Sunday

September 29, 2012 By

“I am the Vine, you are the branches. When you’re joined with me and I with you, the relation intimate and organic, the harvest is sure to be abundant.”

~John 15:5 (MSG)

~~~

Welcome to The Sunday Community. Link up with a photo and just a few, brief words of inspiration – a favorite quote, a favorite line of words from the bible, a short poem, a small thought.

Not many words at all.

Then, extend a bit of hospitality to the others here. Take some time to visit with one another and share a bit of grace. Please grab the Sunday button from the link at the top of the page to post at your place, so others know where to find us.

P.S. – Early Bird registration begins Monday for Jumping Tandem: The Retreat! I’m already praying for each of you who will be here in April. Grace and peace…



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If Writing Is Your Calling, Part Two

September 28, 2012 By

This weekend, I’ll be in Texas for the Laity Lodge Writer’s Retreat. I was thinking it would be wonderful if we could all meet there together. But, we all know that’s not possible, for many different and very good reasons. I wondered, however, if you might like to know a bit about how a retreat like this feels, so I looked through my archives and found two posts that I’d like to share here again. I shared the first one on Wednesday. Today, part two. I first posted these in December, 2010.

The idea of “call” can seem so big. It’s a word that belongs to people like Moses and Ghandi and Martin Luther King, Jr. and Mother Theresa. They’re the ones who are called. People like that. And if I’m really called (by God?) into a life of writing, wouldn’t that be reflected in – oh, I don’t know – more followers, or comments, or contracts, or cash?

Parker J. Palmer writes this about calling:

Our deepest calling is to grow into our authentic self-hood, whether or not it conforms to some image of who we ought to be. As we do so, we will not only find the joy that every human being seeks – we will also find our path of authentic service to the world. True vocation joins self and service, as Frederick Buechner asserts when he defines vocation as “the place where your deepest gladness meets the world’s deep need.”

 

 

Perhaps therein lies the key. Finding the road that leads each of us closer toward who we were meant to be in the first place. Only you know which road that is for you.

But here’s the thing about that road: once you’ve struck out on the pathway, content to follow wherever that road leads, you realize it’s a gift.

All of it.

The fact that you found that road.

The fact that the road even exists.

The fact that the twists and turns and potholes along the way make you stronger as you go.

The fact that you keep finding a way to put one foot in front of the other as you make your way along the road.

All of it is a gift.

And if it is a gift, then credit belongs to the Gift Giver, and thoughts of followers, or comments, or contracts – even thoughts of cash – diminish. Because here you stand, holding this remarkable gift.

 

So, here’s the perfect place to share with you the final two of four points that we were given as we sat for two afternoons in late September, in the womb of that room at Laity Lodge:

3.  Be humble. Who can take credit for a gift they’ve been given? Let’s say your spouse or a dear friend has gone out of their way to give you the most perfect gift that fits like a glove. You treasure it, and when you wear it people often remark about its beauty or its flair or the way it makes them smile. You respond by saying, “Thank you so much. Mary (or Jim or Susan or Bill) gave this to me.” And so, this gift – this call – to write, deserves to be credited back to the Gift Giver, the One who knows exactly what fits us best.

4.  Pay attention to the craft – view the nuts and bolts as sacred. Grammar, spelling, syntax, sentence structure. All of it matters. It’s the way we honor the gift and the One who gives it. It’s the same as hanging up a special outfit instead of casting it aside on the floor at the end of the day. Or, shining up a piece of jewelry before closing the clasp around a wrist. Maybe it means more journal writing and fewer blog posts. Maybe it means more reading. More praying. More breathing. Maybe it means taking a writing class, or a workshop. It’s the nuts and bolts that make a thing work and hold itself together.

 

One last thing. Maybe writing isn’t your calling. Or maybe it’s not your only calling. But something is. Whatever it is – art, justice, science, cooking, healing, etc. -  it is a gift, and the four points we learned in The Writing Life apply there, too. Your gift – your call – fits you perfectly.

[The definition of calling] starts with the self and moves toward the needs of the world: it begins, wisely, where vocation begins – not in what the world needs (which is everything), but in the nature of the human self, in what brings the self joy, the deep joy of knowing that we are here on earth to be the gifts that God created. ~Parker J. Palmer

Photos: The Frio River at Laity Lodge.

To read the first two points, click here.

You might like to read more about the craft. If so, click here for a list of ten books about writing.

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If Writing Is Your Calling, Part One

September 26, 2012 By
Tomorrow, I’ll leave for Texas and the Laity Lodge Writer’s Retreat. I was thinking it would be wonderful if we could all meet there together. But, we all know that’s not possible, for many different and very good reasons. I wondered, however, if you might like to know a bit about how a retreat like this feels, so I looked through  my archives and found two posts that I’d like to share here again. The first one today, and the second one on Friday. I first posted these in December, 2010.

For two afternoons in late September, I joined a group above the Frio River, in a room that hung on the rim of a canyon. This small group of writers had gathered where books lined the shelves and everything spiritual seemed so much easier to identify. We were published and not, novices and veterans, who gathered to explore The Writing Life.

