tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6991825168100346042.post7465248383214598390..comments2023-06-02T01:08:19.420-07:00Comments on WhimsySmitten: In Which I Go Ahead and Admit It...I'd Rather Be AgnosticCara Sextonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02597396513424389268noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6991825168100346042.post-62001868825930546982013-08-09T05:55:19.414-07:002013-08-09T05:55:19.414-07:00Cara,
Apologies for the duplicate comment here. ...Cara, <br /><br />Apologies for the duplicate comment here. (Somehow succeeded in writing my first comment to me. Blonde moment.) I love your authenticity here. Thank you. <br /><br />Can you send me your email address? Mine is kristinarobbdover@gmail.com. The publisher (Cascade) for GRACE STICKS would like to send you an official letter regarding your endorsement of the book!<br />Best,<br />KristinaKristinanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6991825168100346042.post-53810831466756391732013-08-03T05:42:28.991-07:002013-08-03T05:42:28.991-07:00Wow. This is exactly what I have been going throug...Wow. This is exactly what I have been going through lately. I have always been surrounded by religious culture and all the "right answers." I recently wrote a blog post on how I want to walk away from it all and find God on my own. I don't want to know him or love him or find him just because the church says I'm supposed to. I have to know that he is real and exists outside of all the institutions. I love that you are approaching him with that "not knowing" - very humble and real. I love it!Karissa Knox Sorrellnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6991825168100346042.post-14085401571852128482013-07-31T21:03:24.565-07:002013-07-31T21:03:24.565-07:00Brilliant. Thank you for sharing this with us all...Brilliant. Thank you for sharing this with us all.Petenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6991825168100346042.post-37531185568442775112013-07-31T19:03:21.445-07:002013-07-31T19:03:21.445-07:00So great to read your words again, Cara. And these...So great to read your words again, Cara. And these words were well worth the wait, a spiritual breath of fresh air. I love and applaud your honestly and ability to not admit that we do not have all the answers. There is a beauty in the unknown.Christine Organhttp://www.christineorgan.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6991825168100346042.post-51980316745301947452013-07-31T15:39:13.911-07:002013-07-31T15:39:13.911-07:00I love this in many ways.Thank you for sharing you...I love this in many ways.Thank you for sharing your journey.Suzy Koplikunoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6991825168100346042.post-4555719911309865122013-07-31T13:06:28.914-07:002013-07-31T13:06:28.914-07:00The healthy place for the Christian is right where...The healthy place for the Christian is right where you are. When we are honest with our doubts, speak of our inconsistent heart, and cry out to God -- it is then he speaks the loudest. And although the world demands answers and proof, you have all you need right in your heart.David Ruperthttp://www.redletterbelievers.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6991825168100346042.post-25771815698374883692013-07-31T10:29:34.219-07:002013-07-31T10:29:34.219-07:00"And let me never be afraid of I don’t know, ..."And let me never be afraid of I don’t know, perhaps the only space where I am truly teachable, where only in emptiness can I be made whole."<br /><br /><br />I want to take this to the top of the world, invite the Holy Spirit to swoop down and blow this into the hearts and minds of the world because this? This is exactly it. When we are no longer open we can no longer receive and where does that land us in the eyes of a God who wants nothing more than to lavish us with His love and grace?<br /><br /><br />I am rejoicing with you that you had such a life changing experience in your time away. I can feel a holy tremor emanating from these words of yours, friend, and I believe the Lord is moving in you.<br /><br /><br />Keep writing. Keep thinking. But, above all, keep admitting how little you know.Hollynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6991825168100346042.post-18046816704157056702013-07-31T10:23:54.203-07:002013-07-31T10:23:54.203-07:00I'm not interested in being right. I'm int...I'm not interested in being right. I'm interested in being love.<br />Oh, Tara, this. <br />Always. This.Hollynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6991825168100346042.post-16766446969815900602013-07-31T05:58:31.517-07:002013-07-31T05:58:31.517-07:00always. your words. they touch me. ((hugs))always. your words. they touch me. ((hugs))kelli woodfordhttp://jasonandkelliwoodford.