Let's be history makers.

Happy Thursday!

It’s been a couple of weeks, friends, but that doesn’t mean I haven’t been thinking. I’ve had an idea of something to write about mulling around the entire time. I’m a thinker: I ponder, I wonder, I imagine. I like to see how things fit together. I like to look back and be in awe of how events unfolded and where I’m at as opposed to where I was. So I’ve been doing a lot of that lately, as well as savoring every moment I can with those closest to me. This next step is a huge one, arguably the hugest one I’ve taken yet. We all have big and small steps we have to take in our personal journeys, and while they’re exciting and new, they’re also full of change. And even good change can be difficult.

I’m not afraid to say that this change is a little difficult for me at times. Growing up, I was always seen as mature beyond my years. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard that. But at the same time, I was the kid who went around singing: “I don’t wanna grow up. I’m a Toys-R-Us kid!” And I really didn’t want to. Not that I was afraid of growing up, but I loved being a kid. There were probably some birthdays where I cried (I’m not kidding). So this next step in my journey for me signals me being a “real” adult. Before I felt like a semi-adult because I still lived at home. A season has ended and a new season is beginning though, and I know life will never be the same. Which is a good thing because change has to occur in order for us to grow. But as I said before, change, even good, exciting change, can be hard at first.

One thing God’s been showing me lately is so simple. It’s something we hear in Sunday school, and it goes a little something like this: when we are weak, he is strong. Paul says this in 2 Corinthians 12:9. In this chapter Paul talks about how he had “a thorn in his side” and asked God to remove it. I suggest reading the whole chapter. Anyway, here’s the verse that the Holy Spirit reminded me of the other night:

“He said to me, ‘My grace is enough for you. When you are weak, my power is made perfect in you.’ So I am very happy to brag about my weaknesses. Then Christ’s power can live in me.”

It’s beautiful to me that whenever we feel weak or vulnerable or out of our comfort zone, God is right there helping us through. We may feel weak, but he is strong, and his power works in us to help us through anything we need. When we’re weak, his power and ability can be displayed beautifully and all glory and honor goes to him.

Transition and change can be trying on our emotions, but God is always right there holding our hand and guiding us. Whatever steps lie ahead for you, know that he’s always there and lean on him. He’ll guide you and help you through whatever he asks you to do. And remember he cares about you and if you’ll give over your cares and put them in his hands, you’ll be filled with peace.

“Give all your worries to him, because he cares for you.” 1 Peter 5:7

“Do not worry about anything, but pray and ask God for everything you need, always giving thanks. And God’s peace, which is so great we cannot understand it, will keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7

I love his peace so much. I love when I feel it with me throughout the day, leading me and guiding me. Whatever God has asked you to do, do it because peace will be with you and there is no one on earth like you. How crazy is that, anyway? There have been countless people on this earth since it began and not a single one of them was exactly like you or me. Every single person is different, and no one can do exactly what you can.

“God has made us what we are. In Christ Jesus, God made us to do good works, which God planned in advance for us to live our lives doing." Ephesians 2:10

  

“Each of you has received a gift to use to serve others. Be good servants of God’s various gifts of grace.” 1 Peter 4:10

Every person was given a special gift. Whether it’s encouragement or preaching or teaching or writing or music, we should use our gifts to help and serve others. Sometimes it might seem difficult or scary or it might involve a move across the ocean, but God is always right there. We’re here for him. Jesus asked us in the great commission (Mark 16:15-18) to finish the work he started. God gave us our gifts so we could serve him with them and make the world a better place.

Sometimes it will involve a big life change, but he will always be right there. He gives us everything we need to fulfill what he asks us to do. And I guarantee if we never took a step or leap we would regret it later. His plan is so much bigger and better than anything we can dream.

This blog is kind of a jumble of two things I’ve been thinking of, but I think they tie in together because they’re what I’m feeling right now. Excitement, yes, without a doubt! But I’m also very aware of the huge change this new season in my life will bring. Will it always be easy? No of course not. But only the easy road in life is, and I’d prefer to avoid that road and take the road less traveled. I like to be challenged because only when we’re challenged can we grow.

I hope this little piece has encouraged you and I hope you go take your step or leap, holding onto God and his peace, and grow in your current or new journey. Tomorrow when I board my plane headed for England, I know he’ll be with me and with those I leave at home. This is my point in history, and as I’ve sung many times in the past, I’m going to be a history maker. I hope you will be too.

(Thanks to Christine Caine for the photo and the encouragement and the amazing books.)

Writing is an outlet and an open door.

Salut!

