Did You Know?

My Friend, Liz Nance!

 How do you write about one of the most talented and creative writers/artists you know and expect it to match up to who they truly are?  

I don't have her way with words or her stroke with a paintbrush. But Liz Nance, is one of my favorite people. We've known each other for years, see each other all the time yet barely ever hang out. I was drawn to her from the moment I met her and didn't know why. Didn't know we'd become a family of sorts. On occasion, I am blessed by a random run-in that allows us to sit down and actually talk-about life, faith, challenges, loving people (when it's easy and when it is hard) and decision making. These moments are few and far between (for no good reason other than we both get distracted with life) but when they arise I'm always blown away by how deep her heart is, how strong her passion is and how joyful her spirit is. 

Liz is peaceful. She isn't loud or pushy (which is quite the opposite of me) and she shares her spirit with those around her. Every time I walk away from a conversation with Liz I feel refreshed and grateful that I know such a unique woman. But maybe more importantly (or maybe just because I'm selfish) I walk away with even more confidence in my self. There's something brave about Liz that makes you want to be brave. She matches the original description of Eve, "Ezer Kenegdo", a life saver coming through for those in need when there is no other hope. She was meant to be life saving and life giving. She inspires those around her to see the world and themselves more deeply and that's why she is one of my favorite people. 

Here's to you Liz and all the love and insight you (and AJ) have to offer the world!! Thanks for being my friend! 

Reconciliation

"Like water spilled on the ground, which cannot be recovered, so we must die. But that is not what God desires; rather, he devises ways so that a banished person does not remain banished from him."
-2 Samuel 14:14 NIV

God has been pursuing mankind with demonstrations of grace and love since the beginning of time. Jesus was the ultimate demonstration and final sacrifice.

Can't Help Falling In Love...

The world loves to make us think that love is beyond control. The world tells us that we can't help who we fall in love with, just like in the song, "Can't Help Falling In Love".  But maybe we just like thinking that it is out of our control because then we don't have to take responsibility for our behavior, words and actions. Plus, if love is outside of our control then we have an excuse for when we "fall out of love" and abandon it all.

Maybe we like thinking of love as some magical gift from the Universe, God or the Fates that must be pursued. And in a way, I think this is true but only when referring to the Divine's version of love and not the world's.   

God is love and we are made in His image. We are called to do what He does and that is love without holding back, love when it isn't necessary, love when it isn't deserved. Just Love. So in a way, I don't think we have control over that but I do think Satan has twisted this natural thing created by God. He has skewed the definition by injecting it with lust, impatience, loneliness, selfishness and insecurity. He has put our natural instinct to love on steroids and instructed us on ways to show this love and he has lied to us.

But really... Love is sacrifice. Look at Christ, how he lived and how he died (all by choice). Really what we do with love is a choice. Loving should not be considered under our control. Love really is not a choice when you recognize who's image you bear. We were made to love but what we choose to do with love is a choice. How we choose to respond to love is a choice. We are responsible for our choices, actions and words. Maybe we can't help who we love but we can take responsibility for how we love and who's model we will follow; God's or the world's.

The Voices In Your Head

What do you tell yourself when you are lying in bed alone? Being left alone too long with your own thinking can be dangerous. If someone else walked up and said these things, how would you react? Would you be offended, get angry, just accept them or agree?  I tend to think we would get angry and offended so why do we allow ourselves to hurl these insults?

In The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe Edmund is put under a spell by The White Witch when he eats the Turkish Delight she gave him.  From that very moment, thoughts that are not his own begin to take root in his mind.  The thoughts are so deceptive and the roots so deep that Edmund is not even able to realize they are not his own.

Be sure you are guarding your heart, your mind and your thoughts. Meditate on the truth so that you will be able to recognize anything that is not. Don't allow your thoughts to become aligned with the enemy. Don't take even one bite of the Turkish Delight (actually don't even step foot in the sleigh). Start speaking truth and stating things that align with you REALLY are!

Challenge: Pick ten things that are great about you and start speaking them over your life daily.  If you are having trouble coming up with ideas, ask a friend or ask me! I think you are great!

Once Upon A Time...

The world keeps trying to sell me fairy tales. It used to just be the idea of a fairy tale but every now and then it actually tries to hand me one of my own. I'm not sure how I feel about that....