Only you know if writing is your calling. You’re the only who knows if your breath grows short just at the thought of not being able to work yourself out on a page or computer monitor. Only you know if problems unravel themselves as the ink spills itself on the page; or if the tap-tap-tap of a keyboard is the rhythm you beat out to find yourself. To find truth. Maybe even to find God.

And if this sounds like you, chances are you still don’t really know for sure. Is a thing a calling just because it calls to you, you wonder? Shouldn’t there be some sort of sign or bush that burns to tell you that it’s true? And though you may not know for sure, you do know it pursues you and you jot down notes while sitting at the stoplight watching pedestrians scurry and swagger and shuffle across between the two white lines.

So just in case it’s you – in case it really is your calling – you try to wrap your head around the big idea of that. You sit in groups of those who write and you share words and thoughts and hang on every moment as you wait for just a flicker of the flame of confirmation. I sat in a room above the Frio as the leaders of our workshop offered bits of wisdom for those of us who write. If you’re one of those for whom The Writing Life calls out – whether it is simply calling, or if it is your calling – you might like to know a bit of richness that was dropped into my lap over those two afternoons in late September.

I’ll share two today (these two first – I think – to fortify the place from which the soul responds in words) and two later this week. They seem simple and, like true treasures, they are easy to pass over as insignificant or perhaps they’re too easily taken for granted. But it is in the practice that their value is unfolded.

  1. Read your Bible. It fills you up. Read it as a writer. Soak up the choices of words. Underline and highlight the phrases that jump out at you – and they will. Circle the parts that make you question or wonder out loud what it all really means. Question and wonder. Read what you can when you can. Something mystical happens with these sacred words and they settle themselves into your heart and somehow they show up on your page or your screen or in the midst of your conversations with friends over coffee.
  2. Go to church. I know. Church is filled with people and all of their baggage, and the choir that always sings off-key, or the preacher who preaches too long, or the seemingly constant requests for money, or the greeter who always invades your personal space. But Church is about God, and not about us. It’s where we recognize that everything we have comes from God – even this bent we have toward putting the pen to the page. And church is where we join with others to say “thank you” for words and for story and for life.

How about you? What do you think it means to be called to something? What is it that calls to you?

With deep gratitude to Kathleen Niendorff and Alice Lawhead, who led our workshop on The Writing Life over two September afternoons in a room on the rim of the canyon.

Photos: A glimpse into the workshop. The couch where I sat suspended over the water. The writers, sharing words and thoughts and hearts during a break.

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Why I’m Not A Dream Chaser

September 24, 2012 By

When I worked for the insurance company, they sent me to a conference where I had to take one of those inventories that puts people in categories. Ideator. That’s me.

I wasn’t surprised.

Details are not my thing. Nope. So when a gigantic dream drops into my head, I have to run — quickly and with haste — straight to God. If the dream is from Him, then He’s the one who will have to make it come true. Because honestly? That is not my gift. I might be an Ideator, but when it comes to details, I have no clue.

And that’s why, in spite of all my dreamy talk these days, I am not an advocate of chasing after dreams.

It’s God who does the dreaming. Right from the beginning, when He said, “Light!” and light appeared, God was making His dreams come true. When God turned to the Son and the Holy Spirit and said, “Let us make human beings in our image…” He was making a dream come true. Because who had heard of light or human beings before God gave voice to His dream?

It’s really no good to be a chaser of dreams. Instead, I have to be a chaser of the Giver of Dreams. I have to run hard after God if the dream has any hope of coming true. None of the big ideas that get dropped into my lap belong to me. They are God’s dreams and, for some reason I can’t quite figure out, God invites me (us!) to steward them for Him so that He can make them come true.

It’s mind boggling, really.

As stewards of the dreams of God, you and I get to lean in close to Him and hold on tight for a crazy ride. He never takes the path we’d take. He never uses the resources we’d choose. He never gets it done in the timeframe we’d prefer. But it’s His dream, not ours.

I’ve been reading your comments and your emails. The ones that say you’ve stopped dreaming, or that dreaming makes you afraid, or that you’re skeptical God even wants us to dream. I hear you. But the more I read, the more I hear the whisper of God, “See? This is why I want this retreat. I want my people to dream. I’ve got big dreams and I’m counting on my people to make them come true.”

Maybe the word “dream” is what throws us off. Maybe we hear dream and think, “corner office” or “six figures” or “NY Times bestseller” or “more blog traffic” or “perfect family” or “size six jeans” or “maybe the Detroit Lions will win the Super Bowl this year” (oops, I digress) and we wear ourselves out before we give God a chance.

God doesn’t dream in American. God dreams in love and grace and mercy and hope. God has wired each of us in a unique way, and He invites us to help Him make His dreams come true. It’s not about chasing a dream. It’s about chasing after the Giver of Dreams, dreams that will change the world (but not necessarily our bank accounts, or our status, or our blog traffic), because His love for us — all of us — is extravagant like that.

Consider reading this, too?

Early bird registration for Jumping Tandem: The Retreat begins in one week! I would really love to spend a weekend dreaming alongside you.

 

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Sunday

September 22, 2012 By

“You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world.”
~Matthew 5:14 (MSG)

