Lost and Found in Being a Mom

Cece. That’s my mother-in-law. You don’t have to wonder if you have ever met Cece. If you have met her you will never forget her! To try to describe Cece in a few words is a mountain I won’t try to climb, but trust me, she is a jewel. 

Recently she passed down to me a beautiful diamond tennis bracelet. She has always been dripping with diamonds. We call Cece a diva at 91 and she shines and sparkles from her diamonds all the way down deep from within her soul. While I was pleasantly surprised to be the recipient of the bracelet I’m not really a diamond kind of girl. Yes, I would enjoy it, but not because of its worth, more because it was Cece’s and I love her.

The bracelet was a tad large and the clasp didn’t seem as strong as it should but I wore it anyway with the thought in mind to run by the jewelry store at some point and have it checked.

Just a few short weeks later I was running around and I looked down to notice that the bracelet was gone. I did what we all do when we lose something of value. I retraced my steps but the bracelet was no where to be found. I was ashamed. I felt so guilty for not having it checked. I felt sure it had fallen off somewhere along the way. Disappointed and full of shame I told my husband and a friend but no one else in my embarrassment. As the weeks went on I would notice my arm and feel a bit empty as this something of beauty was missing. I hoped I would find it one day and more than that I trusted I would find a reason for the loss.

6 weeks passed. Still no bracelet. I had less and less thought of it but the loss still lingered in my heart. My husband and I were cleaning out the basement. 3 grown kids moving away from home, returning and leaving again had turned our basement into a jungle of everything you can imagine from an Evil Knievel motor cycle helmet all the way down to some pocket change left in a pair of pants. Clearing a large table in our laundry area I picked up a stack of old newspapers and there it was. The bracelet! It the midst of the rubble of the everyday it was shining and screaming at me, “Here I am!”  I squealed so loudly my husband probably thought I had uncovered a spider. I’m not sure you can hug a bracelet but I stood there covered in dust and filth and rejoiced over my beautiful treasure.

I’ve thought about this string of events a lot since it happened. It’s so crazy to me that the bracelet was within 18” of where my arms did laundry every day and I didn’t know it. It was right there all along. How did I miss it? As some would say, “If it was a snake it would have bit me!” 

As mother’s day approached this year it coincided with the last of my 4 children graduating from high school. It’s interesting that they placed Mother’s Day within a couple of weeks of graduations. I wonder if that was on purpose. Compounding these 2 events brought strong emotions of “both and”. I felt both happy and sad that this motherhood thing was passing. I loved being a mom. I wrapped myself in it. I could say I lost myself in motherhood. And I’m glad I did. Many would be a critic of that and say, “You should have kept your identity apart from motherhood.” While this is true, I’m waking up both satisfied and lost. I’m satisfied with these child rearing years but also lost as to who I am after 27 years of being a mom. If I had the chance, what would I say to the band of mom’s coming after me? 

So let’s talk about that bracelet story again. My life, my gifts, my talents, my personal identity were set aside and lost for a bit as I gave myself to being a mom. Those things were never far away, right there all along. The shining beauty of my identity and the way God made me, just me without children, was there all along underneath the everyday.  It was not far off. The me apart from earaches and antibiotics, sack lunches and gatorades, skinned knees and homework was just waiting. Lost but not forgotten.  Waiting to be rediscovered, enjoyed and appreciated. And you know one more amazing thing about this analogy and the most wonderful thing of all? I appreciated that tennis bracelet more than ever when it was found. It was more beautiful than I had remembered. It had so much more value having been lost and then found. There you stand smelling like laundry and covered in love, holding your gifts just waiting to be used! You have probably forgotten just how beautiful you are. 

So here’s to finding life again, this side of motherhood. You are special. You are beautiful. You hold great value. Give yourself the gift of “you rediscovery”. If you search with all your heart you will find that you are still there and that you are pretty amazing! Cheers to us, the moms! But more importantly the daughters of the most High King who made us and thinks we are pretty special! 

And by the way, I hope you get to meet Cece one day because she is sure to be your favorite too.

Early Morning Lessons from a Labradoodle

photo by banksnash.com

I have a side-kick. His name is Nate. He is a one-hundred pound yellow Labradoodle that’s been around for a while now, nine years in fact. Most days morning calls as he comes to my bedside, his collar in his mouth, which is his way of screaming at me, “Let’s go on a walk!” Other than any crumb of food he can find, this is the most exciting and thrilling part of Nate’s life. The daily walk. As we leave the house he leaps, he bounds and runs in circles around me as if to say, “Oh thank you, thank you! You are the best master ever!” He runs around each mailbox, sniffs at every tree and greets every neighbor. If you have a dog then you’ll agree that “the walk” in doggie world is pure heaven.

One cool spring morning we were headed out. After the first mile of our 2 mile walk Nate’s pace slowed significantly. He went from a fast paced trot to a meandering stroll and nothing I could do would speed him up. Very frustrated I began to wonder if something was the matter. Was he hurt? I didn’t think so because it seemed as if was if he was protecting me. He walked very close and kept looking right and left like a bodyguard. Was something out there that he sensed might threaten us? I pushed to get our normal pace back but couldn’t seem to motivate him. After a couple of blocks of this senseless meander I stopped. I sat him down to talk, reassure him and attempt to figure out his plight. Then I realized Nate’s dilemma. Tucked back in his mouth I found a small bone he had discovered somewhere along the way in a ditch to be taken home and enjoyed. He carried it the entire second mile of our walk. He continued very slowly and fearfully looking over his shoulder protecting his nasty treasure instead of being his usual "just happy to be on a walk" self. What normally was the most satisfying part of Nate’s day was hijacked by something he wanted more. He made a sacrifice. He missed so much of the walk in his obsession. He missed the sights, sounds, smells and freedom of the outing.

How often do I miss the joy of the journey when I, like Nate, am bound by the illusion of a perceived treasure? We are misguided when we believe that the getting life brings the more joy and happiness than the giving life.

Here we see life as God intended it to be:

“If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it.” Matthew 16:25 (NLT)

Until, we believe and live as if we have everything we need from our Provider we will never be able to walk the path unguarded. Like Nate, we will live in constant fear, shoring up whatever we think we need for the happy life. Step out to give of yourself in freedom and taste the simple but most fulfilling of joys of just being on the walk.

We leap, we bound, following after our Master in freedom. This is a taste of heaven. We experience heaven on earth when we realize that He is a good, good Father and He longs to be gracious to us.

Prayer:  “God, may I  freely walk today not bound by my own illusion of earthly treasures. Give me eyes to see, pursue and treasure what you treasure.”

How to Check Your Life Purpose Gauge

If you feel that any of the following statements could be true of how you feel, your life may be lacking purpose.

1. My life lacks meaningful purpose.

2. I’m bored. Every day seems the same.

3. I often find myself feeling unfulfilled. I’m busy but feel empty.

4. I don’t know what my passion is or how to find it.

5. I need a change.

6. I’m not living life out of my gifting.

7. I’ve lost my way.

8. Where I am doesn’t feel right.

9. I’m in major life transition and its scary.

10. I don’t think I’m making a difference.

 

“I want more!”

Did any of the statements resonate with you? Life, for me, presents the struggle of finding and staying on the path towards my God-given purpose.  Watching and observing others who seem to be struggling, like me, to find a fulfilling life is disturbing. There are thousands of books, websites, podcasts, bloggers and videos out there that are screaming at you. “Find your purpose!”  

I had a friend say to me just the other day, “Someone asked me what my passion was and I freaked out! I had no idea!”

