Comments on: Notes for my pockets

By: Malisa

Malisa — Sun, 21 Mar 2010 04:32:31 +0000

I never did get back to commenting on this post, but it was one that I really liked. The part about being a walking contradiction gave me a lot to think about. That is definitely how I am!

By: Michelle L.

Michelle L. — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 16:37:20 +0000

thank you Annie and to everyone who commented. Such food for thought.

By: Janet

Janet — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 20:33:39 +0000

Annie, this reminds me of a discussion my husband had with some friends at church a couple of weeks ago. He said that they had concluded that “temperance” is a Godly virtue. I think you’ve captured beautifully this constant tension between extremes with your post. Thank you!

By: Annie

Annie — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 19:10:28 +0000

“And, BTW, Annie, I’m sorry if I took this a way you didn’t want to go….”

M&M, no, quite the opposite–I was delighted and enlightened by your insights.

Jeans, love that 9th grade example. Talk about a wise but confusing green light/red light!

Such great thoughts, all. Thanks for chiming in and making the discussion better with each comment.

By: Melissa M.

Melissa M. — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 17:11:38 +0000

Chiming in a bit late to say that this was a beautiful post, and it made me ponder the complexities and contradictions in my life. One of mine is my need for solitude while at the same time wanting to immerse myself in family life. As a mother, I face this tension all the time, and have to continually try to find balance.

Annie, you are a wonderful writer!

By: m&m

m&m — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 16:13:49 +0000

And, BTW, Annie, I’m sorry if I took this a way you didn’t want to go….

By: m&m

m&m — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 06:11:09 +0000

One other thought from a friend when we were talking about this — it’s not just about getting in the middle somewhere on a linear scale, but learning to get out of that dimension into a more eternally-minded dimension — to find out from Him what to do and who to be and what to focus on.

She said it much better than I, but I liked the image of going non-linear.

By: Angie f

Angie f — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 04:07:26 +0000

Red- That section of Moses is one of my favorite scripture passages. It seems like the grand “You are here” map from God for Moses, and by extension, us and thus armed, Moses is equipped to withstand Satan’s subsequent visit.

For me life is a study in contradictions, everywhere we look. The Lord requires of us that we learn balance and proportions, to find when it is needful to jettison an attribute or an activity in “putting off the natural (wo)man” and when it is more important to embrace what is Christlike or what will draw us to Him.

I also love the scripture in Micah 6:8–where we are told that *all* God wants of us is to do justly, love mercy and walk humbly. Not that any of those three things are easy, but the tension between three is perhaps where keeping those pocket notes would come in handy so that we don’t lean too far on any one side.

By: al

al — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 01:53:42 +0000

I really like this.

For me it’s…”Men are that they might have joy.” and “I never said it would be easy, only that it would be worth it.”

I’ve been nauseas and throwing up a lot the last two months from being in the first trimester of a difficult pregnancy. There were days I felt like this whole world was created as a place for suffering. And then I would remember that we “are that we might have joy”. Some days it was confusing, sometimes comforting.

So thanks. This has been on my mind.

By: jeans

jeans — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 22:02:34 +0000

My 9th grade English teacher had 2 blackboard on opposite walls, and he used to tell us we should imagine one saying “Look Before You Leap” and the other, “She Who Hesitates is Lost.”