I am learning in a very fresh way that life has a way of leaving me speechless. I see events occurring, life unfolding, leaving a divide seemingly insurmountable.

This seems to be thread running through the nation.... and my personal situation currently. It's time to step up and stand in the gap for each other.....

After my husband passed I was tasked with seeking support. Having been married to a resourceful, self sufficient man for so long, he was the support and suddenly it was gone. I had to rebuild, create a new structure.

I found myself however, among naysayers, speaking words I could not entertain. I could not receive negativity, because there was not the luxury to fail..... or fall.

I needed to believe..... And have never stopped.

What has resulted over a few short years is a crumbling of false support structures I thought I could lean on. Those I expected to have my back but have given way to betrayals.
Many, widowed or not, can understand this language.... of vulnerability.

As the false has fallen away, room is made for the true, the real, coming from places and sources I did not expect. I am blessed. My boys are blessed. Blown away actually.

As I endeavor to learn from loss, and live my life as authentically (not religiously) as possible, I make mistakes. Those mistakes do not come from malicious motives however, but a vulnerability.......

I made the choice quite awhile ago to throw religion out the window in order to embrace grace.

As I see it, what the country needs now is more of what I have been speaking here and elsewhere:

Hearing. Understanding. Grace. Openness.

Embrace grace.