Why does this question put us under so much pressure?

To embark on the journey of life change seems overwhelming, tiring and frightening. Sometimes it is easier to just stay stuck in the known than to step out in the unknown of following a new path. Yeah, I get it.  

Countless people at all stages of life just don’t know how to connect with their God-given purpose in daily, organic ways.  Many of us have never tapped into the veins of giftedness that our Creator planted deep within our DNA since day one. And then, when we are able to see our design clearly, there is so much fear, inadequacy, pride and shame that begins to wrap around us. The wrapping shuts us down. The struggle is real - creating a huge YES to the statements in the assessment above.

“I agree with you but what in the world do I do now?”

Begin by introducing and implementing these integral parts into your life:

Fight! Fight to believe the truth of what God says about you, more than you believe your opinions of yourself. (Psalm 139 for starters.)

Forget! Don’t believe the opinions of the world and the culture around you that scream, “You are not enough!” Reprogram (rewrite and revise) your thoughts by saturations of truth.

Formulate! Live out each day with intention. “What can I do today to make a difference in the life of someone else?”  A good one for starters!

Find Friends! Surround yourself with people who get it. Find a community of people that see you as God sees you and push you to live out your greatest potential.

I propose that when we move towards these components as a part of our regular routine, sparks begin to fly.

“Well, that doesn’t seem very practical, I want more!”

Some would suggest to take a personality test or a spiritual gifts test. Others might say a strengths and weakness test would help you find out what you are good at.  Then others encourage meeting with a vocational counselor to help you discover something new.  While all of these ideas are very helpful, I saw a need for a tool that would be a tad more organic in nature. Engaging the Creator in finding out what life purpose is all about made a lot of sense to me. I long to hear a call. We all do, because that’s how God made us.

So, why not consult with my Maker to find out why He made me?  It’s as simple as that. I would choose God’s personal and unique assessment of me over an online test any day. There is no cookie cutter with God. He adores me and has laid out an individual map for my life. Many have never rolled out the map to look and see and get on the path towards purpose. Would you dare to believe that YOU are the only one on this earth who can carry out a very special assignment written by God? That sounds pretty amazing to me.  

We are all created for MORE.  Oftentimes we lose our way as life happens. Believing that the greatest fulfillment in life comes from finding our God-given purpose, pathFinder was written. This is an interactive book that takes you on a 4 Section discovery towards living a more purposeful life.  It is a tool for personal use, small group content as well as for mentoring.  pathFinder walks you through a life mapping project, defines your strengths, weaknesses and passions, as well as assists you in formulating a life mission statement. As a result of collecting clues along the way of the pathFinder journey you will begin to see your life in a really amazing and different kind of way. It wraps up with goal setting based on your life mission statement that will encourage you to live a more intentional life. During the process, you will engage with God as your Creator through His Word and intentional prayer, asking Him to be your guide as you embark. pathFinder is a great opportunity to begin the greatest treasure hunt of your life…

your  journey towards purpose.  

You’ve always been amazingly unique.  It’s time to finally embrace who you are, and why you are that way. Be willing to try new things.

Change direction.

Uproot.

Plant.

Bloom.

You will begin to live more fruitful and satisfying days of purpose and life will get very exciting!

“The meaning of life is to find your gift. The purpose of life is to give it away.” ―Pablo Picasso.

To find out more about pathFinder go here.

Tell Us Your Story

My daddy was an amazing story teller.  I remember friends and family sitting in our family den listening to him as he sat in his arm chair, legs crossed, throwing his head back in laughter as he recounted a memory or tale he had heard. Sometimes he would laugh so hard at himself that his eyes would water and he would have to wipe his nose.  I’m not sure who enjoyed the stories he told more, him or us?! This is a sweet memory for me.  Well, I guess you could say I’m a chip off the old block.  I just love to tell stories. Telling my own story?  Now that’s another story!

There is no way to put a price tag on the value of mapping out your life and seeing your own story.  Rediscovering your story can be illuminating both for your present chapter and the unwritten chapters to come.  The value lies in seeing purpose, redemption and weavings all throughout your days so that you believe with conviction that there is a reason for this crazy thing we call life!

But, yeah, I can hear you right now.  You are saying, “It’s hard to tell my story.”  Well here’s why...

The Four Myths of Telling Your Story

Myth #1 “I don’t have a very impressive story.”

Life has a way of complicating things.  We become wrapped in day to day needs and struggles.  The mundane takes over.  Each day seems like the day before.  As we get entrenched in the day to day it is so easy to forget the bigger picture.  Believe me, YOU DO HAVE A STORY...its your’s and nobody else’s.  Your story is unique and no one has a tale just like your’s.

Myth #2 "I’m not a good writer/storyteller."

Get over it!  I remember vividly in junior high learning to write an essay.  It started with something as simple as - beginning, middle and end.  After reading, Show Your Work by Austin Kleon I wrote a tiny story about my life for the very first time.  Austin made it simple and doable and gave the motivation I needed to just jot it down.  So I’m stealing from Austin Kleon here because as he instructed us in his first book, it’s okay to Steal Like an Artist! Yep, beginning, middle and end. That’s all it takes. (BTW, I recommend both of those books.)  The story itself is worth the telling, not because of how well it’s written. Besides, this may not ever be read by anyone else.

Myth #3 "I don't like my story."

Many stories contain pain, sin and suffering which make it difficult to approach.  The is where the gospel comes in!  "He has come that we might have LIFE!"  He has given new life through the riches of His love, the righteousness of His Son and the resources of a Heavenly Father who adores you.  Lay this gospel over your story for sweet healing. (Oh, and go see a counselor when necessary! I believe in therapist!)

Myth #4 "There’s no point in telling my story."

The value of your story will become crystal clear once you have taken the time to put it down on paper. What is the point?

• To see the bigger picture of your life. #perspective

• To see redemptive threads. #gratitude

• To see that God has taken care of you all along. #Hisfaithfulness

• To see that things worked out after all, even though sometimes differently than you had hoped. #hope

So, why are you telling your story again?  You tell your story to yourself (and maybe someone else someday) to be more intentional in the way that you live each day.  You realize that you are the main character in the story and you play a major role in how it is being played out.  You begin to live life with more purpose when you believe that this thing called life is a big story and you can decide how the next chapter is written.

Here is a video made up of some brave women who stepped out to tell us a part of their story.  May their stories inspire you and in turn may your story inspire others.

(The life mapping tool in pathFINDER sets the stage for writing your story.  Consider Mapping your life soon.  You will be glad you did.  Go here to see a few Life Maps.)

Why “50 somethings” Aren’t Hashtagging, DIYing, Pinning and Snapping

So why aren’t “50 somethings” hashtagging, DIYing, Pinning and Snapping? In our own ways we have "been there done that!”  

We wrote recipes on 3x5 index cards and shared them with our friends.  

We took rolls of film to be dropped off and be picked up a week later costing $10 for 24 pictures. Half of them were blurry or too dark to even see what the picture was. We had photo albums where we slid each picture into plastic pockets on pages.

We looked at magazines and cut out pictures with scissors and took them to the paint store to match the paint or to find fabric at Hancock.

For some face time with a friend we would sit in real life and chat.

We washed our faces with Dove soap and that’s all because that's what our grandmother did and that's what our mom did.

To share something fabulous with our friends we would call them on the family phone that was attached to a wall with a long curly cord that oftentimes got tangled. (Our’s was aqua!) The phone was hung on a hook and if you didn’t put it back on the hook no one could call. (Okay, that’s it!  Now I’m officially sounding old!)  

