Learning Along The Way

1,2,3 Deedle Deedle Dee (3 New Ideas for You)

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You may have noticed the name of my website; chosen specifically to fit the way I move through the world. Funny thing that still surprises my me-centered world: not everyone is like me! I forget we don’t all learn the same way, we don’t all care about the same things and we’re not motivated in the same ways.

So here I am, learning along the way. And I still get excited to share what I learn, like I am still an eager child in a classroom frantically waving my hand, hoping against hope that you’ll get excited too; that you’ll be encouraged or challenged as I was when I learned this new thing or read this new book or saw this new movie.

Maybe you get excited by some of things I share, and perhaps you’re not all interested. That’s okay really. I just hope you’ll keep stopping by to see if there might be something you are interested in hearing about. In my continued passion for learning I’ve gotten derailed lately from the sharing what I’ve learned; I’ve started telling myself no one cares but me, so why bother writing these things out anyway?

And then I tell myself truth: my story matters. And so does yours. How I see and think may resonate with you and give expression to a thought or feeling that you’ve held but hadn’t brought to the surface yet.

So I write again.

I learned there’s a name for what I really like to do; curate.

 Curator–a person who selects content for presentation, as on a website.

I love to curate information, distill, share and recommend. I’d rather point to others’ works and how they’ve impacted me; how I think you would benefit from reading/hearing/learning from them, too.

Today I learned three new things! This is a big day and it’s only midday!

#1 I learned that when you risk speaking about a fragile part of yourself, people respond gently and with grace; way differently than I imagine.

Then later in catching up with email I read what Michael Hyatt had to say about a new book, Scary Close by Donald Miller. I haven’t read it yet but from the post I’m intrigued. Eager to learn more…

 

street love gift session 3

#2 When I let my fear of failure take the stage I don’t fully show up for myself or others. My fears cause me to veil myself, being somewhat myself but not fully myself. I heard last Sunday that the opposite of Faith isn’t Doubt. The opposite of Faith is Fear. So when any fear that I have is allowed to step forward and lead me then I am not believing God is big enough or strong enough or faithful enough or whatever enough. I don’t like that option. So I practiced #1 today. And I was encouraged. My brokenness isn’t pretty but God can bring His beauty out of it. He can do the same with you.

#3 Reading the words of others on the path to God’s Heart can shine light on my next step. True confession: I don’t read blogs daily. I make time for blog reading regularly but not daily. And yet, I am often blessed, encouraged or challenged by the words of fellow bloggers. Two days ago, over at A Holy Experience, Ann Voskamp wrote about failing at Lent. Kind of a funny thought really but true to her form of expression, I was caught off guard. This quote…

 It is an irrefutable law: One needs to be dispossessed of all the possessions that possess us — before one can be possessed of God.

Let the things of this world fall away so the soul can fall in love with God. 

I have learned the practice of spiritual habits is so important; during Lent I especially want to enter into what God is already doing. Being reminded again of how I cling to the familiar, to people and things of this world, being possessed by them, really took me by surprise today.

 #1 risk being vulnerable

#2 take fear down by building trust in God

#3 read to be encouraged to grow.

 

There you go! 1,2,3. Deedle deedle dee!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lessons Learned

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I am really enjoying reading other writers’ work.  Blogs, books, ebooks, even tweets! I have had a steady diet of dead people’s writing for many years and they continue to influence my thoughts but lately I am really energized by current work.

For example, Jeff Goins.  I first learned of Jeff’s work through Michael Hyatt (another writer I am influenced by).  I read a couple of Jeff’s posts and subscribed to his blog via email.  That’s a great way to stay connected with writers you enjoy (you can subscribe to my blog that way too! hint, hint)

Since I just wrote about Journeys, I was excited to read Jeff’s email; he posted about journeys that day as well.  And I wasn’t disappointed!

He does this so well I want you to benefit from his work.  The following is excerpted from Jeff Goins’ email to his subscribers on Monday, Sept.30

10 lessons we learn from journeys

Journeys are important — both physical ones as well as figurative ones. They help remind us that we are not done yet, that life itself is a trip that we can make the most of or completely miss the point.

So here are 10 brief lessons I learned from my trip. Maybe they’ll help you on whatever journey you’re taking:

  1. No journey is perfect. Take one, anyway. You will grow regardless.
  2. The destination is never quite what we expect. But without one, we wander aimlessly. So having a final arrival point is important if for no other reason than it gets you started.
  3. Only when we let go of what we think we deserve can we really enjoy what we have.
  4. Inspiration is everywhere. You just need eyes to see it. Yes, even in cornfields.
  5. The hard part isn’t getting from point A to B. It’s paying attention to what’s around you before you miss it.
  6. A journey is less meaningful when traveled alone. We need community to make the most of all experiences, even if that means finding it along the way.
  7. Art helps us process. A good book or great record not only helps pass the time; it gives language to an experience you might otherwise not be able to describe.
  8. Gratitude makes any experience better. It’s easy to want to be home or some place else but we have no control over that. Turns out all we can control is our attitude. So why not be thankful?
  9. The best journeys have a purpose. But expect to be surprised and even see that purpose change.
  10. If you accomplish nothing, see nothing, even feel nothing, take heart. Whether you realize it or not, you’ve changed. And this is reason enough to continue traveling.  Also you can click over to his site and subscribe to his blog.

I am doing my own reflecting on our journeys of this summer and fall (as the season has now changed).

What about you?  How are Jeff’s lessons similar to your experiences?  How are they different?

How Do You Measure Change?

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A week ago I was in a different state. Not state of mind, although that is true too, but state in this country. All the way across the country from where I live. A day of flights, layovers and missed shuttle later and I was in a hotel with over 700 women gathering for what turned out to be an amazing 3 day conference:  She Speaks.  There were fabulous speakers, Lysa TerKeurst, Michael Hyatt, Holley Gerth, to give you an idea, and so much learning that I am still processing it all a week later!

Which brings me to the question, How do you measure change?  How do you recognize when something is different when it seems change happens subtly?

The change you’re experiencing may come in seconds like a set of waves at the edge of the ocean.

You may be caught off guard, the change comes and you get wet since you weren’t paying attention.

Or change may happen so slowly that you’re not sure what’s different, you just know something is.

Keep an eye on the shape of this creek…

There is a difference of a week between these two shots. Intense power redirected the path of this creek that leads into the vastness of the ocean. In.one.week.

The week before the creek was winding its way to its goal. Now it is a straighter path.

A week ago I was eager. Now I am reflective. I am full of learning and now slowly processing the impact of change.

How do you measure change? How do you know it’s happened?

Hezekiah on his sick bed cried out to God for more time on this earth; God heard and answered through the prophet Isaiah that Hezekiah would have 15 more years of life.  How was that change measured?  The shadow of the sun went back up the stairs 10 steps. (read the story here)

The change was measurable.  It was recorded for us to read.

How are your changes measured? Through your memory only? Or do you record change for reflection, for your family, for the future generations to look back on?

How are you capturing the changes in your life?

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