DISQUS

Tara, hi. I'd like to install the widget on my other blogs as well. I installed it on Green Inventions after beginning with Seedlings, but I had to open a new account to do so. Is there any way to put more than one blog on one account? Like with Google Analytics? If so, I didn't see the way.

'Cause I want that really cool High Calling Header, like I have for the pop-up box on my Seedlings one. Just stop by Seedlings and email me through the Contact Link, and let's see what we can do.

(See how quickly my fears have been assuaged? : )

Now I tried going solo. No DISQUS affiliation. Still a grey straight-face. Not a pretty option. It's like peer pressure. If you don't log in and load a picture and all that, then the DISQUS gods grant you the icky face.

All righty... who had more fun here? Daddy? Or Little One?

Trying to decide why this is scary... (not that I don't trust your word, mind you)

Of course we want to see the poem!

(I have to admit, once you got to the technical stuff.... 'Stressed' is the word that stood out to me. I guess I like to march to the beat of my own drummer when it comes to writing poetry... trusting myself, my internal sensibilities and rhythmic tendencies long before I trust the reader. And as for meter... well, I don't like working on that either. Just call me the lazy poet. Or perhaps, a poem cheater : )

Oh, and I have to add this... regarding your little observation about "both" of your readers. Apparently, the two of us have multiple personalities. Or identities. And we live all over the United States. You attract an interesting set. : )

Marcus, that's funny about the secret contest.

How do I measure conference success? People. And not necessarily the number of, or the "importance" of the connections. Case in point: the time before last, when I went to the Calvin Festival, I met Charity. Who knew she'd discover she had cancer just about 8 months later? Who knew she would touch my life so deeply with her honesty and vulnerability in the face of such difficulty?

It's always fun to learn stuff. Widgets. Wodgets. Wudgets. But I can do that anywhere. People. That's how I measure conference success.

Really good reading. Makes me feel like I possess the origin of all poems. Or at least of all Whitman poems. : )

What a treat. I'll listen later when I have some quiet time.

That was comforting. Not that I got any more writing done. But the thought that maybe I could... comforting. I think this next book is just so different in how it's writing itself (I feel like a bystander), that I occasionally and completely lose my wits and my hope.

Oh. Groan. Must you talk about road maps on a day when I am working with a complete writing mess? And haven't the first bit of trust that I can find a map anywhere in my brain?

I know I could go read 1 Peter. Still, it would be lovely to see what part of 1 Peter inspired this... right here.

I like that you post crazy doubts and reveal unorthodox allegiances. In the end, it makes you more credible. I feel that I'm interacting with a real person, not a cardboard replica of some "ideal Christian."

Thanks for the post, btw-- your own little gift of simple grace.

Amy, hi! I won't ask you what you've been called that's worse than "lower deck." Or who did the calling. : )

And I'm glad you explained the Willy Wonka factor. I kept looking at the picture thinking, "That does NOT look like Amy!" I thought maybe something had gone wrong on this end, with my vision getting old. ; - )

Pictures!! Awesome. (Um, Amy doesn't mind that you called her a "lower deck", does she? : )

I think I missed the depth of this poem on the first reading. And the second reading. Then I listened to your reading several times.

Then something began to happen. A deeper philosophy started to emerge at the top, the way you emerged at the top of the cliff by gradual incline that hadn't really gained your attention.

Now, I still wasn't sure about the ending, because it didn't pursue this aspect of the poem...the sense that some of the places life takes us happen almost unawares. And before we know it, we've passed by equally interesting alternatives to arrive at a vista, broad and enchanting. A place we never want to leave.

Ordered. But it doesn't really come through Amazon. It's one of those "available from these sellers" deals.

Love the fajitas and casitas thing. He's a marvelous poet. Any way to order direct from John?

Your poem is terrific too.

Along with Heather...

so, you flex your muscles while she actually uses hers. Hmmm...

I like meat too. : ) Makes it an extra challenge to be a vegetarian. And, yes, Marcus... sausage is one of my favorite things.

David, I thought it was interesting that you mentioned they were vegetarians (kind of a nice tangent). I'm busy getting a little flack for an article over at Today's Christian Woman, because I mentioned that Adam and Eve had a vegetable-based diet.

http://www.christianitytoday.com/tcw/2008/julau...

Marcus, I love the questions you are asking. Like why it bothers us about the apes. Or why this is such a sad issue.

I think it's hard to consider having come down from such unattractive creatures. : ) Also, it does raise that whole sticky question about what was meant by Adam and Eve being personally created by God. (Sorry, I think you didn't particularly want to talk about Genesis. But that's where the story is. : )

Gee, what have YOU been doing in the last week? Gotten kind of brave, I'd say. Bravery is good. Chivalrous even.

So, tell us, what kind of conversation are you looking for? If you don't want to talk about Genesis and stuff like that. Just curious.

Somebody get cold water, quick! Heather is gasping. : )

I admit I am having trouble coming with an answer, mostly because there are so many questions here and I'm trying to discern what your central question really is.

Maybe the best answer is found in your own marriage... a wife who claims "liberal" on Facebook, while you instead claim "moderate." Yet you live and love together. Why, you even went so far as to have children!

Can we, should we live and love together despite our differing views? How far do we, should we go in expressing that love? Simple tolerance? Or do we produce, even, "children"?

Sorry. It seems I have finally answered your question/s with questions of my own. : )

L.L. Barkat's last blog post..Visitation