- — Shauna Niequist
Tuesday, October 4, 2016
Quote of the Day
"It’s rebellious, in a way, to choose joy, to dance, to love your life. It’s much easier and much more common to be miserable. ... but I think it’s our job to live each day like it’s a special occasion, because we’ve been given a gift."
Monday, October 3, 2016
Women in the Scriptures
A few years ago, my daughter Erin and I visited an exhibit by the Utah-based artist Kathleen Peterson. The exhibit consisted of paintings Kathy had done of women from the Bible. Erin's favorite was a depiction of the prophetess and judge Deborah leading her army to battle, and I took Erin's picture standing below that painting.
Kathy's wonderful paintings have been used to illustrate the picture book Girls Who Choose God, written by McArthur Krishna and Bethany Brady Spalding — a book I own and love.
Recently, the children in our congregation did a presentation during the Sunday worship service about what they've been learning this year about the scriptures. For the most part I enjoyed their words and songs, and I truly appreciated their witness of the truthfulness of the Word of God. I was saddened, though, during one section of the presentation when a number of children told us of their favorite scripture study. Not one of those children, the majority of whom were girls, described a story about a woman!
I have my favorite Bible stories about men, of course, but aren't there just as meaningful stories about women? Yes!
Isn't it important that we learn to see the women in the Word? Yes!
Can't we find heroes to admire and emulate among the great female characters in the scriptures? Yes!
Among my favorite New Testament stories about women (as illustrated in the exhibit of Kathleen Peterson's work) are the account of Jesus' visit to Mary and Martha, Mary Magdalene as the first witness of the Resurrected Lord, and the Samaritan woman at the well.
Who are your favorite women in the scriptures?
Kathy's wonderful paintings have been used to illustrate the picture book Girls Who Choose God, written by McArthur Krishna and Bethany Brady Spalding — a book I own and love.
Recently, the children in our congregation did a presentation during the Sunday worship service about what they've been learning this year about the scriptures. For the most part I enjoyed their words and songs, and I truly appreciated their witness of the truthfulness of the Word of God. I was saddened, though, during one section of the presentation when a number of children told us of their favorite scripture study. Not one of those children, the majority of whom were girls, described a story about a woman!
I have my favorite Bible stories about men, of course, but aren't there just as meaningful stories about women? Yes!
Isn't it important that we learn to see the women in the Word? Yes!
Can't we find heroes to admire and emulate among the great female characters in the scriptures? Yes!
Among my favorite New Testament stories about women (as illustrated in the exhibit of Kathleen Peterson's work) are the account of Jesus' visit to Mary and Martha, Mary Magdalene as the first witness of the Resurrected Lord, and the Samaritan woman at the well.
Who are your favorite women in the scriptures?
Sunday, October 2, 2016
God's Plan for Me
Bethany was just thirteen when she was attacked by a shark while surfing off the coast of Kauai. Despite losing her left arm, she was determined to continue surfing — and anchored in her faith and with the support of her family, she has done just that. The book is a quick read, and I found it inspiring.
During her account of the immediate aftermath of the shark attack, Bethany describes the thoughts, feelings, and actions of her family members and close friends, including the youth leader from her church, Sarah Hill. As I recall the account, Sarah was rushing to get to the hospital, struggling to find the words she would need to comfort Bethany's family. As she prayed, the words to Jeremiah 29:11 came into her mind:
"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."Listening to the words of this scripture as I ran down a hill, I gasped — but not because I was running hard. I had chosen this Bible verse months previously as my inspiration for The Year of "Yes"! Hearing it in the context of Bethany Hamilton's horrifying experience, the words hit me hard with their truthfulness. If God had a plan for Bethany following the shark attack — a plan to bless her, not to hurt her — a plan for her future, then surely He has a plan for me too!
Saturday, October 1, 2016
The Year of "Yes"
Golden Gate Park, San Francisco.
December 2011.
© 2016 Alison Walker
For a number of years I've chosen a one-word theme around which I can focus my thoughts, goals, and activities for the year.
My word for 2011 was Order, and in 2012, I chose Fullness. The word I chose for 2013 was actually three interrelated words — (en)light(en) — and in 2014 I wanted to build on what I'd learned in the previous years and chose Onward as my word. My word for 2015 was See — and I wrote on that topic for #Write31Days 2015.
For 2016 I chose Yes as my One Little Word. I had been thinking about the words Intentional and Mindful and Open — but none of those individually seemed to fully capture the ideas in my mind and heart. I found myself also thinking about the concepts of Expanding My Horizons, Seeing Possibilities, and Setting Priorities. Eventually, all these thoughts seemed to boil down to the simple word Yes.
