.
Hi Jeff! Thanks for this post -- particularly the update from the Ukraine. Appreciated the link to the beautiful artwork. Just spent a weekend with cousins, nieces, nephews of all ages -- and reading of your trip with Caleb was a good reminder of why these moments are so special. Had an interesting conversation with a peer-aged cousin during which I mentioned your book; just had it delivered to him. Good to read and ponder more about growing, transforming and belonging.
Thanks for sharing this post, for your writing, and for highlighting how hope can show up again and again. (And also for sharing Nadia Bolz-Weber's "If you can't take in anymore, there's a reason" essay. I didn't realize how much I've been needing to read that!)
Yes, I said that too after my last cross country trek to help move our daughter. Whew. And what a treasure trove of memories.
Music too is so good for us. NPR can wait some
Days. Thank you for sharing about your trip and also the ways in which even Ukraine is finding ways to enjoy bits of family summer time. What a world.