We called a list of 20 people to plan an event, left messages on answering machines and didn’t mind waiting until they called back.   

We wrote handwritten letters on yellow legal pads to friends. (Yellow was the only color.)  

When we traveled we would stop in certain cities where friends or family lived, find a phone booth, pop in a quarter to give them a phone call to save money on our long distance phone bill.  

We loved making collages. We would cut out words and pictures from magazines and glue them on poster board with Elmer’s drippy white glue which caused the clippings to warp when dry but we didn’t care.)

For party invitations we visited the Hallmark store, bought a tiny package of 20 invitations, filled in the blanks, licked, stamped and sent. (Think Precious Moments here.)

There was only one book store. We would browse to find a book to buy and read. We had no idea what all of our friends were reading but that didn’t matter.

The athletic department at Wal-Mart had two items for exercise. Gym shorts and t-shirts.  This is what we wore to exercise. By exercise I mean walk or jog. But we did get excited when step-aerobics was offered at the church.

We “50 somethings” have decorated, crafted, “recipeed”, trained children, traveled and exercised and shared it all with others in our own simple ways.

We have also addressed one too many Christmas card and we are tired. It was amazing how many of my friends decided not send out cards this year, but more interestingly, were “okay” with it. In a wonderful way we feel free of being defined by all of that but at the same time we are thinking, “What now?”

Here I am in a blink -  I just turned 51. I am the “older woman”. There was something cool and savvy about turning 50, but being 51 feels pretty blah and hum-drum. Welcome to the 50’s!  It didn’t feel very welcoming to me. It felt more like I was about to go down a long dark hallway not knowing where it would take me. As I sat and pondered all of this, God spoke and said to me,

“But what if you haven’t even seen your best days?”  

What? Many of us feel as if “those days”, the days when the house was full of kids, activities and even the dreaded laundry, were our best days. Why? Probably because we enjoyed it so much. Maybe it’s time to change our perspective.  

We have lived out many of our dreams and still feel a bit dissatisfied. It was so wonderful (well, most of it!) and we doubt there is a future up ahead that can beat those days. I do wonder where the mother bird flies when her nest is empty? The comfortable life of retirement seems attractive but sometimes purposeless. I’m convinced that we don’t want to live our lives around “the next time the kids come to visit.” And something tells me that they don’t want that either!

You’ve heard it said, “Live every day as if it were your last.” What does that do to you? It makes me feel under so much pressure.  Like, live every minute to the fullest. Is that even possible? These kinds of messages drag me down because I’m sure I can never ever measure up to this. That’s why I got excited when I began to believe that I hadn’t even seen my best days. That message shines such a positive and winsome light. I started looking for my next purpose in life. I started praying earnestly that God would send it to me. I began to look at all the ways God crafted my life, my strengths, my passions, my skills for a particular purpose and the future began to seem very exciting. I was telling my friends, “What if we haven’t even seen our best days?!”  In fact my family heard me chant it with so much joy and expectancy that my husband had my birthday cake decorated with “The best is yet to come!”

My friend Leslie and I were discussing living out our lives with the fullest, God-given capacity.  Capacity means “grown and stretched, not withdrawn and shriveled.” She reminded me of the purpose of wineskins. This is such a fabulous analogy for those of us who are entering this next stage. (Notice, I didn’t say season. If I say that I feel like I’m probably winter...cold, dark and dead!)

Leslie said, “The wineskins are filled regularly - they stretch to hold much more than they could when first made. Unused, they shrivel and shrink.”

That’s it!  Fill ourselves with God-given purpose on a continual basis. How am I living out my days at fullest capacity?  This is driven by purpose.  We were designed to live life making a difference no matter what age or stage.  So go out there and find your purpose. Then you won’t retire...you will refire!

I am that “50 something” woman - and I’m getting okay with it.

These types of posts can be inspiring but very frustrating at the same time. You might be thinking, “It sure is easy for her to say, ‘Go find your purpose!’ And leave it at that.”  

Here is a little takeaway. I believe that life has changed us with its bumps and trips along the way. This, coupled with amazing experiences, as well as the not so amazing, has made us new people. We are different. Life has changed us. We have more skills, more understanding, more grace and definitely more freedom. It’s time to go and discover who we are now at 50 something.  It’s time to re-discover who we were before we were wrapped in the amazing role of motherhood.  Take some time for yourself and go on a treasure hunt. You are a treasure right where you are.  

So wake up tomorrow believing the possibility that,

“Your best days are ahead!”

If you are interested in going on a treasure hunt of finding new life purpose you can go here to read more about how to re-discover your life.

She Smiled ...

It was a frigid, windy morning in January as I headed to the coffee shop to meet a young woman as she was seeking her next steps in life.  Recently graduating from college, Emily was energetic and excited with so many possibilities ahead of her as a talented artist.  We grabbed some hot tea and found a seat away from the door which opened and closed  blowing in the cold wind air. Conversation about worthwhile things makes my heart sing.  We opened our journals and began chatting about life, meaning and purpose.  As we talked warmth set in all around us with hot tea cups in our hands and happiness in our hearts.

Well into our conversation Emily’s phone began to ring.  Being the polite girl she is, she quietly ignored it so as not to disturb our conversation.  We continued to talk.  A few short minutes later the phone began vibrating again, prompting her to check it in case it was urgent.  She picked up the phone, looked at the incoming call and her expression changed in a blink.  Emily cocked her head and a smile spread across her face.  She has the most amazing smile, by the way.   She was full of joy.  I knew whoever was calling her was unusually loved by Emily and clearly she loved them back!  This didn’t seem to be an everyday call by her response.  She has studied all over the world and has a multitude of friends.  I thought that it was probably one of her friends from far away that she hadn’t heard from in a while.  

I said, “Who is it? Please feel free to answer.”

As she grinned Emily said, “It’s my dad.”

Wow.  Her dad.  Emily is very close to her family and speaks with her parents often.  This was not an unusual phone call at all.  I was so moved by her joy. My immediate thought was, “She must feel so loved by her dad and she must love him a tremendous amount as well.”  This is truly a gift that many would give anything to have.

Her dad was in town and had a few things to drop to her.  Nothing special that day, just a typical conversation, but clearly not a typical relationship.

We finished our tea and the day beckoned us to leave.  I walked back out into the windy air, got in my car, but before I even drove away I remembered that moment that Emily smiled.  I felt God saying to me, “I love you so much and I adore calling you. Do you see me as this kind of Father?”  

I long to hear the call of God.  I have so much desire to live the abundant life He promises for me through the very way He created me.  I think He calls but many don’t have Emily’s expression because they do not see God as an unconditionally loving and full of grace Father.  

As I drove away, I felt His love and His smile.  I longed to know what this loving Father had planned for me.  

Emily smiled and I was moved.  

He smiles at me which makes me smile.

God smiles at YOU because YOU are His masterpiece. He created you uniquely for a very specific purpose. Our lives are busier than ever with less purpose than ever. pathFINDER is the foundation for Beacon People. It was written to guide you on the greatest treasure hunt of your life - the treasure being your life-giving purpose. Go here to read more about pathFINDER.

Post-Holiday Blahs

After 3 weeks of people, food, errands, gift opening, relaxing and fun I'm feeling a bit of an emotional hangover.  I feel blah, unmotivated and draggy, not just physically but very much emotionally.  I wonder where my drive went?  Just yesterday I texted a friend and said, “Is there an emoji that is a slug?” If there was I would have used it a number of times the last few days.

