Floods
by Daisy Dronen
The tears that run feel thunderous they almost burn, floods of them They have come with force: the sufferings of injustice. Without pause, they just plow forward, scattering our peace The river escapes its bounds, scraping raw the hearts. Where else can we put this devastation? How can I not see their sweet eyes in my girl’s eyes? How can I not feel their tender hands in hers? I grasp for love Their homes swept away, their lives split open and lost, the sweetness muddied the resilience, though ignited Your heart is raw, so we offer ours to hold your suffering Your lives split open, so we open ours. The mud will become a shimmer: love. Your floods and devastations-ours. We will carry them for you. You just hold your loves. Wrap them, and let them love you. Together we will not let injustice flood. We get to let friendship flourish instead. Mexico shows us how to show up: Show up shaking but show up. Show up crying but show up. Show up despite the bullies, and show up open-handed, ready to take the hand the one that reaches for help. Ready yourself to see the power of love disarm and connect.
How Can We Show Up
This has been the question of the century for me! The floods feel like they just keep coming from multiple directions.
This devastating and physically overwhelming flood though, has caused us all to pause and reflect. How can we go on without staying connected to each other. The actual people in the frontlines have caused us to pause and consider will I show up? Even when I am being bullied, talked down to, or dehumanized?
I couldn’t stop the tears when I saw the first responders from Mexico showed up to help.Their presence inspired this poem. Their selflessness reminded me of the beauty of the people that I came from. The resilience, openess, and creativity of the Mexican and Central American cultures laid the foundation of who I am becoming.
pictures from Ellen Mitchell and @jennyanimeshow
Beauty helps me show up with a better frame of mind too. Beauty of love that engages. My work with Noonday Collection has helped me show up to the harshness of the world with tenderness and curiosity.
Noonday Collection was founded in Austin close to the floods of Kerr County. Texas also became my first home here in the United States. With deep gratitude I hold it deep in my heart for incubating me before I took flight into adulthood.
So today we invite you to join us in raising funds for the Kerr County Flood Relief Fund. You can preorder this beautiful necklace and be reminded of how our hearts are connected. These necklaces are handmade by women in East Asia who are themselves survivors of immense loss and trauma. What a most sweet gift to see women who have walked through darkness creating something beautiful to help others in their darkest hour.
This another organization that is on the ground and doing the work of helping this community know that they are not alone. Helping with rescue and care.
support here: http://h.ope.is/3GFuCoP
Three Beautiful and Graceful Things
Journey with Maker Magazine launched its inaugural issue last month. I am so honored to have been invited to be a part of this beautiful work. My devotional about gathering together is included in it and I hope it blesses you! You can also buy a printed copy here!
I am so excited to be a part of the Bible Study Tools Intensive with Dayton Women in the Word. I will be teaching a Workshop on responding to the word and I can not wait to study together! Come join us!
2 for 1! I love that my friend's are releasing books! 3. This week my friend
released her first novel! I was able to read it ahead of time and I loved it then and I can’t wait to hold the print copy! She had beautiful boxes sent out and I can’t wait to open mine! Go get yours here! also released a new book as part of her Gold Feather Gardeners Series! I am so excited to get into this series with my kiddos! get yours here!
I am so glad you’re here! It means the world to me that you take time to read the Graceful Table! Tell me how has your summer been? How have you found beauty and grace around your table? would love to hear from you!
May we have eyes to see the beauty in every soul we encounter.
Gracefully,
Daisy
