4 Comments
Oct 20Liked by Karen Friend Smith

Wow! I'm so glad you vacuumed yesterday to inspire these thoughts. Amazing article - really hit home with me. I'll be pondering these thoughts for a while. (I'm amazed that Boomer inspired you so many years later.... ;-). And I love when long-time memories pop up as 'lessons' later in life. Happens to me, too -- in the least expected times.

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Glad it resonated. Love random thoughts and how they all come together and then get mixed into the thoughts of others. 😜

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I have the opposite problem. I think. I've lived in this condo for almost five years. Still no furniture. The space has a mini-tramp, an old steamer trunk, and an easy chair. The dining room has a table and chairs, and a table for plants. We do have a nice bed, a night stand, a small bedside table and a dresser. I can't bring myself to fill up the space. Trust me I've tried countless times and still can't do it.

I'm very comfortable with space... it's being filled that seems to choke me.

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Love these reflections on space and filling it.

It is the extremely low pressure that creates the vacuum that causes hurricanes 🌀 to rush around to fill it.

I remember years ago when my mom experienced a near death accident that this picture became more clear.

Like you said, for some reason we hate empty space or to feel emptiness. But during that horrific accident, I saw my mother empty and I saw how God rushed in to fill the space in her. It created a vacuum that drew people in to help her and surround her.

Outside of just being at peace in the present moment seated on the mercy seated at rest, outside of that space felt like chaos.

The same has been true as I navigate my destroyed WNC area, decimated by Helene. In the aftermath, while secluded in our neighborhood bubble without water, power, or cell phone service, we gathered around eachother and pulled our food resources and water resources to help eachother. We were emptied of our selves and God rushed in.

Outside our scope of knowing there was utter destruction and chaos.

Again, the picture of the vacuum and how God loves an empty vessel.

As I have floundered with my words on how to write my next substack article (I haven't written since pre-helene), I think this is the perfect parable to start.

Thank you. You have reminded me once again of this amazing picture.

I will use some of this response in my post.

Keep writing. You never know who needs to hear it.

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