You see, the problem with fairy tales is that the only thing they are actually good for is telling really great stories. They aren't real and they always end way too soon. They don't give you the whole story or the whole picture. Fairy tales don't tell you about the "ever after". And what if the "ever after" doesn't look at all like you imagined?

What if "ever after" is actually late nights arguing about all the time your husband spends at work and not with you and your children? What if "ever after" is accompanied by a husband that falls into alcohol or drug addictions? What if "ever after" is an occasional night with your kids at the local Holiday Inn because you don't want to be around "Prince Charming" and his verbal abuse? What if "ever after" is boredom accompanied by a desire to gain affections from strangers and comfort from pornography?

They say love is blind but I just think it's selective. All the warning signs are usually there but we choose not to heed their warnings because we would rather enjoy the fairy tale. It isn't that we didn't see them. It's that we chose to sweep them under the carpet. We like to think things will change. We like to think we can fix things. We like to see the good in people and imagine the best. We like to pretend we can't see the truth. We like pretending we are blind because then we don't have to take responsibility.

But five, ten, thirty years from now when we are no longer in the "once upon a time" stage and instead in the midst of "ever after" will we wish we had taken some time to consider what our "ever after" would look like?

 

5-12-10

Tonight I came across something I wrote in my writer's notebook during senior year of college... 

Why do we all think we need to fit a mold? Why do we buy into the lie that if we aren't a size 3, 120 lbs, tan, gorgeous with the most fashionable clothes, the correct accessories and a man that looks like he was pulled from the most recent Abercrombie photo shoot that there is something wrong with us?  And even when we decide those things are not what we want, we are still not satisfied because we feel judged by the world.
 
And if the pressure to meet the appearance expectations isn't strong enough there is also the expectation of meeting the life stages mold.  Meaning by a certain age we should be finishing college,settling down, getting a job, building a career, getting engaged, planning a wedding, getting married and having children.

So what if I am graduating college after five years and still don't really know what I want to do?  So what if I have walked away from romantic men that melted my heart because something just didn't feel right? Is there something wrong with me for getting irritated when guys constantly read into me being nice and at the same time get irritated with the guys I do like for not being able to tell the difference?

Why do all my friends think that just because I am the token single friend that they should be setting me up with people? What's the hurry?

What if we all made the choice to step out on our own, to face our fears of being alone, to explore the person we see everyday in the mirror, to set goals and accomplish them, to honor others, to make a list (and continually add to it) of the things we love about ourselves, to have the courage to dance, to exercise and eat healthy simply because it makes us feel good, to eat the chocolate cake no matter who is looking, to forgive, to learn to play drums, speak Italian or surf, to take trips with our girlfriends and to be open to love (in whatever form it comes)? What if we stopped saying someday and started saying today?

There's a reason people don't take helicopter rides to the top of Mt. Everest, the excitement isn't at the top, it's during the trials and experiences on the way up.  Today is the day to start enjoying the journey.  Today is the day we will tell our grand kids about.

Is It Worth Losing Your Life?

Last Fall, one of the classes I assisted with was a Driver's Education course. My students had to watch a documentary called, "The Last Text" (It's only 10 minutes, please watch it). It really got me thinking not only about the ways in which I have put myself in danger but the ways in which I have endangered others by texting or calling them when I know they are driving.  But then I shrugged off the feeling because it was just too difficult to break the habit. Plus I figured I was being safe.... Then tonight I came home and found this note from my grand father at the bottom of an article about distracted drivers. I decided that even if I think I am being safe the risk just isn't worth it anymore.

"I'm having you read this because we love you very much + I don't want to go to a funeral."

I never want my attempt to communicate with you to be the reason I never get to speak to you again.  If you are reading this, please know I value your life! There is a huge purpose for it and I don't want anything to get in the way of that. I am sorry for thinking I am smarter than this. Tomorrow everything changes.



Please watch this video and join me in asking the following question with every decision you make in the car, "Is this worth losing my life?" I even challenge you to ask me how I am doing with this because my life and your life is more valuable than checking my email at a red light, letting you know, "I will be right there" or tweeting the most exciting thing I have seen in the last two minutes.

Dear Catherine, It's Me, God...

