Sandra Heska King

daring to open doors

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

On Jumping Tandem, Grace, and Glue

May 6, 2015 By Sandra Heska King

JTREAT3

 

They said the drive to Nebraska and Jumping Tandem: The Retreat would be long and boring. They were wrong.

A week ago I’d messaged my prayer warriors, “I’m having a little trouble holding it together right now. Could use a little glue prayer.”

And they were on it like bees on crabapple blossoms. One sister even messaged back, “Oh God, you are Lord over rubber cement, J&B Weld, Modge Podge, various spray adhesives, and every horse that ever gave its life so that our kids could attach different types of pasta to construction paper and say it was the Mona Lisa. Abba, we beg you to use whatever type of glue You think would work best to keep Sandra in one piece. If there are any breaks or leaks that You want us sisters to treat with our tissue paper and liquid starch papier mache skills, please make that clear to us. We stand at the ready to love all of Sandra’s pieces back together again.”

She made me laugh. I couldn’t do life without my Frio Sisters.

Or my Facebook friends. Where else can you lasso up a whole herd in a heartbeat, friends you’ve never met skin-to-skin but who will stampede the throne with only a story sliver? I confessed I’d been slashed by another’s words (warranted–or not) and as hurtful as that was, I was more hurt by my response–that I’d returned fire.

Now angry texts were coming through again, slicing sharp as Cutco knives.

Though it was cloudy, I slipped on sunglasses and turned my head so D wouldn’t see the rivers leaking down my cheeks. I messaged my sisters again. Then, knowing they were praying, I focused on the passing scenery–mesmerized by fresh-plowed fields, green paths, rivers, hills, and farmsteads. My spirit felt lighter with each mile.

 

JTreat5

JTREAT6

JTREAT4

JTREAT7

 

It was the longest car trip we’d taken alone in years. Just what we needed.

And when we arrived at the Carol Joy Holling Retreat Center, grace surrounded me. Words of affirmation greeted me everywhere–even scribbled on bathroom mirrors. I heard messages of grace through sisters who are still living messy stories, who are still in progress. And how can we judge–because aren’t we all still in progress? And shouldn’t we share even these stories? Because we’re all on the journey together, and we can all hold each other together.

John encouraged me to learn to bear the burden of my nouns gracefully, and he read poetry in his quiet voice and made me want to write more.

 

JTREAT

I was reminded of how much easier it is to extend grace to others than ourselves (yeah, I get that one), and Michelle reassured me that grace is the infinite do-over.

I joined a meditative night walk, with only the light of the moon to guide us in the dark. I worshipped and stretched with Holy Yoga early Saturday morning. I received wise counsel for some decisions I need to make, was encouraged in a new writing project, laughed (In the darkest period of your life, find the funny, said Amanda), and cried. Oh, and this Laura gave me a penny whistle and a lesson.

The other Laura led us in worship and communion Sunday. She told the stories of the Samaritan woman and the adulterous woman and the sinful woman and implored us to remember that we need to see beyond labels to hearts, to be places of refuge for others, that often when we give grace, we get wounded. Oh, and that grace precedes transformation.

We’re home now. Nothing here has changed. Except the crabapples are in full bloom.

And I’ve got this song on repeat.

In the stillness,

Sandy

Share this:

  • Email
  • Print
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest

Filed Under: Blog, stories

Comments

  1. Carol J. Garvin says

    May 6, 2015 at 1:14 pm

    Beautiful song. And as Ann Voskamp always says, “It’s all Grace!”

    • Sandra Heska King says

      May 6, 2015 at 1:23 pm

      She’s got that right!

  2. Deidra says

    May 6, 2015 at 3:39 pm

    So glad you were here. I keep thinking of rocking the afternoon away on the front porch, with you right there to my left. Good times. Grace, indeed.

    • Sandra Heska King says

      May 6, 2015 at 3:43 pm

      I was torn at that moment… to remain there rocking and talking or walking with the other D. Grace. All of it.

  3. Kristin says

    May 6, 2015 at 3:56 pm

    Amazing Grace. Can’t say much more. Except how sweet it was to be with you. Love you and I’m glad your cup was filled. xo

    • Sandra Heska King says

      May 6, 2015 at 6:41 pm

      Oh, how He loves us… how I love you.

  4. Elizabeth says

    May 7, 2015 at 2:04 am

    That song on repeat…me too!

    • Sandra Heska King says

      May 7, 2015 at 10:00 am

      😀

  5. Michele Morin says

    May 7, 2015 at 11:30 am

    Sounds as if you just experienced a little slice of heaven. I love the emailed prayer your friend of the heart sent as glue. She’s got me thinking that I need to be more intentional about letting my friends know HOW I’m praying for them — not just THAT I’m praying for them.

    • Sandra Heska King says

      May 7, 2015 at 11:21 pm

      I think I need to do that more, too, Michele. 🙂

  6. Lynn D. Morrissey says

    May 7, 2015 at 3:04 pm

    Sandra, I felt the same way when I went 2 years ago….not slashed by words, but a surgeon’s knife. I didn’t really have the physical stamina to go, but my sisters, my carmates were so tender and caring, that they took care of it all. I just had to get in the car, sit, and ride. And when I got to the center, I was met with more love and grace than I knew what to do with. I”m so sorry for your emotional ordeal (often harder than physical ones), and just so glad that you were met with grace and love too. And this line: ” We’re home now. Nothing here has changed.” Actually, from your vantage point having attended the JT Retreat, if I might gently disagree, I thnk that *everything* has changed!
    Love you,
    Lynn

    • Sandra Heska King says

      May 7, 2015 at 11:18 pm

      I don’t remember you being post surgery then. But then we never had time to talk. 🙁

      Thank you for your last line. I hope *I’ve* changed.

      Love you more.

  7. Martha Orlando says

    May 8, 2015 at 8:04 am

    Oh, His infinite grace! I’m so glad it filled you at this retreat, Sandra. May that grace continue to find you and hold you close.
    Blessings!

    • Sandra Heska King says

      May 8, 2015 at 9:47 am

      Hugs to you, Martha.

  8. Donna @ Soul Survival says

    May 8, 2015 at 10:16 am

    Sandra,

    You had me from the title! I couldn’t NOT read it. Thanks for sharing truths we need to hear over and over and over. What a precious truth, “grace is the infinite do-over.”

    And who couldn’t smile through the tears at your friend’s text message back to you.

    Week-end blessings,
    Donna

    • Sandra Heska King says

      May 8, 2015 at 10:27 am

      Proof that titles count? 😉 Thanks so much for popping in, Donna. Much grace to you.

  9. Constance Morrison says

    May 8, 2015 at 6:22 pm

    I’ve been thinking about brokenness this week, and then I saw your photo . . .
    Thanks.

    • Sandra Heska King says

      May 8, 2015 at 9:20 pm

      Oh, Constance. I’m glad it spoke to you. xo

  10. Diana Trautwein says

    May 9, 2015 at 12:17 pm

    Beautiful, Sandy. And I’m so very sorry for the word-wound ahead of time. The worst injuries often come from the tongues of others — and from our own. So glad it was a blessed time for you. . . and for you and Dennis, too. Love you.

    • Sandra Heska King says

      May 9, 2015 at 12:45 pm

      I’m leaning into the fact that we all have “irregular people” in our lives whom God can use to to refine us. It hurts… but don’t all we women know what it’s like to make ourselves beautiful? (I’m guessing the guys know a little about nicking themselves while shaving, too. 😉 )I guess God’s instruments sometimes cut a little sharper. Love you more, Diana.

  • 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