The 60-Second Sabbath

self-acceptance

  • Dreaming

    At night they come to me–my sister or my father,my mother or her mother–mutually recognizingthat they have diedand that we have,for whatever reason,been given a few more minutes together. Sometimes,I ask questions,because I need to know,to understandmyself. Sometimesit is enough… Continue reading

  • Fault Lines

    We all have fault lines–    hidden veins of weakness,    those places where,    when stressed,    we are most likely to crack. Patch them with holy spackle:    bread and wine,    exchanged embraces,    stillness. Text and… Continue reading

  • The Party

    Throw a party. Invite all of your various and sundry selves:    the one you enjoy    and the one you ignore,    the one you honor    and the one you fear,    the selfish    along with the selfless,    the… Continue reading

  • Original Sin

    Listen up,all you original sinners:we've gotten it backwards. When Augustine first proposedthe doctrine,it wasn't to say,"See how bad you are!" Augustine assertedthe opposite:    "You struggle with sin    because you inherited    the tendancy toward it.    It's not your fault!" Text and image… Continue reading

  • Being at Peace

    What a joy to learnthere is no faulty or unworthy selfthat needs to be improved. Text and image © 2013 by Dirk deVries. All rights reserved. Continue reading

  • Self-Acceptance

    You can spend decadeswaiting to becomethe person you thinkyou ought to be,never satisfiedwith the person you are. Could it be, however,that you never becomesomeone you loveif you startas someone you don't? What ifnow,then,and at all points in betweenyou accept yourself… Continue reading

  • Beautifully Average

    She announced to her mirrored self,"Today I shall celebratesimply being human.That is enough." She tilted her blue, velvet bereta little to the left,smiled acceptingly,and walked out the door,for now, at least,beautifully average. Text and image © 2013 by Dirk deVries.… Continue reading

  • Dialogue with My Muse

    My muse returned,and so I asked,"Where have you been?"     Waiting here beneath the din.    Waiting for the crowds to pass.    Waiting for the wounds to heal,    the edges of the cuts to seal. "But I'm… Continue reading

  • Identity

    I am the same personall the time. I may be souras spoiled milk.I may be sweetas red velvet cake. I'm still fully,essentially,completelyme.  Text and image © 2013 by Dirk deVries. All rights reserved. Continue reading

  • The Ruins of St. Valentine’s

    He awoke on the couch'midst the ruins of St. Valentine's Day–cumpled brown wrappers    from a box of Russel Stovers;a bent Hallmark card    (heavy on the red)    jammed between two cushions; the dryness of his mouth    from… Continue reading