I woke up this morning to brokenness all around me. People on both sides of the recent 4Real conversation are wounded. People who have nothing to do with 4Real are wounded. Pain. Lots of pain. For my part, my spiritual director has counseled silence since the storm began. I am so grateful for that counsel. The words that were spoken on my behalf were the words of the women who said them--they were spoken from their heads and their hearts.
These are my words:
I honestly believe that the women who have made the decision to exclude my work from the conversation on 4Real believe that they are called by God and must do so in obedience to the Church. I am not going to argue with that. Their religious convictions are to be respected. Before the retreat began, I privately offered to the moderators my perspective and my explanation of the work on my blogs. I have no reason to believe that they did not consider my words. In prayer, they came to the decision they did. So be it. The difficult and painful work of the season of tearing down is finished.
Now is a time to mend.
The work that appears here and in Real Learning and on In the Heart of my Home is an honest representation of my heart and my home. I hope and pray it is always and only a blessing to you. I am asking that people stop arguing about me, my book, my blogs, and especially, the work of my children. It's time for peace.
With regard to conversations about Real Learning and Serendipity, the manager of the 4Real message board wrote: We are saying that we cannot moderate them so they should be taken elsewhere.
It is with fear and trembling that I prayerfully consider providing a safe "elsewhere." Since I created Real Learning and Serendipity, I am better able to host a conversation about them. Yet, I have an intimate knowledge of the many, many things that can go wrong when passionate women engage in discussion.
It is a joy to hear your stories when you take these plans and add your own heart and soul and make them come to life for your families! It is my hope and my prayer that we can create a safe, quiet place to share a vision of a life of joy, rhythm, beauty and holiness. It is my hope and my prayer that it will be a place of Christian unity and genuine love of neighbor. It is my hope and prayer that it will be nothing but an encouragement to the women who are there and to me personally. I so need that encouragement!
I beg you to spend these Holy Days quietly seeking the peace of Christ. If you would, please pray for every heart that has been bruised by the sad events of recent weeks. And pray that Easter finds us all a people of hope and joy.
Comments or Questions?