I decided that I wanted 2016 to be The Year of "Yes"!
Throughout October I will be reflecting on what I've learned this year for #Write31Days 2016. I hope you'll say "Yes" to joining me!
Reference
Edwards, Ali. "One Little Word." Ali Edwards.
#Write31Days
An Index of Posts
Tuesday, May 10, 2016
Loving My Actual Life
Bringing the Creativity
I'd never heard of Alexandra Kuykendall when Loving My Actual Life hit my radar screen several weeks ago via Instagram - but I now feel like Alex is a friend!
My One Little Word for 2016 is Yes - and from the moment I saw the cover of this book, I knew that it contained something I needed as I continue to explore that word this year. I was so right!
In the seventh month of her "experiment of relishing the goodness that is here and present" [page 11], Alex specifically addresses one of the concepts behind my decision to choose the word Yes as 2016's word — that is, my need to create. Sometimes my day-to-day life as an accountant is about as creative as the stereotype would suggest. And yet I feel the pull both to prioritize my existing creative outlets and to expand my horizons.
Alex explained this pull by quoting Emily P. Freeman's book A Million Little Ways (which, not so coincidentally, I purchased several months ago):
I could feel the importance of these statements as I read - but what sunk deep into my heart was this later passage:
So. What do I do with this truth?
As Alex expressed her own doubts about whether she really should prioritize creative time, she referenced a book that (again, not so coincidentally) I read earlier this year — 168 Hours: You Have More Time Than You Think by Laura Vanderkam. A primary take-away of that book, as Alex summarizes it, is this:
Beginning now, once or twice each week I will schedule time (even if it's just a little time) for writing or photography or Bible journaling. Spending less time on social media will help make this possible. Those little bits of time will add up!
This post is linked up over at Alexandra Kuykendall's blog along with others talking about loving their actual lives through small changes.
My One Little Word for 2016 is Yes - and from the moment I saw the cover of this book, I knew that it contained something I needed as I continue to explore that word this year. I was so right!
In the seventh month of her "experiment of relishing the goodness that is here and present" [page 11], Alex specifically addresses one of the concepts behind my decision to choose the word Yes as 2016's word — that is, my need to create. Sometimes my day-to-day life as an accountant is about as creative as the stereotype would suggest. And yet I feel the pull both to prioritize my existing creative outlets and to expand my horizons.
Alex explained this pull by quoting Emily P. Freeman's book A Million Little Ways (which, not so coincidentally, I purchased several months ago):
The first thing we know about God is He made art. What is the first thing we know about people? We were made in the image of God.As Alex says, "Creativity is woven into the fabric of who we are. ... We were made to create!" [Pages 142 and 144].
I could feel the importance of these statements as I read - but what sunk deep into my heart was this later passage:
I am not a fan of the phase philosophy ... That this is just a phase or a season and there will be time for (fill in the blank) later. Because the truth is, we don't know that there will be a later. ... I can do my best to make plans, but truly, if I was made to do something I must figure out a way to do that something now, even if a little at a time [pages 194-195].
So. What do I do with this truth?
As Alex expressed her own doubts about whether she really should prioritize creative time, she referenced a book that (again, not so coincidentally) I read earlier this year — 168 Hours: You Have More Time Than You Think by Laura Vanderkam. A primary take-away of that book, as Alex summarizes it, is this:
It's about making the most of our downtime when we have it. Either to be intentional about a creative pursuit or letting our minds wander instead of inputting the mindless junk food we tend to feast on [page 150].Yes! To quote Alex: "I'm feeling inspired to be a little more intentional here" [page 150]. While I long to initiate an epic experiment in loving my own actual life — and one day (soon) I will — today I have got to start where I am, I have got to start with one small change.
Beginning now, once or twice each week I will schedule time (even if it's just a little time) for writing or photography or Bible journaling. Spending less time on social media will help make this possible. Those little bits of time will add up!
This post is linked up over at Alexandra Kuykendall's blog along with others talking about loving their actual lives through small changes.
Tuesday, April 19, 2016
Quote of the Day
"You write because you have a story to tell, because you sense that you can find words for things that might matter to someone else, that might set them free, that will make them feel less alone, like they’ve made a friend, like they’re not crazy, like they’re not wrong just for being who they are. You write because you think it might matter to someone, the way other people’s words mattered to you."
- ~Shauna Niequist
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