While I have loved every minute of the holidays and am so thankful for a break, enough is enough.  Rest and relaxing is from God for a season and for that I’m grateful but there is a time for everything. 

I feel very alone.  It’s like everyone else is full of life and doing just fine this week.  I’m pulled to believe that I am the tree that’s been thrown out because its dead and no longer needed.

I’m wrestling with why these negative emotions start to flow, for me, the day after Christmas and camp out in my heart until after the first of the year.  Unmotivated and de-energized,  questioning thoughts of my purpose and existence swirl.  I struggle to get off the sofa.  It’s as if my mind has been erased of any desire to work and produce through the work God has given me to do.

I wonder where my passion went?  I miss it.

I am also dealing with a tremendous amount of fear and insecurity. Thoughts that weren’t there as we entered the holiday season are now saying, “I’m not really good at what I do.” or “Does anyone appreciate me?”

Chances are you are feeling the same way.

Why do the holidays do this to us?  As I ponder, I believe it has something to do with investment and the way God has wired us.  We get out of something as much as we put into it.  This would definitely be true in this case.  I have not done much at all towards my work and calling these last three weeks.  Therefore, I've gotten no return emotionally on my investment.  That's encouraging because I realize that as I get back to His work He has designed for me, fulfillment will return.  He gives these positive emotions to keep our engines running for His kingdom.  

So I got out of my chair, made a phone call to someone to share how I was feeling and I felt a drop of rain on my spirit.  I felt a bit of oxygen enter my soul.  Then I emailed and connected with someone that has been on my list for collaboration and again, more energy returned and I thought to myself, "Ah, there it is! It hasn't left after all!"

If any of this resonates with you, you are not alone.  I think many who are listening for God's call on their lives and working towards that call are feeling much the same over the holidays.  

Desiring richness and satisfaction in life is good. It’s God-given.  Desire helps me see how much I love what He has given me to do. Resting and relaxing, then feeling empty is a good motivator to remind me why I was made.  That longing for more than just parties, presents, food and relaxing is a really cool thing so let’s push for more in 2016.  I like to compare it to the Christmas decorations around our house.  By the time Christmas is over we are more than ready to pack them away and not look at them anymore! But then next year, when Christmas rolls around they will be fresh and new and we will be so excited to see them again.  

Here are few tips to help you in the post-Christmas recovery process:

Get off the sofa.  Take a walk.

Call a friend and share your thoughts.  They are probably feeling similar and would welcome the call.

Make a connection with your God-given, purposeful work through a phone call or email.

Jot down some awesome things that happened in 2015 through your work.

Jot down some awesome things you’d love to see happen in 2016.

Together, let’s taste the gift again.

Greater things are yet to come!

Ecclesiastes 3:9-13  What gain has the worker from his toil? I have seen the business that God has given to the children of man to be busy with. He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man's heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end. I perceived that there is nothing better for them than to be joyful and to do good as long as they live; also that everyone should eat and drink and take pleasure in all his toil—this is God's gift to man.

One More Thing:

So, you might be reading this and thinking “I feel this way year round, not just post-Christmas.”  Maybe you have no passion for what your day to day looks like right now.” Your job or the way you are spending your time just doesn’t seem to be life-giving. You long for more joy in your work.  Kicking off a new year is the perfect time to re-evaluate.  Yeah, I hear you…you have to pay the bills and I get that!  Maybe the way to find more fulfillment in the day to day is to find life in new ways at your existing job, look for a new job, study a new skill or get a new education?  Another thought might be to find more purpose in life by finding something outside of your day job in volunteering or giving back.  Life is meant to be lived outside of yourself. If you are interested in embarking on a new journey, you might consider going through pathFINDER. This is a 4 week interactive journal to discovering your purpose.  Go here to read more about this.  It would be a great way to kick off the new year. 

Airing My Christmas Dirty Laundry

by:  Anna Nash

“Christmas, a time for giving.”  

What does that phrase do to you? Messages like that, for me, can seem burdensome.  They put me under pressure.  For years, to me it meant, “Now go and get that giving spirit on!”  You should.  It’s what everybody is doing.  Get in the Christmas spirit!  If ever we should give to others and show acts of kindness, it is now. 

Drop a few coins in the red metal bucket by the store entrance.

Take a loaf of bread to the neighbors I don’t see the rest of the year.

As I think back, honestly, its quite humbling to admit.  I gave for two reasons.  The first reason I gave was because I should.  I saw it as a rule to follow at Christmas to make myself feel better about me.  I could clean myself up and look good to others by giving. That was a quick fix of pharisee type steroids.  I was so kind and good, wasn’t I? Obey the Christmas “rules” of giving.  There, I did it!  Check it off my list and move on.

Give that person the closest parking place.

Rally my family to take gifts to the “needy”.

The second reason I gave was because people like you more if you give them gifts.  I needed other people to like me and think I was wonderful.  Gift giving was a way of getting what I needed from them.  Crazy and backwards I know! Read that again, “Gift giving was a way of getting what I needed from them.”  

Wrap a gift for a family member that is hard to love.

Participate in opportunities at church to creatively give.

The strange thing is, I didn’t even realize how off base I was. 

Isaiah 9:2  The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone.

That was me!  I was the one walking in darkness.  I believed that the people walking in darkness were the ones I was seeking to save and serve with my Christmas giving.  I didn’t realized that I needed a great light. I needed rescue from Christmas self-giving. I had no idea that I was the “needy”.

Now that I’ve aired my Christmas dirty laundry in front of you…let me go on.

In recent months I’ve discovered a new way to experience Christmas.  What a relief!  The old way was very tiring and weighty.  I was constantly decorating not just the tree but myself as well.

Worn out and spent each year, I began to be convinced that there had to be another way. By the the time Christmas day arrived I was secretly thinking, “Okay, we need to do this so I can go take a nap!”  

Was there a Christmas secret?  Yes there was.

John 10:10  "I came that they may have life and have it abundantly."

It was time.  Time for God to reveal to me that the story of Christmas would solve my Christmas messiness.  He showed me that I had it all backwards.  I thought that I was doing God and others a favor with my showers of “blessings.”  

Here’s how He did it. 

John 1:9  The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.

He revealed to me new understanding about my holiday image.  The giving of His Son was to bring me freedom…the freedom of not having to muster up kindness and generosity.  I don’t have to make myself look like I thought others wanted to see me.  You see, He took care of that.  He sent me Jesus to clothe me with His goodness and not have to depend on my own.  All I had to do was believe that.

Galatians 1:5  It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.

I didn’t have to check the box of serving and giving on my list of “self-righteous check boxes.”  He not only checked that box for me, He removed the list altogether the day He rose from the dead.

Oh my word!  Revelation!  He loves me, in spite of me!  When He looks at me, as His daughter, He sees beauty, He sees His Son Jesus. He adores me. Tears. Tears of joy and gratitude. 

Romans 8:1  With the arrival of Jesus, the Messiah, that fateful dilemma is resolved.

It’s a crazy thing.  When I start to feel loved and accepted by Him, my heart is full. It is so full that it runs over with provision.  It spills over onto people all around.  It’s His goodness and grace, not my own.  It’s natural.  It’s the way He intended it to be all along.  Now there’s some comfort and joy!

I John 4:19  We love because he first loved us.

Formerly I read this passage as, “Since He loves you, you should go and love others.” Oh goodness, did I have that one backwards!  He took care of that guilt and shame thing on the cross as well.  No guilt in life…

How amazing that this is not just Christmastime perspective but year round good news!  The life and gifts He has given me on earth are for His kingdom and His glory.  Giving of myself to others, driven by the gospel, truly is the richest life I have found on earth.

