Dandelions by Recent Photos The Common Galleries World Map App Garden Camera Finder – Courtesy of MSN Clipart
It’s a new year and I’ve already made my 2015 statement ― “Invite the Miraculous” ― in my last post, “Happy New Year and a Look Back”. Now, I’ve been trying to find the perfect theme on which to start.
I think I’ve got it from listening to these songs by *Carrie Newcomer. Her words and music speak to my heart in the vision I have this year, actually for a while now, on what I long to do ― gather and inspire. No gift is too small ― there is room at the table for everyone.
They talk of down-home things and take me to where life is simple ― toe tapping, innocent and pure. We all come from different walks of life with many situations. I feel them — a whole gamut of emotions where we love, cry and laugh — and hope to create a space at my table where we come together and take these journeys in a conversation of life.
It’s the human stories of love and pain. They matter and we have within the ability to make change and witness miracles.
I don’t know how it will happen nor do I have the training or piece of paper to give advice. I can only share what I’ve learned and witnessed and offer a safe place to exchange stories. Sometimes, all it takes is a comforting word or a listening soul to point us in a new direction, give hope and get us back on track.
I never know how each day will unfold or what may come into my life. It may be that you’ll land here and we’ll engage and inspire each other. Maybe, you’ll have a new idea that will spark us to do something that’s never been done before. I hope so. We need to put our pieces together and add our voices to the world collectively for the greater good.
So, as you listen to these songs and their lyrics, I hope your heart will be touched by pure love as it was for me. I hope you’ll look for the light in the window and gather around my table in spirit to see what the future holds and where we’ll be placed to learn how to bring peace and share love.
Come, pull up a chair ― there’s room at my table for everyone. I’m putting it out in the universe. Together, we’ll find a way to talk and air our differences, share our stories and spread the love giving hope ― then, stand back and watch the miracles. If not now, then when.
Pat at the ol’ kitchen table
______________________________
*For more information on Carrie Newcomer, you can listen to an unedited interview with her by Krista Tippett at “On Being” or hear a mix on her new album, “A Permeable Life.”
Related articles
Copyright secured by Digiprove © 2015 Pat Ruppel
May I offer an extremely short story—six words—attributed to Ernest Hemingway and full of love and sadness…
“For Sale: Baby shoes, never worn.”
Hi Alexander — thank you (I think) for leaving your short story. Please forgive my ignorance, though, but I’m not quite sure what it means with the loss of a baby in the context of the post.
Even though it’s only six words, I think it has a rare depth of meaning…
My impetus for sharing it was these words of yours:
“It’s the human stories of love and pain.”
Ah, thank you Alex. Now, I understand the connection. Life is full of love and pain and many stories for sure. If only we can be there to listen and show compassion.
Pat, Your message for the new year “sounds good” taking on deeper meaning with Carrie Newcomer’s songs & music! Great post! To do what you want in an exchange from people from all walks of life to lend one-another a helping hand in any & all forms of advice & information……would take the kind of blog I wish existed where multiple people could talk back & forth. It DOES exist if you start a Facebook page dedicated to your theme & we all come round & participate on posts by different people on it! Idea??? Phil
Thank you, Philip. You’re right it would take a miracle blog where people could engage in discussions back and forth in the spirit of openness and common ground. I think it’s possible but don’t know how given the privacy issues on the internet and feeling safe to share. I do have a FB page for my blog (https://www.facebook.com/PlainTalkAndOrdinaryWisdom) but not sure how it could be used for a dialogue.
There was a mention of creating a chat room in Google+ that I wrote about in my “What If — Virtual Kitchen Table Talks?” post. But, still there’s the issue of feeling safe enough to share on the internet.
Appreciate your feedback and keep the ideas coming — there’s bound to be a way we can connect and talk while feeling safe. 🙂
Pat, what is more miraculous than music and how it can lift us up, reach into our souls to find and heal pain or simply make us laugh.
I hope you find a way to make your roundtable idea work, but like you said it’s hard to feel safe online.
Thank you, Lois. You’re right — there’s something truly amazing about music and how it makes us feel. I’m glad you enjoyed it and appreciate your encouraging words on the roundtable idea. Who knows what’s possible in this day and age with technology. It’s on my heart and putting it out there — inviting the miraculous. 🙂
Very inspirational.
Thank you, Dawn. I’m happy it touched your heart.
Beautiful and touching videos Pat. In a world that seems to be full of confusion, chaos and hatred at times it is a much needed message to put out to the world
Thank you, Susan. I’m glad you enjoyed it and also touched by the music.
Just like your quote by JFK in your latest post (“Color of Racism: #Story“): “Mankind must put an end to war before war puts an end to mankind.”
We have to find a way to get along — plain and simple.
I liked this
Thank you, Joanne. I’m glad you did. 🙂
You have taken on a huge but noble task, especially in light of what has been happening in the news lately. I believe that change begins with one person – that every individual has more power and influence in his or her words than one realizes. We need to remember this in our everyday conversations and to be aware of the messages we give to those who cross our path.
