For the rest of my life….
by Elouise
What will I do with the rest of my life?
Weeks ago my pastor preached a sermon on this. The topic was both amusing and serious. Amusing because there isn’t that much left of ‘the rest of my life.’ On the other hand, given my health this past year, I’ve asked myself almost every day: What am I (now) going to do for the rest of my life?
Our pastor challenged us to listen for God’s whispers. Neon signs up in the sky might be nice, but God is rarely in the neon signs up in the sky…my words, not my pastor’s.
So I went home thinking this over, wondering how the whisper of God might come to me.
Several days later I pulled out a Yogi tea bag to make a cup of ginger tea. Like Chinese fortune cookies, every Yogi tea bag has a little saying on it.
To my surprise, this tag said simply, “Let your heart speak to others’ hearts.”
I almost threw it out with the tea bag, but in a moment of sanity, pulled it off and decided to think about this for a while. Was this a whisper from God?
In God’s defense (as though God needs it!), I think every day of my life includes whispers from God. The question is whether I’m listening for even one of them. So no, I don’t think this was some sudden miracle. After all, I’d already used scores of teabags, some doubtless with exactly this saying attached.
I was expecting a lightning bolt idea that might mean changing my current direction. In other words, doing something other than blogging about my life.
Instead, it’s as simple as sharpening my focus so that I’m intentionally letting my heart speak to other hearts. Directly. As I’ve already done, though perhaps in a different mode?
In July, I jotted down words my heart loves to hear from other hearts, along with words my heart wants to say to other hearts. For example:
- Forgive me.
- I forgive you.
- How is it with your soul today? Would you like to tell me about it?
- Thank you for what you did for me. It meant a lot to know you cared.
- Is there something I can do for you right now?
- No words at all, just silent presence
- I’d like to pray for you. Is there something you’d like me to pray about?
- It’s great to see you today! How are you?
- I’m so glad our paths crossed. I hope we’ll see each other again.
I could go on, but would rather hear from you. What are some words you’re hungry to hear? And what about words your heart wants to say to other hearts, whether you’re able to get them out or not?
Elouise♥
© Elouise Renich Fraser, 24 September 2016
Image from youtube.com
Telling the Truth 
Hi Elouise,
Great list you’ve got here and so much applies but I would ask, pray that I find the strength to come from a place of love and not judge others in my life, pray for me that I may stay in a loving place in my mind and heart💜💕I’m sure I’ll come up with more on my walk this morning and in the meantime, I send love and hope you have a day filled with joy and peace. You and Lucy and you’ve got a lot of living to do…time is relative, it’s what we fill each minute with💜😊Kim💕
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What a wonderful request. Yes, I’ll pray for you. It’s so hard these days (I know my own heart!) to live with clarity and peace. The ‘noise’ and tragedies of years past grow more overwhelming by the day. Morning walks are great times for getting grounded. Thanks for your encouragement and inspiration. A lot of living; time is relative–what we do with it matters. So true. Peace to you, and joy! 🙂
Elouise
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GOOD JOB !!!!!!!
You have been on track for a long time.
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Hi, David! On the off-chance that you would like to hear these words, I’m going to mirror them right back at you! In fact, I can hear the people for whom you care saying them, too.
GOOD JOB !!!!!!!
You have been on track for a long time. 🙂
Elouise
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Take the Local not the Express
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Great words! I love them. I think this means I’ll see, hear, smell, maybe taste and maybe understand more of life. Sometimes it does feel, however, as though I’m on the Express! Time flying by quickly, even relentlessly. Nonetheless, I choose the Local, even though it sometimes feels like a snail’s pace. 🙂
Elouise
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Dear Elouise I find this post particularly beautiful and timely for me to read – just now. Thank you! And thank you for posing the question to us. We are rarely asked therefore neglect to check in with our hearts to see what they are longing for. Faithful and relentless as they are in keeping us alive, yet often taken for granted, dismissed, or silenced in their needs.
