Unstuck Inside
Discover more from Desert Owl Among the Ruins
Dear Readers,
Wildfires all the way in Canada are apparently affecting the air quality here in central Virginia, and I’ve had friends text me warning me to be careful going outside, given that I only have one lung and am battling cancer. Tough staying inside, because it’s in the 70s, lovely weather for this time of year. I have a gorgeous deck with a breathtaking view and two fun swivel chairs, but I need to be careful. After briefly taking Pepper out this morning, I could feel my throat constricting.
Being “stuck” inside is nothing new for me the past almost five months. First, I guess I should say that I did not make it back to work June 1. This targeted therapy is taking a toll. I’ve lost weight and am weak, and while writing is sometimes fine, I cannot imagine leading a service at this point, much less two on Sundays. Much less leaving the office desk and chair to visit people. I’m praying this gets better but am still living life in pencil.
Between the last of 34 radiation treatments and the first day of targeted therapy—I had two weeks to “detox”—I went to the gym for a yoga class for the first time in several months. Gentle yoga, with a sensitive teacher, not too crowded. It hurt. Poses hurt that had not hurt before. My broken ribs were not fully healed.
I told my dear friend Samantha—my fabulous co-author and fellow clergy member, who also happens to be a yoga instructor—and she offered to come up with a routine I could do. So this morning we tried it over Zoom! Forty minutes of no twisting, of no sun salutations (too dizzying), yet she thoughtfully came up with ways to still work the various muscles. This was an incredible way to start a day when I shouldn’t be walking outside! She ended with some breath prayers from our upcoming book.
Things with our book Irreverent Prayers are going smoothly. We turned it in post-developmental edits today, so next steps are copyediting and proofreading. Our editor Lisa Ann Cockrel was very complimentary, so we are even more excited. We hope it will be out next summer, but publishing takes time.
I’m thrilled that we are just 2 1/2 months from my first book launch! Unexpected Abundance will be out August 22, and that day at 6 PM will be a launch at the Little Bookshop in Midlothian. Please call them at (804) 464-1244 to preorder a book for the launch, and come see me! I may be living life in pencil but that one is heavy pencil. My sister is even coming all the way from Arizona to cheer me on. If you aren’t local, you can also preorder it from Amazon and help me break my current sales rank, which is around a million. Not very confidence building.
Just heard a bit of thunder (I hope: I hope it wasn’t someone moving their garbage can; these are the suburbs, after all): hoping rain will help clear away the nasty wildfire smoke, but for an inside day, this one feels great. Please pray for all those affected by the fires.
Blessings,
Elizabeth
What I’m Writing:
Just had a piece about Antoinette Brown Blackwell, the second woman ordained in the states, come out in Grow Christians. Check it out here. Grow Christians is an excellent ministry from Forward Movement, the same people who do the Good Book Club every year as well as the daily devotional Forward Day by Day.
What I’m Reading:
I’m struggling to read, which you know is not normal for me. Haven’t finished a book since the last newsletter. Right now, I am trying to read the latest Harry Hole thriller by Jo Nesbo.
Unstuck Inside
Prayers continue for you, fellow warrior. Joy will come in the morning.
Prayers continue, my friend.