Thank you, Bev, and i feel you sense more of what this task is than I do. I’m just following my heart and putting what I feel out there. I don’t know what that is or where it will take me. If it’s a noble task, like you said, it will certainly take a miracle given the world events. I’m willing to do my part in spreading love with my stories engaging in these conversations in a safe place around my kitchen table. I’m honored that you’ve chosen to come sit with me from time-to-time, my friend. You’re always welcome. 🙂
Just beautiful. I particularly love A Light In The Window, but all these songs blessed me so much dear Pat, I have never heard any of them. As I sat here listening to them and reading your words, I imagined that we were sitting together at your kitchen table, drinking coffee and sharing our hearts, our stories, our hopes and dreams. But I know that your heart’s desire is for your message of love and reconciliation and peace is far-reaching. This world is a dark, troubled place, and in light of all the recent horrors, it seems even more so than usual. Yet…we are surrounded by God’s mercy and grace and so we wake up each day and are so thankful for our many blessings. So we stand together and pray and let the light of friendship flood our hearts. As you bless me my dear friend with the beauty of your heartfelt and tender posts. I’m so glad I met you.
Thank you, Sherri. I’m glad you enjoyed the songs. They are beautiful and I had never heard of them before either until the other morning when hubby called me down to listen to them. This artist, Carrie Newcomer, is new to me. I love her message.
The first one I heard about room at the table especially struck me since that’s been an ongoing theme of mine all along on my site. There’s a feeling I get when people gather around a table and talk that takes me back to when I was little and felt safe. It’s like it was the center of something special with an energy of powerful possibilities. The one you mentioned, A Light in the Window, is like that, too, offering a comfortable place to come home that’s safe and peaceful.
I can see us sitting together, too, drinking coffee and sharing our hearts. Oh, we’d have a lot to talk about I imagine and would be there for awhile enjoying every minute of it, my friend. That’s the thing. When you engage in conversations like that in a comfortable place it takes on a life of its own and you never know where it will lead. I love when that happens.
You’re right that there certainly are horrors in the world — there always have been and may get worse — but if we can come together in spirit and tap into the gifts God has given and made available to us to share with the world, there’s no telling how far that will reach. It would be miraculous. I’d love to see that. So, until we talk again, my friend, hugs from across the pond and many blessings this week. 🙂
Yes…that safety of gathering around the table with loved ones. It reminds of some of my happiest times as a girl too. Very comforting and the song could have been written for you Pat and our blog 🙂 Just perfect, and so glad that your hubby discovered such a beautiful song writer. We certainly can pray that we use the gifts of God wisely and as we are led..as they begin in the heart. And in the power of friendship, no matter the distance in between! Hugs to you too my friend, and may your week also be blessed in abundance 🙂
I love the picture of that, Sherri, gathering around the table. It does invoke comfort and sweet memories. I like the feelings of sharing and connection. I guess that’s why I go back to it a lot because it’s easy for me to go there and imagine, especially with the song that could have been written for us. It’s so true what you say that we can only pray we use God’s gifts wisely and are open to follow the leads.
No matter the distance, there is power in the spirit of friendship and I’m happy to have that connection with you. 🙂
Bless you dear friend…and me too. Have a wonderful, blessed weekend and catch up with you soon 🙂
🙂
I love this idea and the video and words about having room at the table for everyone. We do come from all walks of life, and we don’t know the burdens and triumphs we each carry.
I’m back to blogging, so I will definitely be a follower. Take care and have a wonderful rest of the week! If you get a chance, stop on by my blog and enter my raffle. I’m giving two eBooks away. They might not be your kind of reads, but you can always pass them along. Take care.
Thank you, Denise. Gosh, it great to see you again and I’m so glad you enjoyed the read. I know you’ve been busy writing and publishing your books and hope it’s been going well for you.
I look forward to hooking up with you more now that you’re back to blogging. I like your new site, “Baer Books Press” and saw the giveaway on your 2 eBooks on your “Happy 2015” welcome post on your blog. I commented but couldn’t see where I could connect and follow except through social media. Anyway, I’ve included your links here and linked back to your site so I hope those that land here will find you.
I’m looking forward to sharing stories with you again and catching up with what you been up to over there in Germany. Take care, my friend, and keep in touch. 🙂
Well there’s your first miracle Pat – finding the theme song of your blog 🙂 And how appropriate it is! You have a wonderful theme for the year and I look forward to sharing all those small miracles with you as the months go by 🙂
Thank you so much, Andrea. Your encouraging and kind words mean a lot. You’re right. It was like a miracle how that song came about and fit in so perfectly to begin the new year.
Amazing what happens when you invite the miraculous. I’m excited to see what unfolds and share it with you. 🙂
Pingback: Fireside Chats and Kitchen Table Talks | Plain Talk and Ordinary Wisdom
Love love love the songs Pat! Thank you for sharing Carrie Newcomer’s music. I didn’t know her but will check out some more now. That first one is just perfect for you blog. Looking forward to see what new seeds are enfolding in your life Pat. Grateful to share the journey.
I’m glad you enjoyed them, Karin. I just found out about her, too — hubby turned me onto her. When I first listened to her song on gathering around the table, that was it. I was hooked and, you’re right, that song couldn’t be more fitting for my blog. It captures the essence perfectly on what I’m wanting to project and put out in the world.
I’m so happy to have you along on the journey and get so much in sharing what’s going on in each other’s lives. You’ve helped so much with inspiring that. Thank You! 🙂
Pingback: Fireside Chats ― Kitchen Table Talks Revisited | Plain Talk and Ordinary Wisdom
Pingback: Wouldn’t Take Nothin’ For My Journey Now | Plain Talk and Ordinary Wisdom