Float

The Spiritual Practice of Being Held

Last year I took a course called Christian Imagination. The final project of the course was a creative project where we were asked to really push ourselves creatively. I decided I would write three essays about my experience with chronic illness following the structure Julian of Norwich’s second showing: that God made us, loves us and keeps us.

Alongside the essays I created three ink and watercolor images to accompany each essay. I rarely create art and never share it publicly so this was the part that felt very vulnerable. I am sharing some of those images below.

This week the third essay “Float” was published in Comment Magazine here . The third essay is for those who are not yet healed, for those who are waiting, for those who are wondering if God even sees them in their storm and suffering. What does it mean to be “kept” by a good God even though we experience pain? What do we do in the in-between?

I am including an audio recording of the essay for those of you that don’t have time to read. But please still click over to the essay before listening because the number of reads on these things do make a difference. And, if it resonates with you - share with a friend or on your social media :)

Float by Lisa Nikkel

You might remember that in December, the second essay, “Exhale” was published in Radix Magazine.

Exhale by Lisa Nikkel

Thank you again for all of you that read my Mockingbird essay. I got great feedback from one of the editors on how well it was received. I know that much of that has to do with you and your support!

As per usual, I am including a few links for you but I will get back to regular posting sometime in the near future.

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Somethings That Caught My Eye:

Books:

I really enjoyed reading these books this past semester. Each of them is worth a read for different reasons. Henri Nouwen writes his reflections on leadership and his involvement at L’Arche. What I found most interesting is that this book is a man’s reflections on finding himself in the place of motherhood. Henri Nouwen finds himself caring for the residents of L’Arche, something he had never done before but something that mothers everywhere are doing.

Eugene Peterson’s book is a profound book on the realities of pastoring. I gleaned so much wisdom from Peterson in this book: both in my walk with Jesus and places I have been called to minister. Our prof said that, outside of the bible, this is the closest thing to inspired writing he has found anywhere.

Gordon Smith’s book was quite an emotional journey for me. It helped me excavate deep grief I have had around my calling both as a woman growing up in a more conservative context and some difficult experiences I had when I tried to step into what I thought was my calling.

Smith also helped me begin to process the season of change I am in. Our homeschooling journey will most likely be done four years from now and I am heading into the last four semesters of my Masters and this means that so much in my life is going to change. I have found myself wondering what I might be called to after years of raising and teaching my kids. If you are at a cross roads in life or wondering what you might be called to - reading Gordon Smith’s book.

Food:

I have been loving this new account on Instagram. Jamey Kay is a food enthusiast from Calgary. She makes lots of gluten free/dairy free options and the recipes are super simple, clean, and tasty.

withlovefromjamey

A post shared by @withlovefromjamey

Here is this recipe for these:

These No-Bake Peanut Butter & Raspberry Chocolate Cups are crunchy, creamy, chocolatey, and made with real ingredients. Easy to whip up and even easier to devour—your kids (and you) will LOVE them!⁠
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Recipe:⁠
1 ½ cups Yupik Organic Rolled Oats⁠
⅓ cup Yupik Organic Creamy Peanut Butter⁠
⅓ cup maple syrup⁠
1 tbsp coconut oil, melted⁠
¼ cup raspberry jam⁠
½ cup Yupik Barry Callebaut Semi-Sweet Chocolate⁠
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1️⃣ Mix oats, peanut butter, maple syrup, and coconut oil⁠
2️⃣ Press 1 heaping tbsp into muffin tin wells, forming a little crater⁠
3️⃣ Spoon 1 tsp jam into each crater⁠
4️⃣ Melt chocolate (microwave, stirring every 30 secs)⁠
5️⃣ Top each with chocolate, freeze until set⁠
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Store in fridge or freezer for snack-time ready treats!⁠

Listen:

I love this song by Andy Squyres. No explanation needed. Take a listen and then listen to all of his music :)

And then you can take a listen to this interview with Andy:

Have a wonderful May! Thanks for reading and listening and supporting my writing. You are a gift to me!