So, I will keep being pulled to the old way of giving.  Even this morning I found myself consumed with wanting to impress others.  My Christmas secret?  Revisit the story.  Hear God telling you of His love for you, feel it.  Accept it.  Let it have its effect on you as you spend time with others this glorious season.  Every time you see a manger let it be a reminder of His open, loving arms.  The natural response is grace and gratitude and giving!

“And at the center of the Story, there is a baby. The Child upon whom everything would depend.”  Sally Lloyd-Jones

Shhhh, listen.  He is telling you a story.  It’s His story.  It’s your story.  It’s a love story.  This baby was His way of telling you of His deep, compassionate love for you.  Baby Jesus is the “word” I love you.

There Will Be a Package at Your Door Today

by Anna Nash

Everyone loves to come home to find an unexpected package by their door.  When you see the package a quick thought runs through your head.  A thought of excitement and anticipation swirls.  Who is it from?  What could it be?  You pick it up, feel the weight, shake it and try to see the return address. Who cares enough about me to send me a package?

This time of year the package is usually a Christmas gift.  A gift from someone who thought about you and wants you to know, comes in a bundle of something tangible they thought you would enjoy.  

Imagine you opened this gift today and found $24,000.  Attached is a note explaining that $24,000 will be deposited into a bank account in your name at midnight every night for the rest of your life.  There is just one small catch.  After 24 hours the balance of the account will go back to zero.  So, basically you have 24 hours to spend the money or it will disappear.  The account carries no balance.  

I think you can begin to see the analogy.  You are gifted 24 hours each day.  At midnight the hours you have been given cannot be rolled over.  It is not my intention to burden you or make you feel depressed with the “life is short so get out there and do something” message.  

Your perspective on the brevity of life changes dramatically through discovering God’s gifts each day, in and through this life He has given you. Instead of seeing the package of time as something you have to do or perform, see it from someone who wants you to know how much He cares about you. His gift to you is uniquely created by Him, for you. We all want to matter. He made us this way. You matter. God wants you to know this.

Finding your greatest worth each day is an adventure as you seek out how He has created you and what amazing things He has for you. Leaving your mark on the world is not a burden but a joy when you see how He has wired you with passions and strengths along the way that can be connected to your call in this life.  The greatest investment of the gift of time that doesn’t roll over is finding something to put your hand to that will last forever, to feel like you are making a difference.

So go open your front door, peak outside and you will have the gift of this day waiting for you.  Pick it up, unwrap it and ask, “God, what do you have for me this day?”

Oh, and by the way, tomorrow morning when you wake up, go peak again.  There will be another package at your door and its from someone who cares deeply about you.

Show me, O LORD, my life's end and the number of my days; let me know how fleeting is my life. You have made my days a mere handbreadth; the span of my years is as nothing before you. Each man's life is but a breath. Man is a mere phantom as he goes to and fro: He bustles about, but only in vain; he heaps up wealth, not knowing who will get it. "But now, Lord, what do I look for? My hope is in you. Psalm 39:4-7

So don't be afraid, little flock. For it gives your Father great happiness to give you the Kingdom. Luke 12:32

This Thanksgiving ... Changing Ordinary Opportunities into Blessings

So I have this friend.  Her name is Betsy and she lives on Lookout Mountain in Tennessee.  She is a beacon of light there.  How cool is that?  She is a beacon of light on Lookout Mountain!  In recent weeks Betsy has gotten involved with Beacon People and pushed to live for more with tremendous energy and passion.  Part of Betsy's passion is to champion people out in the world who are full of purpose.  Because of this, its as if she has put on glasses to notice the world in a new way, to see and believe in others who are making a difference.

Well, today, on this Thanksgiving Eve, it happened again.  Another everyday person filled with purpose crossed her path in an ordinary place who blessed her socks off.  I'll let her tell you about it...

"There was a young gentleman in front of me in line at the grocery store today.  He was probably in his twenties. Soft spoken, gentle.  He was using his WIC vouchers to pay for his food.  He had a number of items and for some reason, the clerk had to rescan everything.  In the end, he had an extra 10.00 to spend.  She suggested that he pick up some bananas because they were close enough to the register and everybody eats bananas.  He was so worried about making me wait.  He kept looking at me.  I was oblivious because I was reading emails.  I was in no hurry.  Didn’t need to be anywhere fast.  I was actually glad it was me behind him because it was Thanksgiving eve and I must have been the only one in the Food City not rushing around to cook and get ready for company.  I told him to go ahead and get the bananas.  I didn’t mind waiting.

He got his bananas, thanked me, paid, and left.  

When I got ready to pay at the register, the cashier held up a $20 bill and told me the gentleman wanted to donate to my grocery bill because I had been so patient to wait.  

I was brought to tears by a stranger.  I didn’t need the $20.  I wasn’t having a bad day and didn’t need cheering up.  I didn’t look downtrodden.  All I had done was practiced patience.  On any other day, I might have been irritated being made to wait.  But this day I practiced patience.  And then I was thanked.

He left me a $20 dollar bill that he could have used for something else.  I know some people might be irritated with the fact that he was using government vouchers to pay for his food, but had $20 to give to a stranger.  

My take:  He saw an opportunity to give and he took the opportunity.  So many people don’t. There is joy in the giving. 

I saw a quote today.  It said:

Gratitude can transform common days into thanksgivings, turn routine jobs into joy, and change ordinary opportunities into blessings. William A. Ward

What would it be like if we all took those ordinary opportunities and turned them into blessings?"

Thank you, Betsy, for such an awesome reminder as we enter the most thankful day of the year tomorrow.

Grateful beyond words. 

and "Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!" 2 Corinthians 9:15

(For more of Betsy's purpose-filled stories you can go here.)

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On the way to something unknown ...

Above all, trust in the slow work of God.

We are quite naturally impatient... in everything to reach the end without delay.

We should like to skip the intermediate stages.

We are impatient of being on the way to something unknown, something new.

And yet it is the law of all progress that it is made by passing through some stages of instability

and that it may take a very long time. 

And so I think it is with you; your ideas mature gradually

let them grow, let them shape themselves, without undue haste.

Don't try to force them on, as though you could be today what time

(that is to say, grace and circumstances acting on your own good will) 

            will make of you tomorrow.

Only God could say what this new spirit gradually forming within you will be.

Give Our Lord the benefit of believing that His hand is leading you,

and accept the anxiety of feeling yourself in suspense and incomplete.

-Teilhard de Chardin

Are You Running Your Life or is Your Life Running You?

“It’s been another crazy week!”

“Why can’t I seem to accomplish anything?”

“Why am I always saying to my kids, ‘HURRY’?" 

“I feel like everything I’m doing is done half way or never completed!”  

“I’m feeling the need to make a change in life.”                                                                            

If any of these statements resonate with you, it may be time to look at your life and evaluate your priorities.  The rhythm of your life can get out of whack from time to time and you may need some major adjustments.   If you lack purpose or are feeling overwhelmed, unproductive, or scattered, it’s time to re-evaluate.  Think carefully and honestly about your relationships, activities, and work.  Be open to the possibility that you might need to shift your priorities.  It might be helpful to write down or tell someone the changes you feel are necessary.  After you re-evaluate, you may start to see life in a new light and begin living more intentionally for the things that matter most to you. 

In order to look at the bigger picture and discover your desired direction, ask yourself these questions:

What am I living for right now?

What do I want to live for in the future?

