The 60-Second Sabbath

faith

  • The Abyss

    He stands at the edge,in his head believingthat the plungewill not kill him,will, in fact,free him. Yet his heart quakes;blood rises to his face;heart pounds;breath comes shallow and fast. "Thar be monsters,"he has heard,monsters that loom large in the dark,yet… Continue reading

  • Therapy, Again

    The therapist summed it up:     "You have unresolved grief."    "You are anxious and at times depressed."    "You need help getting your thoughts under control."    "Perfectionism makes all of this harder to embrace." So there it… Continue reading

  • The New Question

    For a very long time,the question of spiritual identityhas been,"Who are you?" Now is the time for a new question:"Whose are you?" We are God's.We belong to one another. As Desmund Tutu said,"I am because you are." Text and image… Continue reading

  • Your Opinions

    Why do you insiston judging every circumstanceas good or bad? Circumstances just are. Imagine the freedomof not evaluating,not formulating yet another opinion.* You exhaust me. You exhaust yourself. *unnecessary, unsolicited Text and image © 2012 by Dirk deVries. All rights reserved.… Continue reading

  • J.O.Y.

    I was taughta three-part formulafor pleasing God,for achieving success,for finding happiness:J.O.Y:     Jesus first,    Others second,    Yourself last. For a child first forging identity,this is bad advice;developmentally,the child's primary taskis to put herself first.Forcing her to do… Continue reading

  • Let Go. Let Go. Let Go.

    Part 1 "What will you takefrom our time together?"asked the therapist,as he always didwhen drawing a session to a close.  "That I can continueto let things be what they are,to release,to relinquish control. Let go.Let go.Let go." Part 2 What… Continue reading

  • Betrayal

    I was taught:it's better to betray myselfthan to disappoint others. Now I believe:to betray myselfis to betray God. Text and image © 2012 by Dirk deVries. All rights reserved.   Continue reading

  • Turning Rocks

    I am slowly(so slowly)learning that… My fear of what liesunder the rock is far more debilitating than what actually liesunder the rock. Text and image © 2012 by Dirk deVries. All rights reserved.   Continue reading

  • A Perfectionist Starts to Heal

    I can embrace all of my feelings–even the unpleasant ones–with respect. I can allow my inconsistencies. I don't have to be right. I don't have to like everyone. I don't have to get everything done. I don't have to please… Continue reading

  • Helium

    Now is the time of letting go. Sadness, certainly,but also dusky shades of something salvific. I am a helium-filled balloon;letting go,I finally, finallyfly. Text and image © 2013 by Dirk deVries. All rights reserved. Continue reading