This week I’m going to switch gears and talk about writing. I can’t even tell you when I started writing because I’ve always been writing in some form. Before I knew how to write, I made up stories when playing with my toys and I pretended to be all sorts of things. When I learned to write, I made comics and created stories with pictures and words and stapled them together. We found some of these things a while back and I didn’t really even remember making them, but it was so neat to me to see that writing and creating were things that have always been a part of my life.

I really started writing when I was around twelve or thirteen. I finished my first story around that age and I called it L. I. F. E. Each letter stood for something, but I can’t remember what. I don’t think I’ve really ever told anyone about this story and I highly doubt I would ever show it to anyone. But that fact is that L. I. F. E. followed me throughout high school and even into college. I lost the first version of the story in a computer crash, but I have many other versions of it. It changed a lot over the years, and the name changed a few times, and I finally drafted it into a twenty-seven chapter, 67,000-word novel. The draft turned out to be not exactly what I wanted, and I’m currently taking a break from it and working on other things.

That’s the thing about writing: it takes time and it’s never exactly right or what you want it to be the first time you finish it. And it most definitely won’t always be easy. It will be hard sometimes.

“There is nothing to writing. All you do is sit down at a typewriter and bleed.” - Ernest Hemingway
 “Writing a novel is like driving a car at night. You can only see as far as your headlights, but you can make the whole trip that way.”
- E. L. Doctorow “Get it down. Take chances. It may be bad, but it’s the only way you can do anything really good.”
- William Faulkner “First, find out what your hero wants, then just follow him!”
- Ray Bradbury

When you’re writing, just write. If you come to a point where you don’t know exactly where you want to go, write whatever comes to your mind. It might be bad. You might cut it out later. But keep going. While you’re writing, you might get an epiphany and soon you’ll be typing away. With the novel I’m working on now, I see it and I see gaps in places where I need to add more before I get to the point it’s at, but I don’t know what I need there or want there yet, so I keep going on the track I’m heading on. It’s hard. Everything in me wants to go back and add things, but if I do, it would be like adding in an ingredient before I know what I’m making. Take E. L. Doctorow’s quote for example. That’s how I feel with my novel. I sort of know where I’m heading and I have a vague idea, but I can’t see everything yet. Once the draft is done, I’ll know the plot better and I’ll know the subplots and the characters and then I can go back through and see what’s missing. So when you’re writing, don’t get discouraged if it doesn’t turn out right the first time because it never, ever will.

I’ve been asked before why I write, and it’s really a simple answer. I see writing as an outlet, but I also see it as an open door.

It’s an outlet because through it I can write about things that are important to me and things I believe. I can vent through it and better understand situations and people through it and better understand myself. That may not make sense to you if you haven’t ever really written, but let me tell you, it’s true. When you’re writing, you have to see things from multiple points of view even though you’re usually only writing from one point of view. You have to do this because you have to know how the other characters in the story will react.

Writing stories and poetry especially have helped me better understand myself. Many times I’ll feel some emotion or wonder something and I won’t fully understand it until I write it and while I write it, sometimes a memory will come out or something else and I’ll sit back and be exhausted thinking, woah, where did that come from? Writing helps us get out our emotions and thoughts without the fear of what people might think because we don’t have to show it to anyone if we don’t want to, but when we do, we have the opportunity to help someone, which is the major reason why I write.

As I said, writing and words are my passion because through them I feel like I have the ability to encourage, challenge, help, or comfort someone. Without words, no one would be able to really do any of these things. Yes there are silent things we can do, but I think everyone remembers a kind word or a word that changed their life. Writing is an open door to help someone. If something I write can help someone feel like they’re not alone or make them laugh when they’re sad or touch them and enable them to see the world differently or give them that I-can-conquer-my-world feeling, then I am happier than I could ever be.

This goes along with another reason I write. I agree whole-heartedly with the following quote from a portion of a poem:

“I write only because
There is a voice within me
That will not be still.” – Sylvia Plath

The reasons above cause me to write and they keep me writing. I have to write. I simply cannot stop. If you told me I couldn’t write, I would be devastated and I wouldn’t feel like myself.

Everyone has his or her own reason for writing. If you don’t know yours, keep writing and you’ll find it. If you don’t know where to start, here are some tips.

People always say to write what you know. But don’t take that too literally. Stories or poems you write don’t have to be exactly what you’ve experienced. Suzanne Collins who wrote The Hunger Games didn’t grow up in a dystopian world called Panem. But rather I’m sure she took certain experiences from her life and created a new world. It’s called fiction for a reason. Make it what you want and take the experiences you’ve had and mold them into something different or don’t. It’s up to you.

There are different perspectives and tenses to choose from before you start.

First person – I went to the store. It’s as if someone is directly telling you their story.