Consider the following:

“Where there is no vision, the people perish,” Proverbs 29:18

“If you aim at nothing, you will hit it every time.”  Zig Ziglar

Now formulate a mission statement for your life.  Make it simple, make it straightforward, make it important.  And know that it will change over time.  As you re-evaluate your priorities, activities that were at one time high on your list may become less important or drop off the list altogether.  Align your profession and your passions with your mission.  If you are open to rearranging your priority list, you may find yourself living a calmer and more productive life.  

Next take time to review your mission statement and your new priority list.  Consider the following: 

1.  What are your priorities?  Be sure to include mental, physical, spiritual, and social.  Remember Luke 2:52, “And Jesus grew in wisdom (mental) and stature (physical), and in favor with God (spiritual) and men (social).” 

2.  How are you currently spending your time?  Evaluate your weekly schedule.  Write it down or enter it into your phone or computer.  Are you spending too much time on one area and not enough on others?  

3.  Are you satisfied with how you spend your time?

4. Are you taking care of yourself and your own personal needs?

5. What would you say is THE MOST important thing in your life right now?

6. What would you like to spend more time doing?

7. What do you want to spend less time doing?

8. What areas of your life need attention? Are there areas that should be dropped altogether?

9. Rank your activities in order of importance.

10.Think through the past year and more specifically the last 3 months.  What areas were out of balance?

So, after evaluating your mission, and your priorities, it’s time to set some goals.

 When setting goals make sure and remember to make them:

• doable, simple and not too complicated. 
• obtainable
• realistic
• match up with your desired life

Once you have defined your mission, your priorities, your goals, it’s time to implement your new life plan.  Set some objectives under each goal of how you practically are going to make changes.  It’s one thing to decide what you need to do, it’s another to do it.  Give yourself some time, determine if you are living life more fully and intentionally, and then enjoy your new, well-determined life. 

Living a life that is smart and well thought out is one of the best ways to become a more productive person.  Instead of running around with no direction, walk calmly through your days.  You might feel like you are doing less, but you will be accomplishing more.  And believe me, the people in your life will like you much better!

We all lose perspective from time to time and a little reflection does wonders.  So be strong and take control.  

Instead of letting your life run you, you run your life.  You’ll be glad you did! 

Ordinary Wrappings

So this week found Beacon People traveling to Tupelo, Mississippi. Most people travel to Tupelo to find the birthplace of Elvis or to find the sweet treasure of Tupelo Honey. But we found some jewels there worth telling you about!  An old Proverb says, "Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul and health to the bones."  We found some honey in Tupelo for sure!  This group longs to make a difference through a publishing company, a creatives group, a horse therapist, a gift shop owner, a crisis pregnancy center, a church outreach and so much more! This blogpost is by Sara Berry, one of the Beacons we met in Tupelo.  

Ordinary Wrappings by Sara Berry

I believe everyone longs to know their calling.  The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren was such a phenomenal and inspiring read and was embraced by millions of people.  Why?  Because deep down we all want to believe that we were born for a reason.  That we will leave this earth having made a difference.  That we will leave a mark on others, which will cause them to remember us. We long for meaning in our lives and many times we waste a lot of time, money, energy, and relationships trying to find that meaning.  

As Christians, we refer to this as the Call of God. Sounds really formal doesn’t it?  But it’s not really.  Think about your mother’s voice calling you in to dinner when you were a child.  Or a call from a dear friend with whom you haven’t spoken in a while.  Or what about the call of your child in the middle of the night, wanting to just be reassured that you are still close by.  These calls are familiar and dear to us, as should be the call of God to our souls.  

Sometimes the call of God is a reproof—a call to attention.  When Adam and Eve ate the apple, God called to them saying, “Where are you?”  God, of course, knew where they were, but they needed to be aware of where they had ended up.

The Lord Himself made clothes for them to cover their shame.  This was foreshadowing of the ultimate covering that would come … the covering of the Blood of Jesus.  It is because of that covering we can be called and used by God.

Do you realize that no matter what ordinary wrappings you have, God sees you as a chosen one?

You did not choose me, I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will last. John 15:16

He chose you for a special appointment, just as he chose Moses for his special appointment.  Will you accept the appointment?  Will you choose your “chosen-ness”?  

And then God says, “Go…Go and bear fruit”. Go bear the fruit of the Spirit:  love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness and self-control.  And only with the power and anointing of the Holy Spirit, will it be healthy fruit that will last.  Yes, people can do good things—things that help our society.  Humanitarian and social efforts can produce good changes.  But true, lasting fruit can only be produced when someone starts to realize and act like a chosen one who has accepted an appointment.  With that first step, with that surrender of our own will and feeble efforts, God is pleased.  And when God is pleased, great things begin to happen!  We step aside, and He steps in.  He uses our ordinary status, and brings about His extraordinary work.  

What is your calling from God at this particular time in your life?  Ask Him.  He will gladly show you!

What is Your "Happily Ever After?"

Six people came together on a hot, hazy summer night to enjoy each other’s company.  We sat around the table eating sushi and telling stories.  The stories we told were about our work, our families, and our lives. 

“You won’t believe what happened to me today!”

“Guess what I’m going to do when the kids get back in school.”

“My ninety year old mother-in-law did the funniest thing!”

As we shared our stories, intriguing details from everyone’s life began weaving an amazing tapestry.  The tapestry grew more colorful and lovely as the night wore on.  No two threads were alike.  Each person’s experience was unique and inspiring.  And each person’s life created a beautiful story.     

Once Upon a Time... 

My kids used to say, “Mom, tell me about the day I was born!”  Every life has a story.  Every story has a purpose.  And every purpose is important.  Take a minute to think about your story.  When did you discover your calling and begin living your life with purpose?  How would you finish the sentence that starts your “Once upon a time?”  If you’re not sure, let’s think about the Author of your story.  Our Author and Creator ordained all our days and wrote them in His book before one of them came to be, according to Psalm 139:16.  Isn’t that great news?  Your story already had purpose and significance even before you were born.  Now it’s your job to discover/uncover your story and begin living it with purpose.       

Plot twist ... 

Every story has “Plot twists,” or unexpected developments.  What are the plot twists in your story?  What are the details or circumstances in your life that you didn’t see coming?  Plot twists are challenges you didn’t ask for and gifts you didn’t want.  The good news is these unexpected twists encourage you to turn roadblocks into opportunities.  They encourage change, which leads to growth and progress.  They encourage you to figure out how to move forward with your story according to your Creator’s plan.  Isaiah 46:10 reads God’s purpose will stand.  Although your life might seem confusing, surprising, or even disappointing at times, His plan for you is always full of purpose.  The plot twists you face are not accidental, and as a result of them, the pages in your story will be beautiful.  Those gifts you thought you didn’t want become the very gifts you would never return.    

Happily Ever After... 

Ahhhh…and now for our favorite part.  The music plays and the characters walk off into the sunset with smiles on their faces.  Although we may not admit it, we all have a “Happily ever after” dream for our lives.  To determine your expectations, or your “Happily ever after,” think about these statements:

"If only _______________ would happen then I could ______________."  

"I hope my story turns out like this:  ________________."  

"I would like the last chapter of my life's story to read like this: ________________________"

Your Creator is the author of your story.  He wrote it for you.  But you get to decide how to live it, and your choices determine how your story will be told.  Your life may be different than you expected, but it may also be better.  The colorful threads you are adding to the tapestry make it complete.  So don’t try to rewrite your story.  Instead, find your “Once upon a time,” accept the “Plot twists,” and embrace your “Happily ever after.”  Your story is a beautiful narrative that has been written specifically and especially for you. 