My heart longs to hear this:
You are a beautiful heart and I accept you just the way you are.
It’s ok that you kept beating and throbbing for those who could not love you back, and breaking over causes which could not be easily changed or fixed.
Thank you for beating and loving and breaking and keeping me alive. You are doing a good job. 💙
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Dear Francesca, I’m so happy to hear from you! Your opening paragraph is full of wisdom and food for thought. I rarely get up in the morning and ask myself, “For what is your heart longing today, Elouise?” Your comments invite me to try that out and see what happens.
As for your own heart, your longings are eloquent and sad, though not in a negative way. You have a beautiful heart, as I’ve experienced over and over. I pray your heart will find courage and stamina to keep on loving and breaking, with and without recognition. I also pray your heart will be fed and celebrated in your new position. 🙂
Elouise
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Darling Elouise,
Your post speaks to me on so many levels, it’s hard to put into words.
I look for signs too, all the time, and hare off on the most ridiculous wild goose chases, but hubby encourages me in that, and believes in me, and never ridicules my wild goose chases.
This next one, to Frankfurt Book Fair, we are all going. Thing is, I have nothing planned for it, and so, like you, I shall be hoping I can listen and follow lots of signs. I can’t plan for it – it feels almost ridiculous to be going – for lots of reasons, so I have no choice but to fall back on the love of God.
Thanks for the reminder. I needed it. (((♥)))
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You’re welcome, Fran! I’m so happy you’re all going to the Book Fair this time. Having nothing planned, I’m guessing, is a wild place to be. Nonetheless, your availability to take the signs and little whispers that come while you’re there will be fully in gear! Sometimes it pays off handsomely not to have an agenda for oneself! (Can’t believe I just said that….) And yes, God will have your back. And your front, too! Can’t wait to hear how it develops for you. Actually, you do have at least a mode that suits you–the wild goose chase! Well, not quite, because you’re a superb writer and already know how to listen for things that haven’t yet been birthed.
Blessings and journeying mercies–whenever the FBF happens this year!
Elouise 🙂
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PS – the rest of your life??!!! Buck up, woman, you might live another thirty years! Courage! 😀
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Oh no!!!!!! Please don’t throw me into the 30-more-years briar patch! 😦 Actually, my father was nearly 97 when he died. My mother was in her late 70s. Who knows? And yes, it’s good to buck up and just keep going! With Courage. And a bit of Grace thrown in for good measure. 🙂
E.
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Not you too??? Surely we can see life as a gift, now, and stop worrying about it…or is it still so painful…..as God would say, ‘There’s a soul reason for all this, which we will remember when we get home.’
Thankfully.
Brother is dying, and that makes me awaken to the privileges of life anew, but I still wish it could be different, often.
Hmmmmm….The Way of the Wild Goose Chase. Thank you, for that reminder, too. I love flying metaphors :D.
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An image of you flying through the air just flashed through my mind….along with an image of you hovering beside and over your brother’s bed. Life is so full of everything all at the same time. Blessings and peace. Joy, too. You’ve been here before as I recall. Thanks for your wonderful response. 🙂
Elouise
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I will have to think about this. Thanks for your words.
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You’re welcome, Clay. I’m sure your thought will lead you where your heart wants you to go. 🙂 It’s great to hear from you.
Elouise
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“I think every day of my life includes whispers from God. The question is whether I’m listening”
I believe this is true. Those times I hear His whisper are most joyful, and I thank Him on the spot.
Elouise, in this sacred place your heart does speak to other hearts. It is sometimes in our simple words or tasks we make the biggest difference, one heart at a time. ❤
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Susan, thanks for this wonderful comment. I especially appreciate your last paragraph. “Simple words or tasks” as a key to making a difference, “one heart at a time.” It reminds me, also, that we’re most creative in our lives when we’re not self-conscious about making a difference, or about what people think of us (listening to whispers from God?!).
Elouise 🙂
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