Anita Yoder's Blog, page 3
August 7, 2023
Summer Pieces
Well. It’s been summer of staying local, not buzzing away to see far-flung people. It’s been good, even though I’m feeling antsy. My summer priorities were to plug in where my feet are, and I have no regrets. But yes, I’m ready to go somewhere. Meanwhile, I’ll recommend bits and pieces that have fed me and kept me from getting bored and stagnant.
In the spring, I was telling a friend that I’m not going anywhere because I don’t have international travel plans this year. “Yeah, you’re not going an...
May 27, 2023
Practicing Prayer
Last Saturday, one friend prayed for me over a Whatsapp call, and another sent me these gorgeous flowers. I am moved to consider how I can follow the Spirit in turn. This weekend, we celebrate Pentecost. I love to think about the feminine qualities of the Holy Spirit, how He broods, hovers, nurtures–and infuses with incredible power. I wonder how living with the Spirit’s flame resting on us could be seen in us, in me.
I’d only talked with her once, last fall, over breakfast,
Between catching b...
May 10, 2023
Pain and Goodness
On the second night of February, I’d been working late and was walking home in the dark at 8:30. I was excited about having wrapped up a writing class, and was oblivious to how the temperature had dropped drastically after the day’s rain. That meant there was smooth ice on our gravel path and before I knew what was happening, my feet shot out from under me.
On my back on the ice, I thought to myself that usually when one falls, it hurts their knee or shoulder or head. But nothing hurt except my ...
April 26, 2023
Comfort and Forgive
Recently I’ve been lingering in Psalm 25, particularly verse 18: “Look upon my affliction and my distress [I need comfort.] and take away all my sins [I need forgiveness.]” This pairs with the gospel song with line “He took my sins and my sorrows.”
At the cross, we find both comfort for what’s been done to us and forgiveness for the wrong we’ve done. Beyond that, there’s more at the empty tomb, which I’m still exploring.
Last week one morning, this acrostic poem seeped out of my pen. And yes, I...
April 9, 2023
After Saturday Night
Photo by Łukasz Łada on Unsplash
He saw me first.
I saw a garden hand
With grass-pressed tunic,
Soil on toes,
Eyes at ease with a job well done.
He saw my tears yet didn’t flinch—
No garden hand had ever asked me
About that water swelling
In stormy cataracts on cheeks.
They’d taken my Love—He’s
Broken, stabbed, now stolen.
My love is gone, is gone, and
I would wail and run
Five thousand furlongs if only this garden man
Confides to me the hiding place that
Holds my love, my broken love.
He ...
April 8, 2023
An Easter Benediction
May Friday’s agony and Saturday’s despair whisper the comfort that only an incarnated God can give—because He gets what it’s like to be dust and desire and wailing questions.
May the golden moon anchor you to colossal, ancient faithfulness and steadiness. May fresh greens in landscapes remind you that winter is not forever. May wide smiles of strangers and children warm you.
And I don’t know words big enough to bless your Easter, but may light and love shine on your face and dab away your tears....
April 4, 2023
An Epiphany About Running
This is a rerun from the archives of 8 yrs ago. These days, I’m still thinking about impossibilities and miracles and Resurrection. And I love reliving my charmed tourist memories: grainy, zingy zatar–the stinky camel ride and my breathless laughter–glorious Dead Sea swim–Capernaum and the Sea of Galilee and eating a lunch of humus beside it–the ache of the Wailing Wall on Good Friday–the shine of one man’s eyes telling another “He is risen!”–the walk to Emmaus with sunshine, friends, songs, a...
March 29, 2023
The Awl
Photo by Victoriano Izquierdo on Unsplash
Some months ago, I was in a battle of wills with the Almighty. One Sunday in share time, a brother reflected on the ceremony of the awl and the pierced ear. He said, “That slave must have really trusted his master to be willing to stay with him the rest of his life.” I knew then it was mine to trust, not fight for my will to be done, and I went home and wrote this poem.
Then his master shall bring him to God, then he shall bring him to the door or the do...
March 18, 2023
A Blessing For This Weekend
Photo by Achim Ruhnau on Unsplash
May you see spring birds puffed up on branches to stay warm as they forage seeds, and may it remind you that God provides and cares even more for you. May you see diamonds in rain drops on buds and leaves. May your baby plants flourish with the promise that summer is coming.
May the weekend give you golden moments to be less efficient and more human, and may your inefficiency include walks in blowing snow and naps in warm blankets and conversations in real time....
March 11, 2023
A Benediction for Your Weekend
Because I believe that Christians should be people of benediction (bene: good + diction: speaking) here’s one for your weekend. I hope to be dropping benedictions here and there (blog, social media, cards) the next while.
May sweet, glad birdsong surprise you on your walks. May golden light highlight greens and whites, and if golden light isn’t happening today, may it fall on you sometime this week. May you eat enough fluffy carbs to make your soul happy, and enough protein to make your brain s...
