I wrote this morning about Kathleen Norris’ The Quotidian Mysteries. Part of Norris’ point is that creative thoughts often arise in the mundane details of life. While folding laundry, an idea pops into her head for a poem, or she remembers that she wanted to write a friend a note, or she recall the words of a Psalm and considers them anew. These things happen for me. I enjoy solitude. On a Myers Briggs test, I split right down the extrovert/introvert line. I get energy from people, but I also draw energy from time all by myself.
But I’ve had too much time alone this year. We moved to Connecticut, and so we left behind 7 years of relationships at work, school, and church. The weather plus pregnancy pushed us inside for much of the winter. And now, with Marilee needing me more or less around the clock, I still feel somewhat homebound (although spring makes it so much better, doesn’t it?).
I’ve been thinking lately that one of the blessings of quotidian life–every day life, life in laundry and taking out the trash and cooking dinner–quotidian life is not blessed only in the solitude and contemplation that it affords. Solitude can easily lead to loneliness. It is also a blessing to live the quotidian life in community. I can’t email while holding Marilee or changing her diaper or folding her clothes. But I can easily attend to those everyday tasks while talking with a friend who is in the room with me. I can’t really talk on the phone while Penny and William run around the yard. But I can chat with another parent from our neighborhood as our kids kick balls and run and jump and every so often need our attention.
Quotidian actions fill my days, and I am trying to be attentive to and grateful for the rhythms of life with a newborn. And yet I long for more of those moments to be ones that extend beyond my own thoughts, my own creativity, my own memory. I trust it is a holy longing, to share the ins and outs of household work with others, to watch our children grow together, to experience the quotidian in community.



Penelope Ayers is a memoir about the year I spent getting to know my mother-in-law, a beautiful, gracious, lonely New Orleanian who discovered one February morning that she has cancer. When she reached out for help, three generations of her fractured, colorful family responded, and in so doing, we all experienced grace and healing.
posted September 14, 2010 at 2:27 pm
I think this theme will bear much fruit in your readers, Amy Julia. (Sorry to go declarative and not questioning.)
Questions are such an important cognitive prompt. Also important to wait for the response.
posted September 14, 2010 at 4:03 pm
How do you forgive people you hate and that has never as for forgiveness.I am trying to get a book done about an accident in a dollar general store where they left me to die and with close to two million in medical bills.I need a van with a wheelchair lift maybe with a book i could save someone from this.I will never walk,standup,wear shoes.I have problems with eating .Dollar General said they made a mistake but its not like i died.thank you for anyhelp.
posted September 17, 2010 at 5:09 am
Hi: What happens when we die? Is there a hell and if so why would a God who is all Love would allow people to suffer for all time? Thanks, Mike P
posted September 17, 2010 at 8:46 am
1. In the Ten Commandments it states thou shall not kill. But why is it was all right for God to kill man as it shows in the Bible so many times. That is do as I say not as I do.
2. According to the Bible, if you have not asked the Lord into your heart there is no way into Heaven. So what happened to all of the people who came before Jesus was born or lived in other countries and had no knowledge of him and his word. When they died does that mean they all went to Hell.
3. It states God made every living thing in the Garden of Eden. He made Adam and Eve and the world was populated by them. They had two sons Cane and Able, but Cane killed Able. Now that leaves only three to populate the world with. Does the word incest come to mind. How did science prove that dinosaurs were around millions of years ago, there is no mention of them in the Bible.
4. All the quotations in red in the bible are suppose to be Jesus’ on words or quotes, who had the tape recorder going to make sure of everything he said. There was not one it is mans on interpretation of what might have been said, or what someone wants you to believe no different from all the other Gods of Old (Greek, Egyptian, ect.).
This is to show you a little insite, and yes I have read the Bible from cover to cover but I am cosidered a pagan (meaning I believe in all the Gods of my forefathers) who is to say they were wrong for their beliefs. I have been asked to leave every domination of religion (Churches) for asking questions except for the Muslims because I have not asked them yet.
posted September 17, 2010 at 9:13 am
Why does it say “Thou shall not kill” and people think that in war it’s ok because it’s you or them and on Death Row. They either gas them, hang, shoot, stone, use the chair, or injection. The State may say they die and the person who carries it out, would they go to Hell because of it? Does that count as breaking a commandment or is that forgiven automatically, is forgivable, or do you have to request forgiveness? People also need to quit trying to force religion down people’s throats too. It really pisses me off when people try to tell me what to do when they don’t even know me or anything about my life. Don’t pass out pamplets to me or mini bibles. If I want to know about it I’ll look it up myself, I don’t need your help. Mind your own business. My beliefs aren’t evil because I don’t read the bible all the time and go to church hardcore like old people do. I don’t preach to everybody and tell them what they need to do with their life because it’s not good enough by their standards. Things are going to be different for everyone for a reason so let them be.
