I chose the name At the Well because I identified with the woman at the well. She was an outcast in her society and faith community. She bore her sins publically, fetching her water during the heat of the day avoiding polite society. Still, Jesus spoke to her. He shared powerful words with her. I wonder just how much she understood him. I’m not sure that I understand…not in depth anyway.
I love well shared words. The words of Jesus were beautiful enough to send me to a monastery centuries after he walked among us mere mortals. To this day my favorite words are those that belong to Jesus. I love poets because they share living vibrant words. My mind constantly swims with words. Sometimes I feel overwhelmed. I drown in words. I have to write the words in my head or I go a bit mad. I need to write as much as I need to breathe.
My first writings on this blog were violent. I needed a place to speak my thoughts and feelings about being raped by my father. I bottled the rage, shame and fear all my life. I could not talk to anyone and I’ll never be able to speak to a therapist so don’t bother mentioning. If I could actually speak to anyone about the violation it would be to my husband. But how could I possibly talk to him if my words were too painful to share vocally. How do I tell him that sometimes my mind goes to dark places when we are together…a darkness that is not his responsibility to bare.
So, one night I let the rage loose, released the shame and exposed my fear in writing. I poured my soul onto a blog post and felt release. I put in painfully descriptive writing what my father had done to me and my emotional pain. Once the words that burned me were put down I felt lighter…free. I didn’t feel so lost and my days got better. The relationship with my husband improved. I healed.
Later, when we decided to homeschool I started blogging about the experience. When I joined a curriculum review team they asked me to take my personal posts down. I should have told them to take their judgmental selves elsewhere. But I did not. I caved because I wanted to be accepted. And only whole healthy people are accepted in certain circles. So I picked my shame back up and deleted my posts. I engaged in other forms of social media as required by the team. Later, I joined another review team and was told how and what was permissible to write. For these teams I had to build a persona that fit their mold.
So, At the Well is no longer my primary writing space. I’ve thought about this for nearly a year or so now. I no longer identify with The Woman at the Well and this space has come to symbolize a painful chapter I am ready to close in my life. I will continue to maintain this blog (especially for my professional contacts) and post occasionally (for my husband to share on his social media). But my personal writing, poetry and art will not be here.
If you want to tag along pop me a note and I’ll send you a link to my new home. Otherwise, goodbye and I give you all my love. Thanks for reading and sharing.
I’ve left the well in pursuit of…
September 9, 2016 at 10:55 am
Audria, I know your story and have never found your comments to be offensive or inappropriatte . I have found them to be honest and informative. Please link me to any other blogs you start so I can follow you, and give my best to your family……..
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September 9, 2016 at 1:15 pm
You bet I do! I’d hate to lose your friendship because we have shared so much. I still faithfully pray for your family, including your brother, and you are part of my wonderful web family!
(By the way, change is good, it’s how I stay young for an old lady! 🙂 )
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September 9, 2016 at 11:49 pm
You know I want to tag along!
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September 10, 2016 at 3:25 pm
Audria, hi. It’s me, Lynda the aussie you met at brave writer retreat. You know how much I identify with you due to my own father story. I sense your pain and understand fully the frustration of this journey as we try to be honest, real and transparent. I too removed my story from my website. But there’s something inside me that wants to share this story with the world. I know we are to guard our hearts as its the wellspring of life as the words in scripture write. But hey! Jesus also offended many with his life and message. I don’t quite know where I’m going with this but I know God will lead you to the right path. He’s faithful to the end. Thanks for being you. I mean it with all my heart. Fellow sojourner Lynda Barber.
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September 23, 2016 at 8:36 am
Well dear lady I want to tag along. I get so behind on my reading that I missed this, but once winter hits I catch up a bit 😳. Now since summer is dragging out, well you get the idea……will email you as well! You are a precious person who I would like to keep up with my friend!
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September 26, 2016 at 6:32 am
Hi Audria, Let me know where your new blog is and I will join. For some reason your blog posts even from The Well aren’t coming through to my email any longer even though it shows I’m a follower. Not sure why. So I’m behind on reading till now…
Happy birthday by the way to your new teen and to Sparkles (my youngest says hi to Sparkles!)
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October 16, 2016 at 2:06 am
What a story& such a beautiful blog post too! 🙂 xxx
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October 26, 2016 at 6:32 pm
Thank you so much!
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July 6, 2017 at 9:39 pm
Hello, Audria, I have come across your blog here in researching BFB. I would love to keep up with you on your new space. I have a couple questions: you mention doing 3 different BFB the same year (with different children). How do you manage all the read-alouds/projects? Do you do just one BFB course as a family or stick to the grade-level recommendations and have to have several courses going at once? I will have an 11-, 8-, 4-yr old next year. We have been doing Classical Conversations for 6 years. We are scheduled to do Cycle 3 the fall of 2017 (we just do at home), but I’m toying with the idea of making the switch to BFB. My 10-yr-old girl is excellent reader…I don’t know if Primary is a good place for us to start. Thanks for any input you can give.
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July 10, 2017 at 12:34 pm
I sent a reply to your email. Please check your junk mail if you have not received it yet.
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