Mar 11, 2020 | Faith, Grow, Trust |
The sun shines on my back
while the moon’s glow
lights up my face.
It is still daytime
but the moon
arrived early.
I love it when
the moon appears
in the sky at the same
time as the sun.
It’s two miracles at once.
The sun to grow life.
the moon to
light up the
darkness.
There is light
no matter which
way I am facing.
I am covered
no matter
which way I
orient myself.
I am surrounded by
care and provision
and I am
overwhelmed by love.
And this,
this is the
third miracle.
#PermissionGranted
Jan 15, 2020 | Becoming, Encouragement, Grow |
Lethargy is in her veins.
She is slow to feel,
slow to dream,
slow to fight.
She feels unsure in
every space,
unsure if she wants
to be seen
or if she wants
to be in the shadows.
She delays decisions
until they are
made for her.
Blooming is
left to
others
with more beauty
and talent.
Her plainness
disqualifies her.
Her hunger for more
no longer registers.
She just
moves
more
s l o w l y.
The billboards educate,
the lyrics choreograph,
the movies script
the pathways in
her brain
and
she’s too bone-weary
to fight.
She just goes through the motions,
does what is expected of her.
Lies are what sustains her,
but she can’t find a pulse.
#PermissionGranted
…to seek sustenance from truth.
Jan 9, 2020 | Do The Hard Thing, Grow |
My friend invited me to go on a hike on New Year’s Day.
I informed her I was not in shape for a hike that she would take and she informed me that she was going for a run on her own prior to the hike.
In other words, the hike was her cool down – I should be good.
I was still worried that my heart was going to beat out of my chest at the peak of the hike.
I just didn’t think I was going to be able to hang.
I didn’t want it to look like I couldn’t handle it…
I didn’t want to have to stop for a break.
I was afraid that I would be sore the next day.
It was also going to be a cold morning.
But I went.
And you know what? The challenge was good for me.
I am stronger than I thought.
I huffed and puffed a few times but it felt good.
I am capable of hard things.
It’s my mind that limits what’s possible.
It’s my fear of failure that says no.
It’s me that can talk me out of anything.
And the 3.2 mile hike on uneven ground at funky angles gave me a thirst for more challenge.
Who is this girl?
It was a great way to start the new year.
I want to pursue things that make me wonder, “Am I am up for this?”
I want to welcome opportunities that include a risk of failure.
“Where is Bethany and what have you done with her?”
I know that what I attempt will not be within my own power.
I can do hard things.
Please remind me of this in a few months…
No, really I mean it.
#PermissionGranted
Nov 21, 2019 | Be you, Becoming, Encouragement, Grow |
Bravery is not a guarantee.
Bravery is not a trade for
the outcome you desire.
Bravery is just the
next step you take.
We don’t know what is
around the corner
but the next step
must still be taken.
It is an exercise in trust,
but don’t forget –
you’re in good hands.
Bravery,
in the company of fear,
hope, and trust
is the engine to take you to
where you are supposed to be.
Some days will be hard and you
will be tempted to believe that bravery
has been overtaken by fear.
Fear is just the reminder
that you can’t do life alone.
Fear is just a warning bell
that you are relying too much
on yourself.
It’s time to trust and put fear in its place.
Bravery,
is a lot of small steps –
not giant leaps.
Small steps forward,
are steps in the right direction
and don’t be tempted to
even think they don’t count.
We can celebrate the little wins
and use those to build courage.
The fails?
Those are our guardrails
to help keep us on the
path we are supposed to be on.
There are no guarantees…
except that
bravery equals growth.
#PermissionGranted
Nov 13, 2019 | Do The Hard Thing, Expectations, Grow |
The end of a full day
leaves her with a
slight headache,
achy body,
full heart,
a few regrets, and
a few wins —
and there’s still more to do.
It’s one of those nights,
when she doesn’t know
whether to keep
pushing through
or
call it enough.
A bath sounds great
and so does
finishing up
one
last
thing…
so that tomorrow
won’t be as full,
so that, maybe,
she won’t go to bed with a
the regret/headache combo.
In her fuzzy mind
an idea plows through
the fog.
Why not do both?
A bath and take the computer with her?
Cake and eat it, too!?
Is it necessary to choose, tonight?
Is tonight the night for
and
instead of
or?
The lavender scent,
the warm water,
and her work,
draw her to the tub.
And then a wave of thought
crashes against her mind…
are there other moments
in her life that are
and instead of or?
Has she put limits
where limits don’t exist?
Work or family.
What if it is
work and family?
Giving or receiving.
What if it is
giving and receiving?
Strong or teachable –
what if the right answer
is strong and teachable?
Grace or accountability.
What if the proper way of this
being lived out is
grace and accountability?
Maybe there’s been too many
either-this-or-that in her life.
Maybe it’s time for more and.
#PermissionGranted
Sep 25, 2019 | Becoming, Do The Hard Thing, Encouragement, Grow |
I’ve stranded myself
in the middle of a tightrope.
Maybe that is where
you are now…
worn out from
maintaining the status quo,
but you are frozen in place.
Every muscle works
at maximum capacity
to keep you
safe, steady, and stuck.
I’ve been there –
working hard
and doing what
should be done,
but not budging an inch.
Working hard to
keep balance
even though I can
see what I want is
on the other side
of the chasm.
There’s a lot of questions
between here and there.
A whole lot of strenuous,
tedious, teetering steps
to be taken.
The choice is:
stay or move forward.
Is it more scary to stay
in a precarious place
and work so hard
to not move at all?
Or is it scarier
to never know what
it is like to cross
the chasm to
dance and
take up your space
where you belong?
Proceed with fear.
It is time.
One step,
then two.
No more stuck
on a tightrope.
#PermissionGranted
What will be your one step for today?
