Sandra Heska King

daring to open doors

  • Home
  • About
  • DISCLOSURES
    • Amazon Affiliate
    • Book Reviews
  • Published
  • Contact
  • Blog
    • Commit Poetry
    • Dared

still saturday: what to remember when you’re unhappy

November 29, 2013 By Sandra Heska King

pure beginnings

 

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, and darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. ~Genesis 1:1-2 (NIV)

The earth was a place of chaos and confusion, an empty and dark wasteland.

But the Spirit, moved by love, was moving–hovering and brooding like a bird protecting its young. Incubating, if you will. Going before and behind and all around to gather and create beauty from and through the blackness, to bring all the mess and misery together into a great masterpiece.

And there was light.

God hovers over our darkness and unhappiness to make pure beginnings. He moves in our miseries to turn them into miracles, and through our messes to create beautiful music, to make jazz from all our junk. He finds a wealth of worth in our wastelands–and wastes nothing.

And there is light.

Marlon Hall said:

“Pure beginnings can start with unhappy endings.”

“If I wait for a happy ending to be happy, then I will never be happy.”

“I will not wait for unhappiness to end where I am before I start a new beginning. Because God is moving over my context.”

Thank you, Marlon, for shedding some new light on this passage and making me think deep in the canyon.

Marlon’s personal blog

The Awakenings Movement with podcasts

 

frio butterflies

click to enlarge

Still wading in the river,

Sandy

Welcome to Still Saturday where we pause after a busy week, move in quiet pilgrimage, maybe linger a while in some still place, and soak in the beauty of images and words. We’d love for you to join us. Get the details on the left, grab your favorite button, and link up below. We all love to hear if something especially speaks to your heart, but please don’t feel pressured to comment. Simply take some time to gaze long and drink deep.



Share this:

  • Email
  • Print
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest

Filed Under: stories and reflections

Comments

  1. Mia says

    November 30, 2013 at 7:58 am

    Dear Sandra
    Today I am at one of those longing-for-all-over beginnings with the Fm/CFS, but after reading Marlon’s good advice, I have new hope and trust in the Light hovering always in my heart!
    Blessings XX
    Mia

    • Sandra Heska King says

      November 30, 2013 at 9:06 am

      Love to you, my friend.

  2. Ginger @dwellinginthehouse says

    November 30, 2013 at 8:20 am

    ..where nothing is wasted. Lord, let it be so. Thank you for posting this today.

    • Sandra Heska King says

      November 30, 2013 at 9:06 am

      Yes, let it be so.

  3. ~ linda says

    November 30, 2013 at 10:44 am

    “The Spirit of God hovers over…” “God hovers over our darkness…”
    This is such fine weaving of words and thoughts, Sandra. I have always loved that verse in Genesis and with these thoughts woven into it, the clarity of God’s love grows closer rather than further from me in the darkness that I can feel sometimes. I feel blessed for coming here and taking the time to read and absorb.
    Caring through Christ, ~ linda

    • Sandra Heska King says

      November 30, 2013 at 11:09 am

      So blessed to have you in my life, Linda. You are a bright light! Next year. Praying for next year.

  4. ~ linda says

    November 30, 2013 at 10:45 am

    Oops! I wanted to tell you that I love the photo. I enlarged it and could see the many butterflies and their colorful array.

    • Sandra Heska King says

      November 30, 2013 at 11:10 am

      They were right there by the side of the walk between the main lodge and fountain! 🙂

  5. Sheila Seiler Lagrand says

    November 30, 2013 at 4:06 pm

    Thanks, Sandy, for sharing. You’ve captured the essence.

    Again.

    xoxo

    • Sandra Heska King says

      December 1, 2013 at 6:44 am

      I miss you.

      • Sheila Seiler Lagrand says

        December 1, 2013 at 11:52 am

        I miss you too, dear one.

  6. lisha epperson says

    November 30, 2013 at 5:07 pm

    Hi Sandra,
    this…”God hovers over our darkness and unhappiness to make pure beginnings.”
    He encompasses it all in the beauty of redemption.
    Thanks for the quotes on happiness and the link to the podcasts…good stuff. Happy Sunday!

    • Sandra Heska King says

      December 1, 2013 at 6:47 am

      Amen, Lisha. Bless your Sunday.

  7. Jason Stasyszen says

    November 30, 2013 at 5:56 pm

    Jazz from our junk–I really like that. And I’m so glad He is well able to do it and faithful and good to us. Thanks Sandra.

    • Sandra Heska King says

      December 1, 2013 at 6:57 am

      Marlon shared that in its early days, jazz was considered junk. And I just read that Congress passed a resolution in 1987 declaring jazz a “rare and valuable national treasure.” Makes me think that how we choose to look at our junk can make a world of difference.

