An Unusual Braid

We do not run the race alone
Nor go into exile by ourselves
For we journey along the Way
Made smooth by those who’ve gone before.

And though invisible to the eye
They are with us still, forebears in faith,
Whose example, wisdom and yes, prayers
Inspire, encourage and guide us
Through the valleys and mountains of life.

And in the silence of the night
Listen for the soft whisper of
Ancestors, relatives and friends
Who, though gone, from the sidelines
Still cheer us on and
Whose love and countless kindnesses
Brought us to this very day.

Alone no longer 
(as if we ever were)
We are part of a vast, unending
Procession of love and life
Past, present and to come
Where memory and meaning mingle
To create an eternal, dynamic
Community of souls and
Communion of saints.

The notion of taking comfort and strength from those not physically with us has been on my mind in a very particular way lately.  I have been listening to alot of Maya Angelou interviews.   Several times I have heard her say “I take my people with me” when doing something scary or challenging.  I like that, but, besides packing up my figurines I can’t quite figure out how it works.  But then this morning she said this, “I come as one, but I stand as 10,000.” That clicked.  I like that it affirms my individuality and competence as I come to a hard thing but it doesn’t leave me on my own.  It links me to all that has come before and those who have faced the challenges and prevailed.  It invites me to think about the names and faces I know and find strength from, those who have walked this walk too. In the realm of women ranching with their husbands I think of Marlene, Kay, Carol, Donalee, Sheila, Lyla, Melissa, Bonnie, Donna, Molly, Georgie and Gail. Those are the names I know, but I stand in a long line and a wide circle of women doing this life. I come as one but I stand as many.

This mural and the write up about it I took from a page on the internet. Its another illustration of a great cloud of witnesses and I like that it illumines some of those witnesses Maya Angelou brought with her to her life stage. She spoke of friendships with Martin Luther King and Malcolm X, they are here.

I am in the midst of setting up a new desk location for myself in our home. I am almost there. One of the last jobs is to hang some beautiful portraits of my Mom and Dad. There were terrific encouragers and I want their faces near to remind me to persevere when I am scared or daunted or tired.

This post has been for me an unusual braid…..the utter ridiculousness of hauling figurines around the ranch and telling you about it, woven together with Holy Scripture, poetry, art and song and then the ongoing story of finding my courage, healing and strength in the midst of all that life holds. Some people think of braids as something to do with hair, but we do alot of braiding here lately as part of ropes and lead shanks and halters. They hold alot of weight and provide alot of security. The same might be said of the clouds of witnesses that exist for you and for me.

If you have a minute, look through the lyrics to this Carolyn Arends song. They are so vivid and thought provoking for me. Here is a link to the song as Carolyn performs it.

I was just four, my grandmother’s place
I knelt by her sofa and started this race
And now I’ve been running for such a long while
I’ve kind of lost track of the miles
Sometimes I press on, sometimes I look back
Sometimes I just lay in the road on my back
When I’ve got to get up and I don’t know how
I hear in the distance the roar of a crowd

It’s the great cloud of witnesses
Cheering me on each step that I go
It’s the great cloud of witnesses
They say the finish is worth every inch of the road

Moses is there, up in his seat
With my Grandad Wilfred, my Nana Bernice
There’s Abraham, Isaac and my buddy Rich
And I think they’re shouting “don’t quit”

So if you are tired, and your back is sore
If you’re not so sure you can run anymore
Then just take a moment and listen real close
Do you hear a sound like a heavenly host?

It’s the great cloud of witnesses
Cheering us on each step that we go
It’s the great cloud of witnesses
They say the finish is worth every inch of the road

It’s friends and relations and each generation of saints who believed
And received The Prize
They have looked into His eyes

It’s the great cloud of witnesses …