*So... did you think the last post was crazy? If you didn't read it, you must go read that first. Otherwise, this is pointless....  Ok, did you read it?  Ok, now get ready for some more crazy. Sometimes when I am writing... things come out on the paper that I did not plan to write.  Sometimes when I am on the treadmill at the gym or driving in the car, God tells me things. I have never heard him audibly but I still know he talks to me. After all, I am his daughter.  THIS is a compilation of things he has said to me in response to the compilation of my prayers in the earlier post. I told you it was crazy, but bear with me. I think you might be able to get something out of it.*


Hi Beautiful,

Remain patient. I know you are tired of hearing me say this. I know it frustrates you when you can't interpret my time table. So don't worry about it. Allow me to take care of everything. There are many factors coming into play that you are unaware of. Some of these things will be revealed in time but others will remain hidden.
I know it is hard but try not to trust your own instincts or emotions. They have become flawed by the world. Instead, seek my voice and listen to Wisdom. For you know your emotions have failed you every other time, my voice will never lead you astray.

I know you are wondering where he is or if he is currently in your life. I hear you asking, "What is my role in all of this? God, what do you want me to do? Does he even notice me the way I notice him?"

The answer has been here all along. You are my daughter and I am the King. You, my dear, do not have to do a thing. Allow me, as your father, to do everything. Any man worthy of my princess must seek me out first. I will share with him the plan for your lives. He will be overtaken by your heart and wonder because it reminds him of me. As he seeks me, I will reveal to him how to seek you.

On the days when you wonder how he will know to seek me, trust in knowing that the man I have chosen for you is full of wisdom and knows my voice.

Finally, my dear, be yourself, be yourself, be yourself! Be beautiful, be quirky, be vibrant. That is, after all, who I created you to be.

You are fun and love life. You are encouraging and loving. The man I have chosen is head over heels for you because of all of that.

When you are overwhelmed wondering what is taking him so long remember you have caught him off guard. In his eyes, you are a shooting star that just fell out of heaven and into his lap.

And Baby Girl (who knew God would call me that? I didn't), I know you want me to get started already and I have. You must remember to have respect for the long term goal. In order to finish the race, you must take every step of every mile along the way. And yes, as you know from your running experience, it requires your full participation along the way.

Princess, I am so proud of you. Keep moving forward and pursuing your calling. Keep chasing me. There is a reason you have been called to this time alone. This task requires all of you.

Love

Dear God, It's Me, Catherine

*I realize I might regret this but I believe in being honest and I really hope it can help others to be as well. This is a combination of prayers I have written and spoken. Some are from a little while back and some are more recent.*



Dear God!!!!!

      Would you please tell me what is going on?   Is anything going on?  I guess it could be nothing. You said, "Be Patient."

       You said, "I'm going to teach some men how to pursue and you are going to learn patience along the way."

        Well, I've been learning a lot about patience over the years and I'm just curious, when do the pursuit lessons begin? How long could you possibly intend for this lesson to last? I guess I don't have enough patience yet.

        You keep telling me to allow you to take care of everything but the world says I should be proactive. The world keeps telling me to take matters into my own hands. You keep telling me just to trust you. You keep trying to remind me that I can't see what you see.

         God, how will I ever learn to trust my heart? It has failed me so many times in the past. Will you give me your instincts and your eyes? Help me remember, I don't need to be his best friend. He does not need to know everything.

          God, I say I want to know what is going on but honestly, I don't. I know I whine a lot but I like it this way. It's difficult at times but I wouldn't trade this experience for anything. I look at it like Christmas. I know the present is coming and I know it's going to be AMAZING and I can't wait to know what it is but I really do want to wait.  I'm sorry for whining, I really do trust you to do your thing.

          In the mean time, thanks for giving me the opportunity to live in the unknown. Help me not to miss a moment of it.

                                                                                              Love, Catherine

*Be on the lookout for part two.  "Dear Catherine, It's Me, God"*


*Disclaimer: I just want to make sure I am being clear.  This is in no way a complaint that there are not amazing guys all around me. I am not whining. I am not asking for anything different. I do not want nor need a change of scenery. That would only add more guys to the list of incredible friends. I am simply being honest about something we all (guys and girls) whine about at times.*

One Day...

One day, I will road trip across the country. I will visit Yellowstone, Boston, the Carlsbad Caverns, Chicago, Seattle and the Badlands.

One day, I will learn to sail and will spend a good bit of time just floating in the middle of the ocean.

One day, I will explore New Zealand and Australia. I will learn to surf and go black water rafting in caves.