      Thanks for your always encouraging words, here, Jason.

  8. Lyli @ 3-D Lessons for Life says

    November 30, 2013 at 11:27 pm

    Holding on to this sentence tonight: “He moves in our miseries to turn into them into miracles….”

    Yes! 🙂

    I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving. I am thankful for you. 🙂

    • Sandra Heska King says

      December 1, 2013 at 7:05 am

      Indeed. Yes.

      I’m so grateful for you as well, Lyli.

  9. Joanne Viola says

    December 1, 2013 at 6:25 am

    Sandra – There are no words to express what this post has meant to me this morning. Tears are rolling as today will mark an ending for me. I needed to read this to do what needs to be done today & anticipate all that He has in a pure beginning. So glad that He wastes nothing.
    With much gratitude!
    Joanne

    • Sandra Heska King says

      December 1, 2013 at 7:07 am

      Oh, friend. I am praying for you right now. Much love to you.

  10. Naomi@WhatJoyIsMine says

    December 1, 2013 at 1:02 pm

    Sandra…loved your thoughts today. “He finds a wealth of worth in our wastelands–and wastes nothing.” What encouragement in that one line. Thank you for that and for the link up. Have a blessed day in the Lord.

  11. June says

    December 1, 2013 at 1:32 pm

    Wealth in the wasteland. . . . that is so true, Sandy. No life is wasted. Thank you for your reflections today.

  12. Laurie Collett says

    December 1, 2013 at 1:46 pm

    Praise God for His transforming power! Thanks for the great post & for hosting & God bless!

  13. Patricia @ Pollywog Creek says

    December 1, 2013 at 9:19 pm

    “God hovers over our darkness and unhappiness to make pure beginnings. He moves in our miseries to turn them into miracles, and through our messes to create beautiful music, to make jazz from all our junk. He finds a wealth of worth in our wastelands–and wastes nothing.
    And there is light.” Thank You, Lord, for redeeming my waste to create a pure beginning.

  14. Janis Cox says

    December 1, 2013 at 9:20 pm

    Sandra,
    Your words are so poetical. I love listening to the flow.
    Many blessings and thanks for hosting.
    Blessings,
    Janis http://www.janiscox.com

Trackbacks

  1. Weekend Reflection: Thankful says:
    November 30, 2013 at 4:05 pm

    […] weekend. Around here we remove our shoes and tour the stillness. Start with Sandra Heska King’s Still Saturday.  You’ll join us, yes? We’ve saved you a […]

  2. The Nativity and the Word - What Joy Is Mine says:
    December 1, 2013 at 12:59 pm

    […] Subscribe | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest Stop by on Mondays to link up at Monday’s Musings. Read our disclosure.    **If any of my photos anywhere on my blog catch your eye, please email me for permission to use them in any way. I appreciate your cooperation in helping my photography stay protected and properly credited. Thank you. Shared at Spiritual Sundays, SundayStillness, Renewed Daily, My Freshly Brewed Life, Still Saturday […]

  3. Soul Stops | What I learned in November...start small says:
    December 1, 2013 at 11:28 pm

    […] Photo with Marlon Hall quote used with permission of sweet friend, Sandra Heska King, whom I finally got to hug in person. […]

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Flickr
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Meet Sandra

I’m Sandra, a camera-toting, recovering doer who’s learning to be. still. Read more…

Get updates from the stillness by email

Your personal information is safe and will never be shared.

Archives

Categories

Instagram Inspiration

sandraheskaking

A tale of two iguanas... I did not see the iguana A tale of two iguanas... I did not see the iguana in the background until I downloaded the photos. That, I believe, is the one that got caught in one of the openings in the neighbor's chain link fence. We tried in several (safe) ways to dislodge it without luck and could think of no other option but to leave it. Somehow it apparently dislodged itself. We also believe this is the pair that was getting into another neighbor's garden. We haven't seen either one since the last cold snap, so we are wondering if they survived. 
🌱
Thinking some may have tumbled from their perches last night. Pretty sure it will be raining iguanas tonight since we are under a frost advisory. It's cold. And windy.
Just sing... sing a song... Singing our way into Just sing... sing a song... 