Second person – You went to the store. This perspective is the least popular. It’s difficult, but when done well, it’s truly interesting. Basically with this one, the narrator is talking to the reader directly with the ‘you.’

Third person – She when to the store. In third person the narrator is telling a story about someone else.

And then you have past and present tense. Both are used a lot. I usually write in past tense because with present tense I either get a little off track and mix past up in it, or I just find myself returning to past tense all together.

But remember that you might feel like the perspective and tense you chose in the beginning isn’t working. So move onto another one.

Favor an active voice over a passive voice. Instead of saying, She was going to go to the store, say, She went to the store. See the difference? One, there are less words, and two, we get right into the action of the story.

Concrete over abstract details. There are a lot of words out there that are abstract: innocent and love are two easy examples. What does it mean to be innocent? What is love? There are many different meanings here. Don’t just say your character is innocent, but show how they are innocent. What are they doing or saying or how do they look?

Show don’t tell. I’m sure everyone has heard this one, but it’s fundamental. Telling your readers everything is just down right mean. Give them some credit and let them figure out the story. It’s as simple as changing: “It was cold.” to: “Eleanor wrapped her arms around her waist and rubbed her hands over the fire.” The second one gives more description and feeling.

READ! Read the genre you want to write it. Read in the one you don’t want to write in. Read anything you can get your hands on. And while you’re reading, pay attention to how the author constructs the novel. Where did they put major plot points or twists or subplots? How did they handle the chapters? How did they end and begin the novel? Pay close attention to sentence structure and dialog and learn from it.

I could go on and on and on, but here’s one last thing that I think is really important: There are no rules. So what if someone hasn’t done it before. It might turn out awful at first, but keep trying. Be you. Write in your unique voice. Be the first to do something and do it well.

I hope this blog has helped people out there wishing to write, and if you don’t want to write but you’d rather read, I hope this blog has helped you understand me or other writers or the people around you a little bit more. Writing is dear to me and I wouldn’t be who I am without it. In closing, I would like to thank all the people and professors who taught me these lessons and so many more! I’m forever grateful!

Go on and write, my friends.

(photo from tautly.com)

Shut out the noise, noise, noise!

Bonjour mes amis! Comment allez vous?

If you haven’t noticed, I’ve been saying hello in a different way every blog. I’ve decided it’s my “thing.” (You’re supposed to at least chuckle here because I’m not being completely serious, but at the same time I am.)

Now it’s time to be completely serious.

Have you ever watched the cartoon How the Grinch Stole Christmas? I’m sure you have, and you’ve probably seen it dozens of times. I’ve had a quote from that movie running through my head the past few days. It’s when the Grinch says, “All the noise, noise, noise!” when he’s talking about the noise the Who’s down in Whoville make on Christmas day. He pretty much felt a little like this: 

(photo from www.hsa.ie)

It’s no surprise or news that we’re surrounded by a lot of noise from radios to TVs to phones and so on. But I believe in every era there was some sort of distraction and noise. One of the biggest forms of noise can even be as simple as the people (or voices) around us who influence us the most. Maybe for you it is the news or magazines or your family and friends. We’re always going to be surrounded by noise, but we must learn how to make sure we’re listening to the one voice that matters above all the others: God’s.

Throughout my life my heart’s desire has been to please God and to follow his plan for my life. But that doesn’t mean I’ve always known what he wants me to do. I’ve made decisions that probably weren’t the best and while I don’t necessarily regret them, I still wish I would’ve listened to God and not to the other voices around me because it would’ve made things simpler.

A couple situations stick out the most to me concerning my life in this area. One of them I finally listened, and in the other I was more hesitant and confused and didn’t listen.

Firstly, when I started going to IUPUI, it was supposed to just be my first year school before I decided where I really wanted to go. I eventually decided on a rather expensive private school with a beautiful campus and only a couple hours from home. I was set on going. I was sure it was what God wanted me to do because well, I saw “signs,” which had to be confirmation from God (obviously.) I mean, why else would I see them? My family wasn’t very supportive of the idea: it was too expensive and they didn’t have peace about it.

I argued that I did and that was all that mattered. But did I really?

You see, for months I was set on going to this college. I had my schedule, my roommate, and I walked around the campus to see where my classes would be. It was a done deal. But all along I had this nagging in my spirit that I kept ignoring. I was choosing to listen to the voice I wanted to hear: the one that stemmed from my desire to have a “real” college experience. At times, going to IUPUI made me feel lesser than people that went away to school because I was still living at home and still working at the same job and so on. I felt like their lives were so much better and dare I say cooler than mine. They looked like they had more freedom and independence than I did. And that just didn’t seem fair to me. 