So pull up a chair, have some sushi, and tell us your story.  Tell us His story.    

"Writing our stories and sharing them is one of the most powerful ways to grow and make that journey from the head to the heart.” Claire DeBoer

Stories connect us.

Stories heal us.

Stories give us purpose.

God is the writer I am just the narrator... the person who tells the story.

HOW DO YOU SEE IT?

image by lesliebrown.com

by Katy Shelton

“What do you see when you look at the water?” I asked my sister during Spring Break in Cocoa Beach.

“Sharks,” she said without hesitation.  “And maybe some other toothy, scary creatures of the deep.  Why, what do you see?”

“Water,” I said.  “When I look at the water, I see water.  Sparkling, sunlit waves of water, rolling peacefully toward the shore.” 

There we were, two sisters from an identical gene pool, with two completely different ways of seeing the same thing.

Every one of us, even if we are alike in many ways, sees things differently.  Think about the complexity of a strand of DNA.  Now think about seven billion people on earth, each one with a different DNA combination.  Whoa.  It’s mind boggling that so many people can each have their own specific genetic makeup, totally different from anyone else’s.  As a result of that genetic makeup, each person looks at life in his or her own unique way.

Michelangelo looked at a chunk of marble and saw David.  Stephen Hawking looked at a jumble of numbers and saw Physics.  Mark Twain looked at the Mississippi River and saw Huck and Jim.  Babe Ruth looked at a baseball bat and saw home runs.  And Nelson Mandela looked at division and saw reconciliation.

Now I know most of us will never impact the world the way these talented geniuses have, but we all have a certain reach.  And if we’re all looking at the same things but seeing them differently, shouldn’t we also each have a different, unique role here on earth?  Shouldn’t we take what we see and how we see it, and turn it into something purposeful?  Shouldn’t we strive to do something positive based on the unique way we view the world?  Let me answer that:  YES.

The tricky part, for some of us, is to figure out why we see things the way we do, and what to do about it.  Why are we introverted/extroverted?  Why do we love/hate academics?  Why are we artists or athletes?  Why do we want to lead, or why do we want to follow?  And why have we been given this particular set of abilities?

Here’s a suggestion:  forget the category others have put you in and start over.  Discover yourself by looking within.  Shut down the voices of anyone that thinks they have you all figured out.  Don’t let someone tell you that because you like math, you can’t also like English, or because you like history, you won’t like science.  Don’t let them say that because you’re an athlete you’re not going to be artistic.  Go ahead, bust out of the stereotypical boxes society has created and allow yourself to be you.  You are your own unique combo of DNA, remember?  

And, please, for the sake of all us terrible test takers, move above and beyond the standardized questionnaires that try to tell you who you are and what you are forever meant to be.  You know you better than anyone else.  What do you feel passionate about?  Why do you feel passionate about it?  What do you wish you could do that you’ve never allowed yourself to do because you’re afraid someone will laugh or you might fail?  Dig deep and pull out those hidden desires, those hidden treasures.  They are in there somewhere, waiting to be uncovered.  Bring them to the surface and embrace them.  And then get to work.

Work on your passion.  Spend time to develop it.  Aim to perfect it.  And once you have put in some real effort and you know a little about what you’re doing, GO AHEAD AND DO IT.  And know that you will fail.  And succeed.  And fail, and succeed again.  Because that’s what we humans do.  All of us.  Even those amazing people I mentioned before.  They all had failures to go along with their success.  But they all kept trying, working, and pushing forward because they saw something in their own unique way and wanted to share it with the rest of us.

Now the greater, more significant point is this:  once you discover your passion, work to develop it, and ultimately put it out there, SURPRISE, you will be doing exactly what your Creator intended you to do.  After all, HE is the one who gave you that unique way of seeing things and your resulting abilities.  HE wants you to love your life’s work.  And HE wants you to succeed.  Really, He does.  And in the process of developing yourself, HE will be glorified.  How exciting!  We get to do what we love doing, and honor our God at the same time.  

So, whether you look at the ocean and see sparkling, sunlit waves, or if you look at the ocean and see Jaws, you have a wonderful, important point of view that needs to be shared with the people around you.  Go ahead, identify your passion, work to develop it, and for God’s sake, as well as everyone else’s, put it out there.  Enlighten the rest of us.  Open our eyes to your view of the world.  We want and need to know how you see things, because only you are able to see them that way.

When your soul sings … take good notes.

 A ship’s logbook is kept by the captain and the crew.  Information is recorded, and operational data relating to his ship and the journey.  Weather conditions, times of routine events and significant incidents, crew complement or what ports were docked at and when, all make up the logbook. It is essential to traditional navigation and is kept daily.

In a few words, a logbook helps a sailor navigate his journey.

Over the years I have kept a pretty traditional journal.  But when I read about a logbook in Austin Kleon’s book, Steal Like an Artist, I just knew that this was exactly what I needed as I was pursuing new callings and deeper purpose life. It was a new twist to my journaling, if you will.

“Keeping a simple list of who/what/where means I write down events that seem mundane at the time, but later on help paint a better portrait of the day, or even become more significant over time." Austin Kleon

We are all weary travelers searching and longing to find the way home.  Where am I going?  Where have I come from?  Keeping a log over time impacts greatly my perspective.  I begin to connectthe dots.  Yes!  My life IS a story!

We shouldn’t get discouraged when we attempt to write our own story.  Some feel they don’t have a story at all. Instead, look all around and find the story that is being written for you.  Read the details of your life as a story.  Everyone has a story and it needs to be recorded and possibly heard.  If for no other reason, you need to read it yourself and listen to it as well. The passions of life, the people of life and the positions in which you find yourself are all adding up to something pretty amazing.  Everyone has a story and nobody’s story is dull.  It all gets back to your purpose…we each have one, you know.  So within every purpose there has to be a story.  Begin to fit the puzzle pieces together in your logbook to see the bigger picture.  Writing, I believe, can help me chart my progress. Jotting down my opinions can help me refine my ideas.

When your soul sings … take good notes.

When your heart takes a punch, write about it.  

When life gives you a clue, make a note of it.  

When something inspires you, jot it down.  

When you have an idea, log it.

When a prayer is prayed, record it.  

When a prayer is answered, express it and rejoice.

“A memory inventory. An archive of sorts. Place-markers of my own narrative & those which intersect & entangle with my own. I am my own historian. My own keeper of my chronicle. Branches and leaves reminding me of where I've been & where I'm going.”  Abigail Green

Tracing the threads and trends in my life helps me see that these things have brought me to where I am today. The path gets very foggy for me at times.  I’m so glad I can go back and read my logbook on the days when things were crystal clear.  My very own words inspire me to move forward.

“Don’t doubt in the darkness what you saw in the light.”

Write it down and remember... Home is not that far away.

… all a part of your journey, just the daily stuff. If it inspires, put it in there.

Dear Glenn Beck ...

artwork by Abbie Little

Hi Glenn,

My name is Anna Nash and I have lived in Birmingham, AL my entire life...50 years now :)

Just 1 short year before my birth 16th Street Baptist Church was bombed in 1963. Obviously I have little personal memory of that happening in my city but my entire life I have been well reminded of the horror that happened in our own backyard.  It makes me so very sad when I google "Birmingham, AL”. Without fail you will find something on the bombing on the first search page that comes up.

I was thrilled when you announced that you would be coming to Birmingham with your people and this movement for change.  Here are a few things I took from your segment on this:

“…the South, and Birmingham in particular, is going to be the region that steps up and brings reconciliation to the country.”