~~~

Welcome to The Sunday Community. Link up with a photo and just a few, brief words of inspiration – a favorite quote, a favorite line of words from the bible, a short poem, a small thought.

Not many words at all.

Then, extend a bit of hospitality to the others here. Take some time to visit with one another and share a bit of grace. Please grab the Sunday button from the link at the top of the page to post at your place, so others know where to find us.



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Because I’m Really An Introvert At Heart

September 19, 2012 By

Hitting “Publish” on Monday’s post was quite an adventure. Because now, it’s real. You know?

Two weekends ago, when I was at the beach with all the lovely ladies from (in)courage, I told Holley and Lisa-Jo, “I still have time to cancel. I could just forget the whole thing.” They both laughed at me, and neither one of them said, “Yeah, I think you should rethink this. You still have an out. You can just forget the whole thing.”

The truth is, I can’t back out. Not now. Not two weekends ago. Because this dream won’t let me go. So, I hyperventilated, I jumped up from my seat and jogged around the living room, I sat back down on the edge of my seat and bounced my knees up and down, I prayed, I held my breath, and I hit “Publish.” And then I squeaked out a tiny scream (because everyone else in the house was sleeping), and I put myself to bed.

A few hours later, I got up again and peeked at the comments you left for me, and the comments over here, and the comments over here. It was if God was saying to me, “See? This is why I want this,” and I finally exhaled.

It’s going to be good. The retreat will be good. Because God is good. He is the giver of dreams and the greatest cheerleader ever.

