My Soul Feels Lean: Poems of Loss and Restoration

Long beloved for her artful prayers, bestselling author Joyce Rupp presents an entirely new collection of 106 meditative poems on a theme she's woven masterfully through all her writing—the pain of loss and the hope of restoration. "My Soul Feels Lean" is a journey into compassion. Drawing on insights from her Christian faith and her lifelong connection to the Iowa farmland of her birth, Joyce Rupp explores themes of loss and restoration in this luminous collection of poems. Returning to an undercurrent in all her work since the publication of "Praying Our Goodbyes," Rupp offers here sensitive insights on the pain of loss and the renewal she finds when she is willing to let go and trust. Rupp's leanness of soul has taught her to observe and celebrate the harsh beauty of life. "Loss has encouraged me to find joy and meaning here instead of pining for it elsewhere," she writes, "to live more simply and be content with less, to appreciate more fully what I now have." Rupp interlaces threads of loneliness, fear, disenchantment, and sorrow with strands of gratitude, patience, expectation, and joy: the result is a tapestry of hope and resilience. Each poem is an invitation to awareness of the present moment and the power of revitalizing grace.

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My Soul Feels Lean: Poems of Loss and Restoration

Long beloved for her artful prayers, bestselling author Joyce Rupp presents an entirely new collection of 106 meditative poems on a theme she's woven masterfully through all her writing—the pain of loss and the hope of restoration. "My Soul Feels Lean" is a journey into compassion. Drawing on insights from her Christian faith and her lifelong connection to the Iowa farmland of her birth, Joyce Rupp explores themes of loss and restoration in this luminous collection of poems. Returning to an undercurrent in all her work since the publication of "Praying Our Goodbyes," Rupp offers here sensitive insights on the pain of loss and the renewal she finds when she is willing to let go and trust. Rupp's leanness of soul has taught her to observe and celebrate the harsh beauty of life. "Loss has encouraged me to find joy and meaning here instead of pining for it elsewhere," she writes, "to live more simply and be content with less, to appreciate more fully what I now have." Rupp interlaces threads of loneliness, fear, disenchantment, and sorrow with strands of gratitude, patience, expectation, and joy: the result is a tapestry of hope and resilience. Each poem is an invitation to awareness of the present moment and the power of revitalizing grace.

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My Soul Feels Lean: Poems of Loss and Restoration

My Soul Feels Lean: Poems of Loss and Restoration

by Joyce Rupp
My Soul Feels Lean: Poems of Loss and Restoration

My Soul Feels Lean: Poems of Loss and Restoration

by Joyce Rupp

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Overview

Long beloved for her artful prayers, bestselling author Joyce Rupp presents an entirely new collection of 106 meditative poems on a theme she's woven masterfully through all her writing—the pain of loss and the hope of restoration. "My Soul Feels Lean" is a journey into compassion. Drawing on insights from her Christian faith and her lifelong connection to the Iowa farmland of her birth, Joyce Rupp explores themes of loss and restoration in this luminous collection of poems. Returning to an undercurrent in all her work since the publication of "Praying Our Goodbyes," Rupp offers here sensitive insights on the pain of loss and the renewal she finds when she is willing to let go and trust. Rupp's leanness of soul has taught her to observe and celebrate the harsh beauty of life. "Loss has encouraged me to find joy and meaning here instead of pining for it elsewhere," she writes, "to live more simply and be content with less, to appreciate more fully what I now have." Rupp interlaces threads of loneliness, fear, disenchantment, and sorrow with strands of gratitude, patience, expectation, and joy: the result is a tapestry of hope and resilience. Each poem is an invitation to awareness of the present moment and the power of revitalizing grace.


Product Details

ISBN-13: 9781933495569
Publisher: Ave Maria Press
Publication date: 03/11/2013
Pages: 176
Sales rank: 135,073
Product dimensions: 5.60(w) x 8.40(h) x 0.70(d)

About the Author

Joyce Rupp is well known for her work as a writer, spiritual "midwife," international retreat leader, and conference speaker. She is the author of numerous best-selling books, including Open the Door and Fragments of Your Ancient Name. Rupp is a member of the Servite (Servants of Mary) community and the codirector of the Institute of Compassionate Presence. She resides in Des Moines, Iowa.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments xiii

My Soul 1

Loss 3

My Soul Feels Lean 7

Is Anything Left? 8

You Wonder 10

Goodbye to Summer 12

I Lose Myself, Find My Self 14

Go toward That Which Repels 15

Inner Freedom 16

Leave Them Behind 17

Katy and Theresa 18

Refusal 20

Kenyan Thirst 22

Coveted Growth 23

Helpless 24

Love So Easily Gets Lost 25

The Terrorist 27

The Death of Friendship 28

Rhonda 29

She Feels Old at Twenty-Eight 30

Airport 31

The Screaming 32

Greedy for Too Many Things 34

Saying All the Wrong Things 35

Mistaken Perceptions 36

The Strongest Friendship 37

Wealthy Woman 38

Palm Sunday 40

The Lone Evening Star 41

Blue Jay Heart 42

The Old Cottonwood 43

These Gray Winter Days 44

Azalea Leaves 45

Pinnacles of Winter 47

April Goldfinches 48

One Lone Goose 50

Ninety Years 52

Death Invades My Days 54

Crushing Coincidences 55

My Fear of Losing You 57

Margaret 58

He's Burying His Mother Today 60

On the Death of Sister Flavia 62

Evangelista 64

Grandfather 66

Christina 68

Aileen 70

After the Funeral 72

Grief Has Come to My House 74

Anger 75

You Keep Your Sorrow 76

Uncontrolled Grief 78

Taste the Sadness 79

Falling 80

The Creaks and Cries of a Heart 82

Restoration 85

I Hear Spring Breathing 89

Surprising Surrender 90

Light in the Eyes of the Dying 91

For a Brief Moment 93

New Zealand Rainforest 94

Franklin Gulls 96

New Year's Day 97

Don't Run 99

The Ice Storm 101

Not So Afraid 103

Melody of My Soul 104

A Steady Rain 105

Migrating Pelicans 106

January Moon 107

Butterfly 108

Contemplation 109

Frozen Songs 110

At Night 111

Last Leaf on the Tree 113

On My Way From Mankato to St. Paul 115

Changing the Landscape 116

An Exile Coming Home 117

Bittersweet 118

Easter Joy 119

The Memory of a Hand 121

Self-Doubt 122

Resurrection 124

Memories 125

Gestation 126

Rain 127

Watching Each Other Age 128

Seven Sisters 130

Silent Nudge of Confidence 131

Taking Back Her Life 133

The Best of You 134

Waiting for a Return 136

The Pine Grove 137

Winter Invitation 139

With Each Flying-by Year 140

The Robin in January 141

Watching Rain 142

Blackbirds 144

Easter Watch 145

How Many Loves Now 146

Shabby and Awkward 148

When Winter Wears Long 149

Writing 150

Community 151

Home Free 152

Snake Charmer 153

Uncertainty 154

Live This Day 156

Someday 158

Index of Titles and First Lines 159

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