Truth is always exciting. Speak it, then. Life is dull without it.
(Pearl Buck)
I love this quote. So many directions I can go with it. But in the interest of its intent – of speaking the truth – I’m going to take a turn I often don’t make. I’m turning toward faith.
Here’s the thing: often my signal is on, but then, at the last minute, I change my mind and keep going straight – in the predictable way. I’m typing away, clear on what I want to talk about, and then something in me starts to edit. I choose to stay on relatively safe ground, and talk about things that make me (and others) comfortable, even if provocative. My words are no less true, but not all that risky. I don’t want to be predictable. Or safe. Or dull. Time to make the turn.
I’m not completely sure what my resistance has been about, why I keep turning my signal light off. But today, prompted by conversation with yet another amazing woman I’ve met online (which follows quickly on the heels of recent conversation I’ve had with three other amazing women), I realize anew and again (allright, already!) that I need to step up to the plate (or podium or keyboard), and follow Pearl Buck’s advice: “Speak it, then.”
The words that follow are from a blog post I wrote in September of 2008. I can feel my heart race as I re-read them, feeling the passion with which I typed them at that time. And yet, as I monitor what I’ve written and what I’ve talked about these past 16 months, I feel a sense of sadness for a passion I’ve clearly silenced…or at least held at arms length.
At least at this point in time, my deepest passion is to re-tell Biblical [and other significant] narratives, particularly those of women, in ways that allow us to re-imagine ourselves as deeply connected to and part of the Divine; to know, celebrate, and live out our profound beauty and power; to know the blessing, strength, and validation generously offered and invited through new images of God and self, to understand who we are as imago dei – amazing, glorious, and silent no more – indeed, lyrical.
Even as I type these words I feel a shudder of excitement; a nervousness, yes, but even more, an awareness that I might just be stepping into what I’m most about. Truth be told, what I most desire to offer other women is what I most desire for myself: to move from silence to lyricism, from edited thoughts and words to freedom and truth, from self-doubt and condemnation to a lived-into-awareness of carrying the Divine within me and offering it to the world around me…
Because I have come, albeit haltingly, to hear the divine voice in my own soul, I now feel like I can return to [my faith], to the stories [Scripture] tells, to the women [rife within] and let the Divine voice speak anew – through me, through each of them – to women that need to hear, to my daughters that need to hear, to a church that needs to hear, to men that need to hear, to a world that needs to hear.
Daunting? Yes. But…I must “let the answer float up from the truest, most vulnerable place in [my] heart…[not] push it aside, minimize, make excuses, and starve this thing of beauty…” (Sue Monk Kidd, Dance of the Dissident Daughter)
So, there it is. Truth. Spoken. Out loud. Another deep breath.
Small things, when paid attention to, have huge significance in life. Conversations with amazing women. Provocative, probing questions I am asked. And even postcards I receive in the mail. This one, sent to me after my Firestarter Session perhaps sets the stage most appropriately and profoundly.
the serpent was the best thing that ever happened to Eve.
I actually believe this…and have both the capacity and desire to speak of it (and so many other stories) in ways that are redemptive, powerful, meaningful, creative, and life-giving. Risky, yes? But hardly dull.
Hardly dull. This stuff’s exciting. This is truth. “Speak it, then!”
{ 20 comments… read them below or add one }
Oh, SO excited to read more about this. One of my favorite subjects. Never enough versions/re-tellings.
It’s time for this.
I agree about the serpent as well. No doubt.
Claire´s last blog ..Thank You Dr. King
Thank you, Claire. I appreciate your enthusiasm (and affinity to the serpent).
I love this, Ronna: “Small things, when paid attention to, have huge significance in life.” Yes. Absolutely. And perhaps in speaking the truth about the small things we can come to see the truth about the big things too.
Kristen @ Motherese´s last blog ..Are You a Homebody or a Rolling Stone?
Absolutely. Truth is truth – whether (seemingly) big or small. Thanks, Kristen.
Ronna, Bless you and your “amazing, glorious, and silent no more – indeed, lyrical” self. You are a thing of beauty…
Julie´s last blog ..Ripe With Love
Thank you, Julie. SO appreciate your words – your heart. And SO looking forward to talking in a couple days!
Ronna, oh!!!!!!! This post rocks: your desire to tell the truth, to re-telling the stories and – to hearing and speaking the Divine – out LOUD!
Thank you, Karen. SO appreciate your words…and you!
i love this post. ironically i just did a new design it says, i became myself through many things but one was the endless conversations with my best women friends….i saw some of those words in your blog and it made me think of it…..
Oooh, Michelle, I don’t think it’s irony – but pure providence! Can you send me a link to a photo when you have one? I’d love to promote it/you on my site…and order the thing! How can I not?!?
Got up at 5.30am UK time to put in 2 hours writing my ‘damm’ book as you call it… and saw your post on my Blackberry. Yyyyyaaaaaaayyyyyyyyy! Yes, Ronna, yes!
And writing yesterday I struggled with all the voices which had told me I was too much, a show off, too in yer face and wrote clumsily and less than I know I am. This morning you remind me of the Divine in me, the voice beyond voices which proclaims my power and my majesty and this morning I’ll both let rip AND rip their heads off!
Thank you!
How fabulous
Sharon Eden´s last blog ..Do Less And Be More
All those voices do clamor for attention and there’s one…one that speaks from a place of solidity, strength, and surety. ‘Can’t wait to hear/read more of it from you. Fabulous, yourself, Sharon! Thank you.
My grandmother always taught me: “Understand what you are going to say, believe in the truth of what you are going to say, and then always speak with a strong voice.”
Julianne Fuchs-Musgrave´s last blog ..Epiphanies from the Sea
Love this, Julianne. Thank you!
I can hardly wait to read your new perspective on these age old stories. I crave that perspective both for myself and for the four beautiful women I brought into this world. If The Woman at the Well is any indication of what we can expect, it will be nothing less than profound. Looking forward to it.
Thanks, Angie. And four beautiful women? Amazing. Profound. Daunting. Fabulous.
So glad you told me about this blog post, Ronna. I love your writing and your truth-telling. It is unfortunate that so many women filter/water down/squelch the important messages they have to share. As I’ve grown older, I’ve learned more about life and realize we pay a high price by withholding our talents and gifts. What we minimize in ourselves may be experienced as wisdom and insight by others – if we don’t share what we know, we rob others of the opportunity to learn from us. So glad to see you’re letting your brilliant light shine!
Meredith Bell´s last blog ..Why You Need Feedback from Others
Thank you for this, Meredith. I’m grateful for your encouragement and your voice strengthening mine!
I love this … and can’t wait to read the book that is just straining from the page to be made. I wrote a long paper in college about how Eve is the heroine of Paradise Lost, and that the serpent is actually the gateway to great things – so I agree wholeheartedly with Danielle.
Yes, yes. Tell the stories. Tell the truth. I’m listening, with bated breath.
How I would love to read that paper, Lindsey! Eve as heroine. That changes EVERYTHING! More stories to re-tell. I’m deeply touched by and grateful for your words about my book…More risk…but feeling heartbeats away. Thank you.
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