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Stephen Canner's avatar

Martha and Mary - Form and Emptiness?

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Russell Siler Jones's avatar

Whoah! Yes!

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Guy Sayles's avatar

Well and truly said, Russell. Thank you and thank you for the generative work you’ve done through your work with CareNet.

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Russell Siler Jones's avatar

Thank you Guy :)

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Mark Kurdys's avatar

Thanks for sharing this, Russell. I have a Martha part. I named her The Little Red Hen, as her /my internal dialogue is very much like the children's storybook character. Her drive, her perseverance and her accomplishments are legend. So is her judgment. Indeed, without her judgment, The Little Red Hen/Martha is unremarkable, almost invisible, relegated to the corps of nameless, faceless billions who labor , who serve, who are passed in the street but never noticed. That longing to be noticed frequently plays out exactly as nobody ever hopes to be noticed. Of late, I have been encouraging the Little Red Hen/ Martha to look at the long rows waiting to be tilled, planted, hoed or harvested, and the piles of grain waiting to be threshed and ground , and to think about the likelihood she will find peace, joy, from her mantra, " I'll do it myself!". And then do the unthinkable, to go to those she showers with judgment for their lack of 'productivity' , nay, their 'laziness' , and instead of giving uninvited criticism, to say, "I need your help." So far, The Little Red Hen and I are simply astounded by how talented and CHEERFUL all the Mary's are to be asked and to join in the task, even if it turns out the weeds are not so awful, after all. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B0dLqlWoYo0

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Russell Siler Jones's avatar

Thank you for, Marktha, for this personal, delightful, shall we say Merry reply. Long live the Little Red Hen and her friends!

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Janice Odom's avatar

lovely

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Russell Siler Jones's avatar

Thanks Janice :)

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Stacey Jaudon's avatar

I am profoundly grateful for you presence on this earth Russell. 💜

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Russell Siler Jones's avatar

And I for yours. Thanks Stacey :)

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David Partington's avatar

Thank you Russell. This one leaves me with “sighs too deep for words.”

David

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Russell Siler Jones's avatar

Thank you David :)

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Sandee Garcia's avatar

Thank you for sharing ✨️ 🙏🏽

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Russell Siler Jones's avatar

Thank you Sandy :)

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Karen Bryant Lucas's avatar

Thank you, Russell. The context and the balance.

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