posted September 17, 2010 at 10:04 am
What question would I ask God, is a good question in itself. God, why do you pick and choose people to bless, and give soften hearts to? Perhaps if You allowed everyone to have a soft heart, there would be no sin or disbelief. If it is true that all men are created equal, then all men should be or should recieve the same Blessings and Gifts that You have to offer. 2nd question is what would God say to me?
posted September 17, 2010 at 12:02 pm
why is my son going through so much pain when i ask God to give me strength to get through what we are going through at the time we get more bad news how much stronger do i have to be
posted September 17, 2010 at 12:43 pm
A lot of questions are being asked. Where do I find the answers to these questions that I am reading today. Who will give me the answers to these questions?
posted September 17, 2010 at 12:46 pm
Why did God place the tree of good and evil in the garden knowing it would tempt Adam and Eve to the point of sinning and changing life forever?
posted September 17, 2010 at 5:42 pm
If God already knows when we are going to be born, to whom we will be born to, and even our names way before the event happens. He actually chooses our parents, so if two people conceived a child in sin (such as infidelity) does that mean that he also meant for that sin to occur??? confused!!!
posted September 17, 2010 at 6:02 pm
I have 2 questions, please:
FIRST – Why does it say we must have faith as small as a mustard seed to see what we pray for but then it says we must have faith with no doubt? If i have some faith as a small as a mustard seed, isn’t that enough to make my prayer effective?
SECOND – Also, I’m on the fence w/ LOA, hypnosis, etc. I have deep negative mind sets because of the way I was raised. I pray and try to change those ways of thinking but it never settles and stays in my conscious or subconscious and I constantly ‘relapse.’ I seriously think hypnosis (i have mp3s) will help but i’m afraid of using it if it is seemed as some form of worshiping another idol although i always give thanks to God for all great things that happen to and for me. Is it okay to engage in hypnosis and/or follow the teachings of the LOA of “feeling as if” and “acting as if” which are also the basic teachings of Jesus?
posted September 17, 2010 at 8:02 pm
If I could see God the Father face to face I would ask, Why did You ask Jesus Your Son to suffer and die that I might live? I know the simple answer is Love for me, but how did asking Him to suffer and die prove Your love for Him?
posted September 18, 2010 at 12:15 am
I ask God two things. One, what is my purpose, my path in life? I feel completely lost and have no idea what to do for a career, or what my direction is to be. Two, why create people that you know will never accept Jesus, why create people you know will never be saved, never know you and will spend an eternity in hell? Wouldn’t it be better for them never to have been born than to eventually suffer eternally in hell?
posted September 18, 2010 at 5:02 am
Questions arise for two reasons, #1 we ask questions about God because we dont know the answers, #2 Jesus asked his disciples questions already knowing the answers. When we look at the questions Jesus asked who do we see as the binificery of the answer? It wasnt Jesus. There absoutly is nothing wrong with ignorance, what is wrong is when we dont seek knowledge that subsides that ignorance and the only way is asking questions to the authors of it and not seeking answers from man. Asking God directly is paramount if one ever is to get the correct answer. But then you say I have asked God and got no answer. and I tell you it isnt that He didnt answer it is that you arent listening or dont accept His answers. Only when we recieve the same Spirit in us that was in Christ Jesus will all thises questions about God be answered — By God Himself.
posted September 18, 2010 at 12:00 pm
Rich, on your cancer go to johns hopkins university, there is a cure for cancer with out chemo, change yout diet and build up your good immune cells. Good immune cells is the only thing to destroy cancer cells, Chemo only puts it in remmissiom and could come back at any time without you knowing it.The dr’sand pharmacy’s don’t want this to get out because there is no momey to be made.
My question to God, we know he has created man earth stars heavens plants and life in general. As a baby christian and cannot learn fast enough from the bible, I have one question. Where did God come from???? I know he is there and is in my life and cannot live with out him,but that is my honest heartfelt question
posted September 18, 2010 at 8:42 pm
Wow, I`ve been sitting here for awhile trying to think of what I would ask God, and I really don`t know. I do know that I would love to listen to him talking to me. I`ve found this quote very comforting ” If you only sat still and longed for me, you would be so unruffled,so calm, so bold. Refuse to be downcast.Love and laugh. I am with you.”
posted September 19, 2010 at 1:40 am
When I die and go to heaven, will I see my golden retriever dog and be able to love her again, because if not then I’m not going, I want to go where she went!Do you have her Lord??
posted September 20, 2010 at 12:52 am
I would ask God why he took my father to heaven so soon when I really need him now!
posted October 4, 2010 at 12:01 am
i would ask him if i was forgiven and if i was saved and will i go up in the rapture
posted October 13, 2010 at 8:23 pm
I would ask HIM if the way I love my children, and I think that I couldn’t live with out them, would that love be enough for GOD? I wonder how much I love HIM. I have too many questions to ask.
posted October 23, 2010 at 3:47 pm
I would ask Him if He knew I would like to have done better. And why innocent animals have to suffer abuse.
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