Finding that Comfy Spot

Do you have a comfy chair for relaxing and reading or even writing?

Years ago several writer friends and I drove to Reno for the day to hear well-known writer Anne Lamott speak about the writing life. I’d read several of her books–the most famous perhaps being Bird by Bird–and I knew she had a wit, but I so enjoyed lots of belly laughing that night.

She gave writers permission to do lots of things, one of which was to buy a comfortable chair for writing. I went out that week and bought a good one. It has since then fallen apart, and I found another.

But the one thing I was missing was a comfortable spot for reading. Being propped up in bed didn’t work. Our couch isn’t conducive to reading at all. And there was no other spot.

Remembering Anne Lamott’s charge to indulge in a comfy chair, I set about finding one when my office got updated and reconfigured. I strolled through RC Willey one day and found a ridiculously comfy chair and ottoman. It was stupidly expensive, but I knew Anne would say, “It’s okay, Janet. Buy the comfy chair.”

When I dislocated my shoulder last year, I was so glad to have that chair and slept in it for three weeks until I could manage the bed once again. It invites me and supports me and comforts me. All in the world seems well in that chair.

That’s what I think of when I read John 15–the chapter in the Bible about abiding in God’s love.

Abide in me.

Abide in the vine.

Abide in love.

There are a couple different connotations for the word “abide,” but the one used here means “to remain.” When I abide with the Lord, I just hang out. I stay close. I’m in prayer. I smile, remembering his goodness in my life. I know I am living in his love and dwelling in his perfect space of grace.

It’s comfortable, like my chair. I can rest there, wrapped up, supported, safe from the thrashings of the world.

Abiding. I like it. And my comfy chair is a great place to keep #LookingUp !

Janet McHenry is a slow reader, so she needs a comfy spot to read. A speaker, she is also the author of 24 books–six on prayer, including the bestselling PrayerWalk and her newest, The Complete Guide to the Prayers of Jesus. She would love to connect with you: https://www.janetmchenry.com.

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