Ridiculous, right? (It’s okay to nod in agreement.)

Thankfully one day my mom and I talked and she told me to seriously think about it and pray about it. It was hard: so hard. At the time it was the hardest thing I ever had to do. I remember crying one night because I knew I had to give it up. But it wasn’t until I sat down and had a heart to heart with God that I realized how in the wrong and silly I had been. I was listening to the wrong voices (namely mine) and not paying attention to the one that mattered. I’m so thankful I finally listened. Things wouldn’t have turned out well if I didn’t and that college experience I wanted would’ve been something I really regretted doing because it wasn’t right for me. God had a place for me and it was right where I already was. I just had to learn to accept and be happy in it, and once I did, I realized how much I loved IUPUI.

The next life moment that sticks out to me didn’t turn out like this because I didn’t listen, and I got confused: very confused. I was going to try to skirt around the edges with this one because it’s a little more personal, but I realize I can’t do that, so here it goes.

A couple years later, I was in a relationship and it was a good relationship. No one was against it, but in fact many encouraged it. When it all began I continually prayed and asked God to show me if it was right or not. I didn’t want to enter into one if it wasn’t right. But I was never sure. At times I felt uneasy, but others I didn’t. Because a stop wasn’t put on the relationship, it progressed, and I was happy. It seemed right, but yet I couldn’t figure it out. I couldn’t figure out how it would all fit together in the long run. I thought maybe I was just over thinking because I tend to do that, so I dismissed it.

Promises were made and things were said and it seemed like the course of my life was heading in a certain direction: another year of college then marriage. But the direction didn’t make sense to me. I didn’t see how I could fit in that life unless I really forced it. God showed me several times how my dreams and desires and passions were being taken away from me because our lives weren’t meant to be woven together. But I was hearing other things from other people and listening to them, which is where the major confusion came in.

You can’t listen to other people’s voices and clearly hear God’s voice.

Now I’m not saying that you shouldn’t get advice from people or talk to people about things, but what I am saying is that God should be the very first person you turn to, and if what people are saying doesn’t line up with what God’s telling you, then don’t head their advice.

A lot of things seemed good in the relationship and maybe they were good, but they weren’t great. They weren’t God’s best.

Before things went south (why do they go south anyway? Why can’t they go north, west, or east or even northeast? I have to Google this now), God clearly told me there were people and relationships I needed to let go of. I sat and tried to solve this problem like a math problem: logically. I tried to figure out who and why and even though that person popped in my head first, I wasn’t too sure. I asked God if it was the person I was in a relationship with and I waited for an answer.

Of course they were one of them. But I didn’t fully listen. I asked and I asked earnestly and honestly, willing to let it go, so where did I go wrong? I thought logically and rationally, which obviously aren’t bad things, but I’ve learned God isn’t always logical or rational in our terms. We see one thing, but God sees ahead and sees how it isn’t the best. I sat trying to figure out logically what he told me, and I tried to listen to him, but I heard the other voices too. I heard what people were saying and what I thought and what the person I was in the relationship was saying and none of it made sense, so I reasoned that it wasn’t the relationship I had to give up.

But it was.

God gave me a chance to get out and save some heartache, but I didn’t take it because I wasn’t fully listening. My heart may have been in the right place and I may have been earnest, but I didn’t shut out the other voices, so I missed God’s.

There’s so much noise around us that it makes it hard to hear from God. A lot of the time we go around trying to listen for an audible voice that we can’t deny, but that’s most likely not going to happen. So what do we do?

Turn off your car radio. I did the other day and I was so amazed by how quiet everything was. And many times when I turn off the radio, I have genuine one on one time with God, and it’s beautiful. But ultimately, just turn off the noise. Your parents mean well, but they may not be telling you what God is telling you. Your friends may give good advice, but it may not be the advice you need.

John 10:27 says,

“‘My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.’”

You will hear God’s voice clearly when you shut out the others. He speaks to us in many different ways. A lot of the time it’s like a feeling or a knowing in our spirits. It’s usually not a burning bush that talks, but the Holy Spirit lives in us, so once we settle down and shut everything out, we will hear him and we will know his voice.

I’ve experienced both listening and not listening, and listening is so much better. Not listening can be righted, but it makes things more difficult. If you’re waiting on an answer and you haven’t heard anything, shut everything out. Get somewhere that’s quiet where you won’t be interrupted and just spend time with God whether it’s reading the Bible or talking to him or singing praise and worship, just get alone with him.

And don’t try too hard. Many times I’ve found myself straining my ears trying to hear an answer, but it’s never worked. Keep it simple. God isn’t that complicated, but we make him complicated. All he wants is for you to open yourself up to him and shut out all the other voices and

listen.