“The South will rise again, and this time it will save the country, not divide the country.”

“I think Birmingham, Alabama is going to be a place that restarts the country. It’s known for all of the bad things that happened in the ’50s. I think Birmingham, Alabama, is going to be known for all of the good things that happen here on out, just like Charleston, South Carolina. Charleston is forever going to be known for its good people, and I think Birmingham is going to be next on that list.”

You shared that you felt the nation is reaching a turning point—either begin a revival of faith and respect or continue toward a “cliff” from which there may be no return.  The part of the country where you see the most potential for a cultural turnaround is the South.

Like you, I believe that the change we are longing to see in this country is going to start deep inside the hearts of people, and not in D.C.  Change won’t even start within the church...even right here in the Bible belt of Alabama until true change takes place in souls within the church!  Until we believe that we were created by God to be a part of the bigger story we will NEVER begin to see a difference in our world.  People here in Birmingham and beyond have forgotten. We have forgotten what we were made for and why.  We have become lazy, comfortable and consuming people who are self absorbed in so many ways.  Folks around here are hoping for a new government official, a new pastor, a new plan to bring change.  We have forgotten about organic change that comes from grass roots movements.  Many here feel invincible...thinking that things happening around the world won't happen here.  A “someone else can do it” mentality has saturated so many communities.

Well, just like you, I had an epiphany a few years ago that God was going to do something mighty in the Magic City of Birmingham.  Of course, He would choose a city where such a horrible thing had happened to bring light and redemption.  All eyes are on us, I know.  What a joy that our city of Birmingham would be the picture of redemption, love and change in the US! If we could change anybody can!   Nothing would thrill me more than God's favor here on us and through us to a seeking people.

Since I believe we should each play our part (Be the change you want to see!), I have gathered a community here in Birmingham called Beacon People. We are about guiding, connecting and inspiring purpose driven people.  There are some pretty amazing grass roots groups here in Birmingham who want to be a part of the Bigger Story!  Just thought I'd email you to say that reconciliation is happening here!  I am thrilled that you have a prompting about this as well and that you are coming as a Beacon to inspire us.  God knows, we can use as much help as we can get!  Here are a few organic things that are happening here that I thought you'd like to take a look at before you come in August.  I'm walking on sidewalks, sitting in coffee shops, singing in church and meeting with folks all around who are beginning to realize that true change in our culture will have to start from within. People who are willing to do the hard work of making a difference and are living for something greater than themselves are becoming ignited!  Here are just a handful of those making sacrifice … all of these are based out of Birmingham!  There are more, but for time sake I’m just noting a few that I am personally connected with through Beacon People:

1.  www.Inspero.org

2.  http://www.restorationacademy.org/

3.  http://csalabama.org/

4.  http://lifelinechild.org/christian-adoption-services/staff/state/alabama/

5.  forevergingerbread.com

6.  http://seedscoffee.com/

7.  http://www.commonthread.org/

8.  http://the-wellhouse.org/

9.  http://ornaments4orphans.org/

10.  http://www.magiccitywoodworks.org/

11. www.restore-ministries.org

When things start happening in and through our city I want to be able to say that I was a part of it!  Redemption is what God is all about and He has redeemed ME, so how could I not desire to make a difference in the lives of others?!?!?

Thanks for listening and I hope some of this was a bit helpful as you are getting to know the audience down here!  Grateful for the role you are playing, Glenn.  Please let me know if I can do anything on my end here to help.

Time to shine,

Anna Nash

awake!

Summer mornings - sun rising, heat quickly coming, a little more relaxed living, something out there calling me to get away, leave, get some R and R… slow the pace.

My thoughts quickly go to, “Am I asleep?”  “Has summer put my soul to sleep?”  What exactly does this mean? I think William Wallace in Braveheart said it the best, 

”Every man dies, not every man really lives.”

Asleep could be synonymous with death … I want to live awake and fully alive deep from within.  I want to really live!

What puts me to sleep?  What kills my soul?  The swirling waves around me of the day to day, the pull to make life all about me…self-satisfaction.  These thoughts come from no where, thoughts that say, “Happiness comes from living for yourself. Go out there and find something to make yourself happy”  Killing soul thoughts.  This mindset calls me to quick joy, temporary satisfaction.

Oh there is so much more.  Awake my soul!

Need to Breathe declares it perfectly in their song Slumber - 

Days they force you Back under those covers

Lazy mornings they multiply

But glory's waiting outside your window

So wake on up from your slumber, baby, open up your eyes

Tongues are violent, Personal and focused

Tough to beat with your steady mind. But hearts are stronger after broken,

So, wake on up from your slumber, baby, open up your eyes

All these victims stand in line for the crumbs that fall from the table, just enough to get by.

All the while your invitation

Wake on up from your slumber, baby, open up your eyes.

Take from vandals, all you want now

Please, don't trade it in for life -  Replace the feeble with the fable

Wake on up from your slumber - Baby, open up your eyes

Come on, Sing like we used to - dance when you want to - taste of the breakthrough

And open wide … Come on now and open your eyes

take a listen, let it move you.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbx_qFSCd7M

Our greatest satisfaction comes in life when we are fully alive and investing in making a difference in the world through our gifts, our resources -  doing what we love and do well.  

So wake up, really live, get outside yourself even in the tiniest of ways…today.  Don’t hear the falsehoods of, “Well, nothing I do really makes a difference.”

Ask for it!  Look within.  

“Am I dying? Wake me up!”  

“Awake, awake, put on your beautiful garments …

Shake yourself from the dust and arise … loose the bonds from your neck! (Is.52)

If you look for it, it will come.  Seek and you shall find.

Don’t just - "Stand in line for the crumbs that fall from the table - just enough to get by …

Remember -  "All the while your invitation -wake on up from your slumber, Baby, open up your eyes!

outside the door ...

I love to go out of town on trips!  I've always dreamed of having a job that allowed me to travel.  I've heard it gets old, but for now, to me it seems dreamy.  I love hotels.  I love slipping my feet down into clean sheets, the smell of the bath products, the noise of hustle and bustle outside the door.  The beam of light coming in between the blackout curtains in the morning beckons me to want to discover a new view that is awaiting as I open the curtains. The anticipation of a good cup of coffee calls me to adventure out the next morning. So many unknowns on a trip.  I'm finding as I get older that I do love an adventure and exploring. This is new for me.

The journey...the trip...the path...that's all of life, isn't it?

If only our journey in life brought so much anticipation and excitement as a trip.  I'd love to wake up fresh, new and excited to explore the unknown every morning.  Life is like an exciting exploration for some but not for others. What's the difference?  I am convinced it has everything to do with purpose.  Today at Beacon Group we heard about a physician who retired from his career as a doctor and poured himself into a life in the outdoors and hunting.  Pretty soon he became bored.  His trip became uneventful and it lost its newness.  He returned to work as physician and purpose has returned...happy and fulfilled once again.

What is your purpose?  What are you living for? 

It may be time to consider your own journey... if you lack zeal for the trip it might just be time to re-evaluate.

Listen and be excited about the hustle and bustle outside your door.  Open it and enter and join a world who needs you and all you were created to be.

Stand still and shine ...

photo by lesliebrown.com/

“Lighthouses don’t go running all over an island looking for boats to save; they just stand there shining.”  ― Anne Lamott

At one Beacon Group this strong young woman Jamie of Ornaments 4 Orphans shared this quote to challenge us.  As she stands and shines we were all ignited by her story and mission.