Singing our way into the weekend.
"We don't just see. We learn to see." ~ Russ Ramse "We don't just see. We learn to see." ~ Russ Ramsey in Rembrandt is in the Wind
Now you see me... now you don't. Now you see me... now you don't.
"I started looking and listening. I realized that "I started looking and listening. I realized that work, like life, is shot through with poetry. It was everywhere. I was so taken with what I discovered that I wrote a book about it." @gyoung9751 
🌱
Whether you work in an office, a retail store, a restaurant, or at home... Whether you work on roads or on power lines, or on high buildings...Whether you collect trash or preach sermons, or care for your kiddos. Whether you do art, or weave words, or take photos of a common gallinule AKA moorhen AKA swamp chicken--it's all shot through with poetry.
🌱
So pay attention. Find a poem.
🌱
Read more at https://www.tweetspeakpoetry.com/2023/01/10/its-poetry-at-work-day-2023/
Rising… Rising…
Everyone needs a little balance in life. And maybe Everyone needs a little balance in life. And maybe a beauty routine. And breakfast. Especially breakfast. I wonder if it consists of a few fire ants. I hope so. (Well, not mine. I'm having oatmeal with chia seeds. What are you having this morning?)
🌱
P.S. Happy Friday!
"Though your destination is not yet clear You can "Though your destination is not yet clear You can trust the promise of this opening; Unfurl yourself into the grace of beginning That is at one with your life's desire." ~John O'Donohue 
🌿
A blessing for a new beginning in a new year. I'm sure he wrote it especially for me. At least I'm claiming it. Maybe it will speak to you, too.
🌿
Also, I'd really like this skirt --> 
🌿
Read the whole poem--> -->
🌿
Well, bummer... The whole page didn't print. Read it in the comments below.
"What precocity, a bird half the size Of an Anjou "What precocity, a bird half the size
Of an Anjou pear." ~ Stephen Kuusisto in "The Mockingbird on Central" (Find it in The Poets Guide to the Birds edited by Judith Kitchen and Ted Kooser)
🌱
"The morning pages are the primary tool of creative recovery." ~ Julia Cameron in The Artist's Way. 
🌱
I've been in a long creative drought, so I started morning pages--again. This time I've got a bit of an accountability group through @refineretreat's Refinery--which I finally also joined this year. I'll turn 74 this month. I'm not ready to grow old while I age--though everything does seem to take longer while time goes by faster.
🌱
#aweandwonder #tsaweandwonder
Tonight’s walk in the neighborhood. I’m still Tonight’s walk in the neighborhood. I’m still kinda amazed that out of all the places we could have ended up after moving from a place I said I’d never move from), here we are—planted right next to the northern Everglades. Six-plus years, and I still shake my head in wonder.
"So fancy is the world..." ~ Mary Oliver in "This "So fancy is the world..." ~ Mary Oliver in "This World." #aweandwonder #tsaweandwonder
Look, Mom! I can walk on water! #aweandwonder #tsa Look, Mom! I can walk on water! #aweandwonder #tsaweandwonder
Gazing into 2023 like… Let’s take it step by Gazing into 2023 like… 
Let’s take it step by step with hope and courage. Also I hope to be posting again more often.
🎉
Happy New Year!
The morning before the last morning of 2022. 🌴 The morning before the last morning of 2022. 
🌴
71 degrees. Heading to 83. I can live with that.
From the top of Brasstown Bald—the highest point From the top of Brasstown Bald—the highest point in Georgia at 4784 feet.
Winding roads… Winding roads…
Tonight's moon. It's kinda okay. Tonight's moon. It's kinda okay.
Don’t mind me. Just storking by. Don’t mind me. Just storking by.
I’ve gotten several messages asking if things we I’ve gotten several messages asking if things were okay. Yes. I’ve recovered after 3 weeks in Covid jail. Also, I’ve been a bit scarce on social cuz we’ve been finishing up house renovations, and there is SO much that now needs to be cleaned and stuff put away. Also, we’ve had the second oldest grand with us for two weeks. I “should have” at least shared some stories about our adventures, but we’ve relished the time and kept busy. One can’t leave South Florida without a gator encounter, though, right? Tomorrow the two of us fly back to Michigan, and then I will spend a week with my sister where I expect I will be put to work in the chicken house and the gardens and become a glad(iola) roadside proprietor for a day at the Four Star in while she and my BIL attend a family reunion. I’ll also get to see my dad in the nursing home and spend a couple nights with my daughter. D will hold down the fort here. Then maybe by the first of next month, I’ll be able to finish putting things in order, breathe, find some writing space and get back to normal. Whatever that is.
I tossed and turned all night. And then the storm I tossed and turned all night. And then the storm started. I finally got up about 5ish and sat outside to watch. Until a couple mosquitoes found me. Also, the jasmine hadn’t gone to bed yet and smelled heavenly.
Load More... Follow on Instagram

Get the Mug

Embrace the life you have t s poetry mug

Privacy Policy

Full privacy policy is available HERE.

I Read Light

TSP-Red button

bibledude-net



Sponsor a Child

Join the Compassion Blogger Network

[footer_backtotop]

Copyright © 2023 Sandra Heska King · Site by The Willingham Enterprise, LLC on the Genesis Framework by StudioPress · Log in