How many yesterdays are you dragging around with you? Such weighty invisibles … slowing us down, holding us back. If I’m looking in the rear view mirror, how can I be aware of what’s happening up ahead? How can I be prepared for the future if I’m mired in the past? The question that has lingered with me all weekend …
In Others’ Words: Only You
There are some things only I can do. Being me, for example. Nobody else can be me. Brilliant deduction, I know. I spent some time — too much time, to be honest — doubting myself. (Yes, yes, I’ve admitted this before, so I won’t belabor it again.) Lesson learned: Spend too much time doubting yourself and you spend too little …
In Others’ Words: The Difficult Road
I don’t know about you, but I’ve looked for various forms of success for a lot of my life. One of the earliest forms of success started way back in grade school spelling bees … and I’m still wrangling with words in pursuit of success. I don’t know about you, but I’ve always hoped that success would be found, well, …
In Others’ Words: To the Future
Some days are weights … and others are stepping stones … and still others disappear before I even grasp “What happened?” I’m aiming for something … so many things … and I don’t want to miss what’s right here, now, because I just may find this moment was the most important thing of all. Sometimes I dream when I’m asleep …
In Others’ Words: Moving Forward
Yesterday, I wrote a scene where an imaginary character grapples with forgiving someone — someone who hurt him years ago. And as I wrote the scene, I realized that some of the words coming out of the character’s mouth were my own. I wasn’t too surprised. I’ve grappled with forgiveness — the whole “How do I forgive this person, God?” …
In Others’ Word: Weariness
When you’re weary, do you ever stop to discern why? Are you weary because you are not doing the things you want — or need — to do? Or are you weary because you are doing the things you do not want — or need — to do? It’s a question worth asking … and a question worth answering. …
In Others’ Words: Choosing to Trust Others
There comes a time when you have to decide: is this thing between you and another person a relationship or not? I’m not just talking about romantic “do I or don’t I love this person?” kind of relationships. This question comes up as friendships are formed too. And yes, the beginning of relationships make me nervous. Do I or don’t I? …
In Others’ Words: Good Enough
When do you decide that you’re good enough? Are you only satisfied with yourself when you’ve reached the goal you set for yourself? Maybe you finally lost those (fill in the blank) pounds. Or you gave that presentation at work. Or you finished making that craft project you’ve been working on for years. You pat yourself on the back because, …
In Others’ Words: Words and Music
Sometimes I find myself at a loss for words … and I allow silence to fill the space between my inhales and exhales. And sometimes, someone else has found the words for me and put them to music. And I don’t need to grasp how to somehow, someway express my loss … or my joy … or my questions … …
In Others’ Words: The Right Time to Quit
I have always been intrigued by this particular passage of Scripture: Cease striving and know that I am God. (Psalm 46:10 NASB) Of course, this isn’t the only passage of Scripture that intrigues me, but it’s the one that’s got my attention right now. Cease striving. Aren’t we supposed to work hard? Aren’t we supposed to keep at it? Aren’t …