One day, I might spend some time living in a city, like Philly or New York and I will definitely spend a summer (or more) living at the beach.

One day, I will spend at least a few months living in Italy and wandering through Europe.

One day, I will go to little villages in unknown countries and learn from their people.  One day, I will get to pour into the lives of these beautiful people.  One day, I will get to make a difference.

And one day, I will be the girl who is chosen to love. One day, I will be a wife and one day, I will be a mom.

One day sounds like a great time but I don't envy it any since before I know it one day will be yesterday. Until one day, I'll enjoy the confusion, laughter, free time, questions and challenges that come with this day.

I am....

I am a passionate woman.
I wonder if there is more.
I hear the cries of the broken hearted.
I see the desperation behind their eyes.
I want to make a difference.
I am a passionate woman.
I pretend that I have it all together and 
I feel at times I do.
I touch the stars and hope to change their paths.
I worry my efforts will be in vain.
I cry because I feel small.
I am a passionate woman.
I understand the world is broken.
I say,"There is more, so much more!"
I dream of doing something that matters.
I try to be so many things I am not.
I hope for the things unseen.
I am a passionate woman.



*When I was in college, we were asked to write an "I am" poem by following a template. I never seriously got around to writing the poem. Yesterday, I discovered my sophomores did this activity and I was really inspired by their beautiful work. It made me come home and work on it.*

"All Men Are Dogs"

I can't tell you how many times I have heard this phrase or even how long I believed it.  I can, for some strange reason, remember walking down the street in late elementary school and my dad saying it.  He wasn't the first to say it and he wasn't the last. 

For years, I just accepted this statement as the truth.  It wasn't long before I began reading between the lines to the hidden messages this joke insinuates, "All men are dogs = All men think and care about is sex, boobs, porn and maybe food.  This is common knowledge about men, they are simple and this is all that matters to them.  Don't ever think of expecting anything more than this from them."

Unfortunately, the message I, and so many other young girls and women, began to believe was, "Don't expect anything from men." and "If you have boobs and a nice butt you are worth something to them. So use it.  Use it to gain attention, use it to gain control, use it to receive love and affirmation. Use it." 

What happens when a girl grows up believing "All men are dogs"?  It is really quite simple, she expects little or nothing from men.  She doesn't expect to be respected or honored because she has never been shown what it looks like or been shown that she deserves it.  She doesn't know to create high standards of expectation because she doesn't know there is something better to wait for.  She doesn't know the value of remaining pure when every guy she meets tells her and shows her there is no value in it.  When you grow up believing "All men are dogs" you do not know that it is okay to desire something more, to expect more. 

When you believe that "All men are dogs" you may believe that you deserve something better and you very likely will want something better, however you will never believe that you can have something better because you believe that all men are the same and that "something better" does not exist. 

I wish thirteen (to nineteen) year old me knew what I know now.  I wish thirteen year old me knew "Not all men are dogs" and that one day she would meet some incredible guys.  Not just incredible guys to date (there have been two or three of them and I love them dearly!) but incredible guys to play the role of father and grandfather, incredible guys to play the role of a big brother or little brother, incredible guys to be uncles and incredible guys to model the role of a husband.  I wish thirteen year old me knew not to waste my time, energy or heart on the dogs.  I wish thirteen year old me knew to relish in the expectancy of what was to come. 

A Side Note

The fact of the matter is, some men really are dogs and just don't care.  Others are dogs just because they think that is what makes them a man.  They are believing the lie, "all men are dogs" in a way similar to the way women are believing it.  I am not an expert on this part because I am not a guy.  If any of you who are men want to share something from that perspective, I would love to hear it. 

I also realize that some men might be asking the question, "Am I a dog?" or denying the fact that they are dogs by comparing themselves to a bigger dog.  I'm not going to get into this right now but just realize, you are probably only fooling yourself.

 

A Challenge

If you are a guy, I have some questions for you. If you are a girl, your challenge is in the next paragraph.  Men, what are you doing to prove to the women around you (daughters, wives, mothers, sisters, cousins, coworkers and supermarket clerks) that "Not all men are dogs"?  What are you doing to protect their hearts? Remember, no one ever follows the old saying "Do as I say, not as I do" and it is proven that "Actions really do speak louder than words." If you tell your daughter or sister not to settle for a dog but you yourself are behaving like a dog, you can guarantee she will settle.  Show her what to expect through your values and actions.  Something that really scares me about some men is that you just might be ok with your daughter picking a dog because if she found someone to cherish and respect her, you would feel convicted and challenged.

