On several occasions I have had an older gentleman ask me “where did you come from” or “from what place are you from”. He forgets what I told him the last time, so he asks time and again “whence you come from?”. Here is the definition of the word “whence” and the use of this phase …
- ADVERB
from whence (adverb)
from what place or source. - ADVERB
from whence (adverb)
from which; from where. - to the place from which.
- as a consequence of which
In the physical realm I came from my mother & father, who met at the grocery store chain they both worked at in the mid – late 50’s, married in 1958. I am their third child. Their firstborn is my older brother by 17 months. And then came my identical twin sister, born 7 minutes before I. The doctor and my parents were not expecting me, as my mother did not show signs have being pregnant with twins. Remember ultrasound was not used back in 1960. Right before my twin sister was born, they felt what they thought might be a “tumor”, but lo and behold, it was me, a 2nd baby barely over 5 lbs. My parents waited, and my little brother followed 3-1/2 years later. Mom said “if the pope wanted her to have another baby right after my twin sister and I, he can raise them”. Born and raised in Missouri, we lived in a small town subdivision for my first 8 years, and then lived on a tree farm in the same county for another 10 years before moving across the state to go to college.
In the spiritual realm, I am a child of the Living God, predestined for His wonderful plans. “In Him we were also chosen having been predestined according to the plan of Him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of His will … having believed, you were marked in Him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit … live a life worthy of the calling you have received”, the book of Ephesians tells us. This is where I come from, from our Father, Lord Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit.
How do you escape from this sometimes crazy world? “In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you,” 1 Thessalonians 5:18 tells us. Being thankful is one way to escape from overwhelming thoughts and situations. You say, “that is a challenge right now”. I know. I experienced one of those days today. But more importantly, woman warrior, what recharges you with more resilience, courage, and purpose? Is it being nestled under a comfy quilt with a book or the Bible in one hand and a cup of steamy tea in the other? Is it a brief foray with an art medium or craft you are developing? Writing or making music? Is it an afternoon out with a friend, or date night with the hubby? Or maybe a whole weekend away or at a retreat? Whatever it is, just get there. Make it a priority, plan it, and the escape from this crazy life will come. Go ahead, do it, and giving thanks all the way through … I knew you could.
Since my husband and I bought our quaint 4-room cottage in a historic small city in Missouri, many of my days have been filled with decorating thoughts. Color, pattern, texture, and space. Every niche, nook, and cranny of this less than 800 square-foot space. I am perpetually frugal, a bit of a “minimalist” is the word these days. Despite Dr. Seuss’ advice,“Fill your house with stacks of books in all the crannies and all the nooks,” I am being selective on where to create that niche, nook, and cranny and how to fill it. Although “the love of learning, the sequestered nooks, and all the sweet serenity of books,”(Henry Wadsworth Longfellow) provides plenty of opportunity for my brain and time to distress from this too real world. Designer, Xorin Balbes offers a different use for nooks. “Creating nooks for conversation and shared activities can do wonders to bring people together. Create more intimacy at home, and you will become more intimate in the world.” Quaint times with and for others is good use of the cottage. We have the cottage listed with Airbnb for festival weekends only, and open our new space for family & friends, too.
There are so many people in this world, but it is a small world at times. Based on the 1920’s concept “Six Degrees Of Separation”, we each are six or less connections away from one another in this game called life. This concept is used with Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and other social media. Based on genetic studies, for most of us if you go back 10 generations, you probably share a grandmother with your neighbor. What makes someone kin to you? Birth? Blood? Spirit? Relationship? Bonding? Association? Adoption? “One touch of nature makes the whole world kin,” according to William Shakespeare.
Woman Warrior 