This post is a circle of the ‘bull’s eye’ variety! There is so much to reflect on but one sentence has floated to the top for me . . .

“I have found myself reflecting in particular about how the story of the woman is contained within the story of the girl.”

This spring as the northern hemisphere has been returning to new life, I too have been about the work of returning. And, I’ve noticed that the pilgrimage of returning does indeed have that “containing” quality of one story “within” another. Life containing death … death containing life. Sowing containing reaping … reaping containing sowing. Returning containing leaving … leaving containing returning. Nature does mirror this so beautifully during the change of seasons.

Anyway, that one sentence of yours popped out to affirm the returning I’m going through as I’ve entered into the work of integration … bringing my child who became somewhat fragmented at different stages of my life into my woman’s arms and into her space. Bringing my woman back to my child to give what was sorely needed at a time when no other was available or capable to give. This is a circular dance I’ve been dancing. Healing and new life entering in from the woman I am today and her story into the child I was yesterday and some of her stories.

The woman meeting with the child to talk together and listen together and mourn together and let go together and then ultimately to rest together before journeying into a very present hope and peace and integrated life together.

I am so very fortunate to have found two individuals who listen acutely to my stories. One a spiritual director and one a counselor … both worshippers of the Lord Jesus. To be listened to in such a way is a gift of heavenly proportions. It is a listening that causes me to join into the listening.

One last thought about circling … I just had a picture in my mind of a Redtail hawk circling in the sky. Perhaps one of its lessons to us about our own circling is that of perspective. Where do we ultimately gain greater perspective of the landscape of our lives?

Thank you for these words of yours and the way they’ve left me to listen!

In response to your last paragraph about someone who hears our stories, I will share that my Spiritual Director, Pamela Czarnota, of CRLC in Brecksville, OH, has been listening to the stories and verbal circles I draw, and the accompanying visual cues, for many years now. I continue to be amazed at her discernment of the interconnected circles in the stories I bring to our Spiritual Direction sessions. I give thanks for her walk beside me. She illuminates the stories–and circles–of my earthly life in ways that I could never do. Her work is a gift of the Spirit.

Thank you!

Another thing that resonates for me in your reflection this week is the notion of one story “holding” another. There is a gentleness and kindness in the way you described both the relationship between the two stories and the relationship with your “Listener.” Is there some sense in which we may say that the meta-story of synagogue leader listens to the story of the woman with the flow of blood?

-t