Ladies, are you honoring the men (who are not dogs) in your life?  Are you taking the time to appreciate them?  Do you realize how hard they work to honor and respect you, to fight off the messages that the world sends them?  They aren't immune to the temptations of the world and they aren't wimps but they choose something better out of love and respect for you and me. As they struggle with the temptations that the world throws at them, are you working against them or looking for ways that you can make it a little easier?  Telling dirty jokes, dressing in skimpy clothes and picking out inappropriate movies are all ways we make life more difficult for them.  Don't let their efforts and beautiful hearts go unnoticed.


Finally, don't allow the girls and women in your life to continue believing "All men are dogs".  We so often get annoyed with guys that we say things we don't mean while talking to our girlfriends. Beware of the messages that your words are sending out not only to your friends but to listening ears. 
 

True Story

A while back I was riding in the car with my Aunt and her three youngest children.  At the time they were three, seven and nine.  The two oldest are girls.  I happened to be complaining to my aunt about this guy I was talking to and how confusing he was being.  In a joking but frustrated way I concluded my rant with an exasperated, "I don't know. Boys are just stupid."  Right then and there, my seven year old cousin replied, "That isn't nice, Catherine.  You shouldn't call people stupid." 

Talk about a slap in the face. Just as much as I would never want my little cousins to grow up believing the generalization that "All guys are dogs," I wouldn't want them thinking that "Boys are just stupid." I want them to grow up honoring men, their brothers and their father.  I want them to see the talent behind these men and how hard they work. I also want them to honor and respect their classmates.  I don't want them to grow up thinking they are better or smarter than anyone else.  I am so thankful that she responded to my statement in the way she did.  If she had not, I might not have realized the messages I was sending out.

Thank You

Finally, I just want to say thank you to all the guys who have been part of recreating my image of men.  You are AWESOME and you are greatly appreciated! If it wasn't for you, I would still be believing a lie.  I love you all! 



Ten Years Later...

I am a very sentimental person.  I love looking through old pictures and journals or reading notes that I passed with my friends in high school.  I love reminiscing and I just want to cherish every experience and laugh with the people who are part of those memories.  But people are important to me and no matter what, I am still a “remember when” type of girl.  At times, I have even been mistaken for living in the past when really I just appreciate my life experiences so much that I do not want to forget them and I appreciate each one (even the tough ones).

So naturally, I often randomly think about what my life was like five or ten years ago.  It just so happens that now, this weekend, the thought holds a stronger significance.  Where was I on September 11^th, 2001 and who was I?   I can’t say that I was personally impacted or knew someone who was impacted but I can look at what I learned about myself and people through the experience. 

I’d been in high school for just over a month and had so much to learn.  I was insecure and completely oblivious. I had only been living in the south for a little over a year and was still getting used to the different culture and belief systems (but that, my friends, is a whole different topic).  Although I was only 14, I had already bought into the lie that my value and significance came from guys.  If guys (even ones I didn’t like and found to be annoying) paid me attention, if they were trying to talk to me or get me to date them, then it gave me power and a sense of being worth something.   I was worth time and energy, I was desired and I was wanted (even if it was just to show off).  Man, was I a dope!

So on September 11^th, I went to school like every other day.  My first class was Russian from 8-9:30.  We were in the 800 building (a building that as far as I know no longer even exists) at A.C. Flora High School in a classroom the size of a closet.  Louis, Molly, Jamie and Brandi are among the people I remember being there with me and we were cut off from the world, completely oblivious of anything that was going on around us.  At 9:30, we switched classes and there was a buzz in the air.  Something was off but we still had no clue.  Math with Coach Jackson began at 9:36 and I walked into the room completely unaware of why the television was on and the Coach was just sitting at his desk staring into space.  People weren’t quiet but they weren’t loud, they were just sort of fuzzy.  Some, most likely the ones who actually understand, were extremely shaken up while others, more like me, just couldn’t seem to grasp what the big deal was.  