So today, I’m just breathing. And I’m sitting still. Because that’s how I roll the day after a bunch of excitement comes my way. I’m an introvert, you know. Seriously. I am. I need to be by myself so I can recharge. I can spend an entire day sitting on the couch, looking out the picture window, holding a cup of tea.

Which reminds me!

Lisa Chan (she’s the wife of Francis Chan, author of Crazy Love and other popular books) is releasing a new DVD and in it she speaks to women who need to catch their breath for a minute. The film is called “Be Still” and it is the first film in Lisa’s True Beauty film series.

Lisa and her husband were away on vacation when Francis was called back to the church. He insisted Lisa stay and enjoy the hotel and the vacation they had planned together.

While Lisa was there, she realized anew the importance of taking time to breathe and to be still, so that we can hear from God.

~~~

My fancy coffee mug is from DaySpring. And also? I totally forgot to tell you yesterday I was over at (in)courage, talking about forgiveness. It’s not too late to click over and join me there. Spend some time reading the comments, too.

So, tell me: Are you an extrovert, or an introvert? How do you recover from a day of excitement? 

 

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Because Dreaming Together Is More Fun (the one where I finally get to tell you what I’ve been dreaming up for you)

September 17, 2012 By

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I keep thinking about your dreams.

Some nights, I’m so excited about the dreams I know you dream that I can barely sleep.

I know sometimes your dreams seem so big they scare you into thinking they never will come true — never can come true. You try to hush them or you tell them they sound ridiculous. Sometimes the things you dream amaze even you, and then you get caught up again in the day-to-day of every day and the amazing-ness fades to gray.

Not so fast, my friend.

What if we spent some time together, making a bit of space for that dream of yours? And what if we didn’t just dream? What if we found some tools and learned practical steps to help us take the next step toward making that dream come true? And what if there were fabulous speakers and amazing meals and comfortable beds and wide open skies? And what if, perhaps, you spoke your dream out loud (or whispered it into the air, or wrote it on a blank sheet of paper)? And what if you got to meet in real life, some of the people you’ve met here online?

This has been my dream for quite some time. I’ve wanted to swing the door wide, open up the windows, and set a place at the table for you. I’ve wanted to give you a place to speak your dream out loud and hear what it sounds like in your very own voice. I’ve wanted to sit by the fire, or walk down the path, or skip a few stones and hear what you’ve got on your heart.

So, I’ve invited some amazing speakers to meet us at a cozy retreat center where the coffee is hot and the food is divine. It’s called Jumping Tandem: The Retreat and it’s happening here in Nebraska, April 19-21, 2013. It’s for writers, bloggers, artists, entrepreneurs, and other fabulous people who have an amazing dream.Because everyone has one.

photo

I could go on and on (just ask H), but my friend built a really fun website specifically for this retreat. Click over to find all the information you need.

 

 

 

 

 

First two photos by the fabulous Curt Brinkman of Life’s A Story Photography.

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Sunday

September 15, 2012 By

{Psst. Please forgive me for interrupting the quiet here, but I’d like to invite you back tomorrow. I’ve got an announcement to make. It’s something special I’ve been working on, just for you!}

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Blessed God! His love is the wonder of the world!

~Psalm 31:21 (MSG)

~~~

Welcome to The Sunday Community. Link up with a photo and just a few, brief words of inspiration – a favorite quote, a favorite line of words from the bible, a short poem, a small thought.

Not many words at all.

Then, extend a bit of hospitality to the others here. Take some time to visit with one another and share a bit of grace. Please grab the Sunday button from the link at the top of the page to post at your place, so others know where to find us.



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Dear Me

September 13, 2012 By

Dear Deedee,

First things first: You will grow to appreciate your name. Your mother didn’t know it meant “sorrow” when she named you, and one day you’ll realize that and get over it. And also? If people don’t understand you when you tell them your real name, if they ask you to repeat it five times before they get it, just go with it. Repeat it until they get it. They’ll get it. Many people will mispronounce it. They’ll add an extra “r’ in the middle. But for the most part, people will get it.

