AUMONIERE: I AM AN ALMS PURSE

My status is Survival...

• "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: but made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men..."  Phil.2:5-7.

• I have recently been reading a fascinating book, essentially about  various forms of status in fashion, often the surface, expensive items that humans have utilized throughout our history in all cultures.  Status does also change and a symbol can be " in or out" in accord with the vagaries of social flow. While this study is fascinating to me, it is also stark in the descriptions of the potency of money and power.

  With my ongoing study of the working poor in the USA and as that has deeply affected my own life for over 40 years, I see that I have no formal  "status.” To the human world  and the "placements” that dominate it, I am essentially invisible , an Elder who did not expect to even live to old age. I still have no human clue why I am still here...except for the One who created me and for some still unfathomable reason, not only brought me to age 71 but also has a bit of work left for me to do.

  I have the earned "status" of extremely street smart, intensely intuitive and discerning, a deep empath and sensitive soul who incredibly feels the sorrow and suffering of the brokenhearted.  The world trashes and throws people away for surface stuff, not measuring up, not fitting the required mold, not being in the demanded groove. Strangely enough, despite my lifelong love of all things fabric, garments and style, I see the sometime harshness and arrogance of the garment realm, the whole "mean girls" mode of luxury, shape, in/ out demands, costly things.

  In the history of garments, in the  European Middle Ages, there was something called an Aumoniere or " alms purse.” This was an item sometimes worn by women with some money. It was a small purse attached by a cord to their waistline. The small purse contained coins the woman would then dispense as she was out in the world, dispense...to the suffering poor.

  I am a part of that decorated alms purse. I am at age 71, living on the financial edge, coin by coin and small gig work by gig work, sometimes helped by modest  gifts around the edges.

  The intense demands of the material realm, on top of the inflation and intensive financial pressures of 2023 USA, bear down on me and millions of my fellow citizens 

  I cling to God 24/7 and seek His comfort and wisdom to guide my path in these savage and brutal times.

  1 Corinthians 1:27 speaks so eloquently of the reality that “God has chosen the weak things of the world to confound the mighty…”

  I am certain I am one of those.

  As a recipient of the coins of an alms purse, I am stunned by God's tender care for me. Day by day, He guides me to opportunities to be of service and help to others.

  As I have no earthly status, I must have a place in Gods heart, for the humble roof and food I have. Letting Him in to my still sorrowful heart is an ongoing process, with some dreadful slow days, some bearable, some actually good. 

  I love that beautiful Aumoniere in its embroidered brocade beauty, the small item of delicacy amidst the raging madness of the world of 2023.

  Holding fast to His hand...and steadily praying for others in the same boat!

  Wendy Williams   Nov. 1, 2023