I was fourteen years, selfish and unaware, living in my own little world.  I sat at my desk with two of my closest friends, Rey and Joseph, as people whispered about the images on the TV screen mounted above the door.  I was being told that an airplane crashed into a tower in NYC and another crashed into an important government building in Washington D.C.  I feel like an idiot now but I just didn’t get it.  I couldn’t comprehend someone doing this on purpose.  The terms “hijacked” and “terrorist” meant nothing to me. I didn’t understand someone had done this deliberately, I also didn’t understand that there were people on the planes or that there were thousands of people in those buildings.  My brain wasn’t processing that.  I only saw it as an accidental fire and I couldn’t understand why this was news to stop school, didn’t planes crash all the time?  But then, another plane came crashing in and I understood it wasn’t an accident.

Coach Jackson kept picking up the phone and trying to make a phone call but it wasn’t going through.  Our big, funny, tough guy teacher was terrified and we didn’t know why.  We later discovered that his sister worked next door to the Pentagon and he couldn’t get her to pick up her phone.

I don’t remember anything else from the school day.  My memories from math class are vivid but the rest of the day is a blank.  I imagine we must have continued to watch the news and discuss it in my other classes, especially since they were ROTC and History. 

Now that I think about it, I probably don’t have any memories from History class because the boy I liked was in that class and I can tell you for sure that he was just as stupid as me.  Not one of us had a clue about the significance of that day.  Or maybe he did but he just really didn’t care.  It is hard to say but I do remember sitting on my front porch that night talking to him on the phone.  He told me that his little sister (who was a year or two younger than me) was glued to the television and she was “making this huge deal about everything”.   As he mocked her, I remember feeling as if I knew better, that his words were cruel and that I would be much better off watching the news than talking to him.  But I continued right along with my conversation and even pulled the “so when are you going to ask me to be your girlfriend already?” card.  That’s right ladies and gentlemen; I was so self-absorbed that in the midst of destruction, heartache and devastation I felt it necessary to get this boy that I had been flirting with to be my boyfriend.  I am ashamed to say that my biggest care of the day was whether we would officially start dating.  It was all about me. 

Now ten years later, I don’t know that girl anymore.   That relationship only lasted about a month but it was one of the ugliest experiences I have ever had with a guy.  I wish I could tell you I got a clue right after that breakup but I didn’t.  The experience only added fuel to the flame of the lies I believed about my worth.  It has been ten years since September 11^th, the first five years I spent believing lies about how little I was worth and learning to dream small so as not to be disappointed. The five years after that were spent uncovering the truth about who I am, learning to identify lies and counterfeit thoughts and discovering what I was created for and where my purpose and value comes from.

At times I can still be pretty selfish but I have learned to look out instead of in.  Now, my greatest pleasure does come from serving those around me.  I have found that through reaching out, I form the greatest bonds and memories.

I realize this is not the typical September 11^th but I wasn’t directly impacted and I will not pretend I was. That would be wrong.  However, I am an American and this is my redemption story.

Be Naive!

"What would you attempt to do if you knew you could not fail?"

-Unknown

Part II

Remember when you were a kid and you used to dream about being an astronaut, princess, football player, acrobat or ________? Remember when you didn't understand logic and you would simply ask, "WHY?" because you didn't like something about the world? Remember when you had simple solutions to the world's biggest problems because you just didn't think things needed to be that complicated.

As I was saying in my previous post, "Do You Enjoy It?" the above quote always makes my insides scream for something more.  It makes me want to dream for more, to expect more and to live more. I also can't help but wonder if we have come to a point where we no longer allow ourselves to dream, question and ask, "what if" because we are afraid of being hurt when things don't work out, we are afraid of taking risks, afraid of the unknown, afraid of the free fall, afraid of tripping and getting scraped up, afraid of failing.

Do you remember when you would get frustrated with the adults who told you that you were just being "naive" or that "one day you would understand"?  Do you remember when you used to look at adults and wonder why they seemed so hopeless, why they never dreamt? Do you remember promising yourself that you would never become like them, that you would never stop dreaming, stop trying to change the world?  What happened?
So now I will ask you again, "What would you attempt to do if you knew  you could not fail?"  Would you really just fly around?  What if the question was that you could do ONE thing without failing, what would it be?  Would you try to meet someone or tackle a large issue? How would you use your one thing to change the world?   How would the world be different?  What if we began thinking like children again? What if we took back our naivety and took on the world?  And what if these weren't just "what ifs"? What if we all had the ability to do one thing without failing? And what if we actually acted on it?