Over time, people will tell you your name is beautiful. Eventually, you will agree with them, and you will thank your mother for naming you Deidra, even if she did name you after a character in a soap opera. If you want to buy something with your name on it (and you won’t) you’ll have to have it custom-made. Things could be worse.

You’ll make it through the years in that private Christian school, I promise. All these years later I can’t tell you whether or not it impacts the choices you will make later on, or whether or not it contributes to your acceptance at Michigan State (Go Spartans! Yes, you get in! And…you graduate!). But what I do know is that Renee will be your friend for life.

Right now, God has Renee in your life to call you every morning with a prayer, or a bible verse, or just a few words of encouragement, so you can make your way out the door and drive yourself to school (yes, you actually get your driver’s license this year!). She calls each morning because she knows first-hand how hard it is to be the only black girl in your entire grade. You’ll be in each other’s weddings, and you’ll raise your children together, even though you will live miles apart from each other. And Renee will never stop encouraging you. Not ever. You should know that not everyone gets to have a friend like Renee, and you should be sure she knows how much you love her. Life will kick her in the teeth a few times more than she deserves and every time, she will come out stronger and more in love with Jesus. She’s a conquerer.

You probably got distracted a few sentences back where I mentioned weddings and children. Hard to believe, right? At the private Christian school, you’ll meet Debbie, and she will twist your arm and make you go to the Commodores concert two days after graduation. It will be two days after you tell her you’re done with men and that you’re going to college to make your fortune so you can live in a penthouse in New York City.

You won’t want to go to the Commodores concert. But you’ll go. And you’ll be glad you did because that’s where you’ll meet H. He’s not the guy you thought you’d marry. He breaks all the rules. The first few years will be rough, but you’ll stick it out, you’ll do the work, you’ll go to counseling, and being married to H will be the best thing that ever happens to you. Except, of course, for Jesus.

After H, the very next best thing is your two children. They are awesome. Not perfect. But awesome.

I hate to mention this part but, you’re going to be married to a pastor. I know you don’t believe me and if I were you I wouldn’t believe me either. Wait! I am you. So, just forget that part for now. You’ll figure it out.

You won’t always be so shy. You’ll jump out of an airplane. You’ll speak in front of large groups of people. One day you will find your voice, and those years as the only black girl in your class will pay off when you move to Nebraska. Yes. Nebraska. Don’t ask.

Nebraska will rake you over the coals. It will. You will need to see a counselor. Go. Don’t be ashamed. Go, and sit on the leather couch and hold that pillow to your chest and say all the things you need to say. You will also need to take anti-depressants in Nebraska. Take them. Trust me on this one.

Even in Nebraska, Renee will contact you at just the right times. She’ll send you texts (you will LOVE technology when you’re older) and she’ll post messages for you on this new thing called Facebook (don’t be so resistant to the Timeline). Those messages from Renee will be just like the early morning phone calls you get from her before you go to school each day and you’ll think God chose her just for you. He did.

You won’t believe it at first. You’ll dig in your heels and fold your arms and ask God not to send you into the hard places of life. But God is right there in the middle of the hard places. God is in the desert. God is in the dark days. God will never take His eye off you. And when you let Him lead you to places you don’t want to go, you’ll find Him right there. Closer than you ever imagined.

~~~

Emily wrote a book, and then she wrote a letter. And she invited us to write our own letters.  So I did. You can, too.

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Sunday

September 8, 2012 By

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Your beauty and love chase after me every day of my life.

~Psalm 23:6 (MSG)

~~~

Welcome to The Sunday Community. Link up with a photo and just a few, brief words of inspiration – a favorite quote, a favorite line of words from the bible, a short poem, a small thought.

Not many words at all.

Then, extend a bit of hospitality to the others here. Take some time to visit with one another and share a bit of grace. Please grab the Sunday button from the link at the top of the page to post at your place, so others know where to find us.




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