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6991825168100346042.post-27684831185224895392013-07-31T05:57:41.663-07:002013-07-31T05:57:41.663-07:00" No verse in the Word of Life stands on its ..." No verse in the Word of Life stands on its own or means a thing without the breath of holy wisdom within it. So why, friends, are we so afraid of embracing His mystery? "<br /><br /><br /><br />my. thoughts. exactly.<br /><br /><br />Thank you for sharing this agnostic, honest place with us, Cara. I wonder if *trust* grows in soil such as this ... Oh, and you remind me of something I read recently from Augustine of Hippo, "If you think you understand, it isn't God."kelli woodfordhttp://jasonandkelliwoodford.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6991825168100346042.post-58019061590272035342013-07-31T04:40:08.741-07:002013-07-31T04:40:08.741-07:00Amen. But don't be too stressed about the wri...Amen. But don't be too stressed about the writing absence. I don't know one soul who does not need space sometimes, and needs to refuel, and no one is out there judging. Please keep writing, and telling truths, and being open with your heart.Amanda Johnston Hillnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6991825168100346042.post-49351854201560880802013-07-31T04:33:43.144-07:002013-07-31T04:33:43.144-07:00Such a big Amen! to this part of your journey. The...Such a big Amen! to this part of your journey. The high won't last but the understandings will...and never mind if people who aren't there yet think you've lost the faith. You've simply moved into a different layer that they can't see yet. If there's a mantra, it may be "Patience." Keep going in your honesty and openness (as if you could do otherwise!); the cloud of witnesses is all around you.<br />I hope you will keep writing this blog, however infrequently. It would be sad to lose your voice. <br />Nan Evans Bush<br />http://dancingpastthedark.comnanbushnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6991825168100346042.post-4805667631568740432013-07-31T01:57:25.893-07:002013-07-31T01:57:25.893-07:00Dear Cara
Let me tell you, dear one, those who cla...Dear Cara<br />Let me tell you, dear one, those who claim to know, are very much deceived! There is no way our little pea sized brain can ever understand the majesty, glory, beauty, love, etc, etc, et. of our Pappa God, and guess what; we don't need to. Cara, there is a little book of Wayne Jacobson that you can download for free from the web called, He Loves Me. It changed my mind about many things; also about our Pappa being a vengeful God in the Old Testament! I think you will enjoy this very much.<br />Lots of love XX<br />MiaMianoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6991825168100346042.post-87473773359545440302013-07-30T22:03:00.854-07:002013-07-30T22:03:00.854-07:00AMEN, dear Cara. Beautifully expressed, and so, so...AMEN, dear Cara. Beautifully expressed, and so, so true. THIS is the place where the Spirit can move in mighty and mysterious ways. . . when we're brave enough to say (regularly) - I don't know; I'm not sure. Thanks so much for this lovely work.pastordtnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6991825168100346042.post-38412758040064758522013-07-30T21:31:47.564-07:002013-07-30T21:31:47.564-07:00Your post here so resonates with the current locat...Your post here so resonates with the current location of my spiritual journey. As a pastor for nearly a generation, I never thought I had all the answers; But, I never dreamt that today I would discover I have practically none of them...and have grown to detest the posturing of my fellow "shepherds" thinking their opinions are the "biblical/scriptural" ones. Yet, at the same time, I've never felt more at peace with my relationship with God. Go figure. Anyway...I deeply appreciate the transparency of your writing.gle1244noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6991825168100346042.post-89393178538387426882013-07-30T20:42:41.432-07:002013-07-30T20:42:41.432-07:00as you well know, I don't at all feel comforta...as you well know, I don't at all feel comfortable in the labels in the short answer way to describe a life-long journey and relationship. and one of the things I am most learning and leaning onto is that in all actuality, I don't much care to define it. to make it easier for myself or others to understand. I know that this is a messy, battered world with death and violence and unspeakable acts, and yet, I see those sun rises. I hear those trees, and they speak right too me, and I know I belong. no one can tell me that I am not apart of this rhythm and mystery. I let all of this be ok with me. i'm not interested in being right. i'm interested in being love. no strings attached. hugging you hard here in this beautiful wide open space of yours. I feel your heart expanding here, and I don' t think you can ever go wrong by soaking it all in. xoTara_pohlkottepressnoreply@blogger.com