Do You Enjoy It?

"What would you attempt to do if you knew you could not fail?"

-Unknown

Part I

I recently posted this question as a status update on Facebook.  The responses I got were pretty tame. Some people said things like, "Fly" or "Anything, just because I could" while others simply "liked" it.  I remember feeling a little disappointed that not one of my friends even dared for a minute to think outside the box.  I knew it was simply just another sentence on their news feed but I was disappointed because it made me feel like I was the only one who's insides were screaming for something more.   

I can't help but wonder if we have come to a point where we no longer allow ourselves to dream, question and ask, "what if" because we are afraid of being hurt when things don't work out, we are afraid of taking risks, afraid of the unknown, afraid of the free fall, afraid of tripping and getting scraped up. 

Or is it that we've become too busy? Are we so wrapped up in our everyday lives, in all the things that are so important to us that we don't even have time to appreciate them?  I have this friend who is extremely talented, passionate and hard working but lately it seems that his life has been overtaken by all these things he "has to do," things that he loves and things that he has chosen for his life but at the same time something just seems off.  I recently asked him, "Do you enjoy it?" and at first his response made me feel a little better, "Deep down I am. It's just hard to realize because of everything else." But some time later I began to feel like something was off with that answer.  You see, here is this guy who is "living the dream," setting himself up for a successful future and doing things he always dreamed of but he can't fully enjoy because he is stretched out in so many different directions.  What good are blessings if we have turned them into burdens? What good are these blessings if we can not fully engage in them because of all the other responsibilities in our lives that we are afraid to let go of?

Individual blessings usually come along only for a period of time (some longer and shorter than others).  For example, college, jobs (and unemployment), trips, relationships (even the different stages of relationships), babies, children, vacations, living in a certain area, engagements, weddings, etc.  And I can't help but feel like most of the time we allow ourselves to be robbed of the pleasure God intends for us to find in that blessing because we don't make it a priority.  We often recognize the blessing but then put it on the same playing field as every other aspect of our lives.  We practically make it mundane.  We even say things like, "Oh, this is going by so fast." or "I wish I had more time or energy to focus on _____." But we do nothing about it.  We don't sit down and make a plan.  We don't look at the different stories our lives are writing and decide which ones need to be cut out (Thanks, Caleb for this line).  We just keep on going.  We tell ourselves to enjoy the moment, to live in it and not rush but our actions say otherwise. 

So now, I have to ask you a question, "Are you enjoying it? Are you glad you are doing it?" If your answer isn't "YES!", if your answer is more like, "Yes, but I hardly realize it" then PLEASE stop and do something about it.  Make some changes.  Do something different, step back from something if you need to.  Take control of your schedule and manage your time better.  Do something different so you can enjoy the blessings you have been given right now.  Because before you know it, they will be gone. 

 Just A Little Something Extra....

Are you a newlywed couple that just can't wait to have kids? Why? Do you realize you have your whole lives ahead of you? Have you taken the time to enjoy your spouse and this season of your lives together? If you can't figure out how to enjoy them how will you ever learn to truly enjoy your children? You only get this season of your life once, don't rush through it. Don't forget to enjoy it.

Are you engaged? Why are you rushing everything? Why do you feel the need to get married yesterday? I understand you are excited, believe me I do and I am sure I would be right there with you but seriously, you only get this ONCE! Relish in the moment. Be excited! Live out each moment and experience it fully. This is your time.

Oh, college student! My goodness, enjoy it! Go to class and LEARN! Take advantage of all the opportunities in front of you. Meet people! Leave your shell and comfort zone behind and build relationships. Quit counting down the days and years till graduation. You only get this once, appreciate the people around you and go crazy!

And to "all the single ladies (and gentlemen)," can we please just relax? We have the rest of our lives ahead of us. I know the child in you is feeling "SO OLD!" but seriously we are in this season for a reason and there is still so much fun to be had! Let's embrace it! Let's learn to enjoy every aspect of it (including the Friday nights at home and wedding invites with no "plus one") so that when the next blessing comes along we will be ready for it, we will know how to embrace and appreciate that season.


(A few weeks later:  Just read this article from Relevant and thought it really applies to this topic.   http://www.relevantmagazine.com/life/whole-life/features/26793-the-pride-of-busyness)