I Believe
I believe things are unfolding exactly as they should.
I believe that your life–the one you were always meant for since the beginning of time–rises up to meet you when you least expect it
I believe that you are not alone in your grief and that I’m not lost in mine either
I believe in the endurance of love and the kindness of friendship
I believe in love that will not let you go
I believe in taking chances so something beautiful can be born
I believe in the power of tears to heal your heart
I believe you can be made brand new
I believe the best is yet to come
I believe in surprises, miracles and the power of prayer
I believe that nothing will be wasted
I believe in asking for help and then being quiet so the answers can come from inside
I believe in change, revolution and the kind of chaos that brings peace
I believe it’s okay not to know what happens next
I believe in dreams
I believe in God, Jesus, the virgin Mary and all that other crazy stuff it’s too silly to say you believe in out loud
I believe in happiness, hard work and letting the power of the Universe flow right through you
I believe in Love
What do you believe?
August 6th, 2008 at 6:20 am
Welcome home, Jen.
I believe in the power of Mother Earth like no other and that she heals everything, in time.
I believe in staying awake for this life.
August 6th, 2008 at 7:26 am
I believe that if words have a kind of holy power,
Jen Lemen is a freakin Sorceress
August 6th, 2008 at 8:01 am
i believe each moment i am saved by grace.
August 6th, 2008 at 8:32 am
I believe that you have to be still so that you can listen to your self.
August 6th, 2008 at 9:09 am
What a lovely photo.
I believe much the same as you do. Right now I’m believing in persistence in the face of long struggles, continuing to seek help until you find it. Even after many, many years, it can happen.
August 6th, 2008 at 10:09 am
I believe in reality that goes beyond what we can see. There must be more.
And I, too, believe all of those audacious statements that people have chanted for centuries in an attempt to help their unbelief.
August 6th, 2008 at 10:27 am
I believe that:
Love is all there is.
Love is all there.
Love is all.
Love is.
Love.
and I believe that Love Heals.
August 6th, 2008 at 11:16 am
I believe in you.
August 6th, 2008 at 11:17 am
I too believe in these things, and I believe there is a power in saying things aloud, and naming them.
August 6th, 2008 at 11:20 am
Well, you just nailed it, didn’t you?
A solid amen and a pause to consider all the things you just said.
Thank you.
August 6th, 2008 at 11:27 am
I believe in you.
Thank you for such a beautiful post. It made my day.
Shash
August 6th, 2008 at 11:29 am
ditto, and…..
i finally believe that i AM good, and the one who created me….delights in me. and no one can take that from me. no words, thoughts, judgements, nothing.
August 6th, 2008 at 12:08 pm
As Lisa Milton “you nailed it.” And yes, I also believe in you. Not much more to say, but I will share the comment I wrote before reading everyone else’s words.
I found this in an obituary last year and saved it:
“One Woman’s Creed
I believe in God, creator of the universe, dwelling forever beyond time and space.
I believe in Jesus Christ who came to live among us and let us see what God is like.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, sent from God through Jesus to be our guide and comforter.
Therefore,
I believe in love, in hope, compassion, joy and faith, and forgiveness, and eternal life.”
~ Frances Somerville (she wrote this for Madeleine L’Engle; I can send you the story behind it)
I say this creed with a feeling of wonder about the mystery of the Universe, and yes, I say it with some degree of doubt. Do I really believe this? And then I read the last line. Yes, I really do believe this.
August 6th, 2008 at 1:01 pm
I believe one of the hardest things to do and one of the simplest things to do is believe in yourself.
I believe our hearts are big enough to love many all at the same time.
I believe we are more magnificent than we know.
I believe there is always a way to happiness.
August 6th, 2008 at 2:40 pm
DO you really believe
“I believe things are unfolding exactly as they should.” enough to be able to look
*8 year old victim of repeated incest
*children whose parents have just died of AIDS and are now left to fend for themselves
*the young mother who just found out she will die in less than a month of incurable disease
* the young girl who has just had a genital mutilation done
each in the face and say that?
August 6th, 2008 at 4:55 pm
i believe that women such as you make the world a better place
August 6th, 2008 at 6:23 pm
I believe I am exactly where I need to be, right now.
Thank you so much for your blog - I just started reading it about a month ago and am so impressed by your generosity of spirit and gentle presence.
August 6th, 2008 at 8:48 pm
I believe in peace.
I believe in telling our truths, no matter how painful or silly or decadent or scary or amazing.
I believe in coffee as the sunrises and a good book before bed.
I believe in the power of prayer and love.
I believe.
August 7th, 2008 at 2:51 am
i believe intuitive ways of knowing can be trusted
i believe in the silbinghood of kindred spirits
i believe in erring on the side of love
August 7th, 2008 at 11:03 am
Great post. I’ve been wanting to write out a list like this for some time, but I’ve been scared. Scared to name what I actually believe, there by exposing my doubt. I’m okay with the doubt (mostly), but I worry about what others will think, if they knew my doubt.
Reading Elaine’s comment totally resonated with me. I LOVE that she wrote that all out and then said …. sometimes I doubt all this.
For me it really is all about love, compassion, empathy, forgiveness, peace, justice, hope, joy, faith, miracles, mystery ….
August 7th, 2008 at 11:31 am
you inspired me Jen. as always. xo
http://maypapers.blogspot.com/2008/08/i-believe.html
August 7th, 2008 at 2:53 pm
I believe that once the can is open, and the worms are squirming everywhere, it is damn near impossible to put them back in. And that’s okay.
August 7th, 2008 at 6:20 pm
I believe every day is a new beginning. And that even tho GOD watches and prods; its up to us which way we choose to live it.
August 7th, 2008 at 7:49 pm
i believe in stories and food.
I believe that family are the people that share your stories and your food.
I believe that sharing both grows your family.
And every time we share these things, and grow our family, we are healing the world.
August 9th, 2008 at 12:07 pm
I believe the unknown is greater than I ever imagined, there are far more questions then answers, but in the midst of it God hear us and holds us like a tiny baby to His heart. I know He holds you Jen!
August 9th, 2008 at 1:44 pm
I believe it’s time to take the walk you’ve been side-slipping
Time to move your sorry bones up off the floor
Time to rise above your situation
Time to make sure the current pauses at your door
Time to seek your own level
So what if you come undone on your way to the sun?
So what if your homemade kite melts down and out of sight?
I believe you’ll find that your arms are fine and strong and move you along.
August 9th, 2008 at 3:54 pm
Reference:
http://www.squaregirl.com/squaregirl/2008/8/9/what-do-you-believe.html
August 9th, 2008 at 4:55 pm
Jen, I wish I knew. These days I don’t.
But knowing and believing are different things, no?
I believe I’m by a river. And if I wait - just wait - it will run clear again. Things are bad here now. So I just watch the river take the debris by as it has done for almost 50 years. And I wait.
Wait.
August 11th, 2008 at 5:26 pm
Wonderful list.
I believe in…
the laughter of children.
the magnificence of our universe.
the peacefulness of the ocean.
August 14th, 2008 at 10:23 am
i believe this was beautiful…
i found you via liz…
August 14th, 2008 at 8:25 pm
God… I love and believe in Him, too… thanks for saying it out loud…
I’m so thankful I met you at BlogHer. You inspire so many people. Your grace is so evident here in your writing. Thank you.
August 19th, 2008 at 10:00 pm
I believe it will all be OK.
August 25th, 2008 at 5:19 pm
[…] is sort of corny, but I stumbled on this little poem by Jen Lemen, and I agree with her when she says, “I believe in the power of tears to heal your heart.” I rarely cry, but I know […]