souldare

Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly. (Matthew 11:29-30 The Message)

Where did this year go? Where have I been? On a detour, and I must admit, I’ve been sort of lost. But thankfully detours eventually return us to the main road that leads to our destination.

A few years ago, I wrote a mission statement with six simple words: “Follow Jesus, generate ideas and write words.” When I feel lost, I return to these statements.

I want everything I do to honor Jesus, to be wrought out of love for Him. He has gifted me with a very active mind and LOTS of ideas. Writing is the main way that I process life and all those ideas.

Recently, I tried substitute teaching. My idea of how to make some extra cash to pay off some debt. It was hard work. It was valuable work. But it was not the work for me.

So I “resigned” and came back home. I returned to generating ideas and taking time for my creative pursuits. (Many of these ideas are flowing out of the work, I call souldare. Stay tuned for new workshops, new events and an etsy shop with journals made from re-purposed book covers and colorful papers!)

I’ve spent the past few weeks in my own journal, processing the perennial question: What’s next?

Journaling helped me to return to the vision of making time and space to encourage others to discover their created selves. I remembered that I work best in a collaborative environment. I realized that I enjoy students who delight in learning new things and making personal discoveries that lead to joy-filled lives.

Recently, I enjoyed the opportunity to partner with my dear friend and journaling revolutionary, Lynn Morrissey, for a day retreat. Through writing exercises and collage work, the Lord Jesus rekindled our passion for Him.

One of the exercises was to write “alpha poems” using the words, “my turnaround.” Here’s my offering from that day:

Mysterious,
Yet not so mysterious, how

Time after time, I neglect to
Understand that Your
Right path for me
Never leads me
Away from You, but
Right back to Your
Open heart, full of
Unfailing love.
Now again this
Day I return to YOU!

Linking with the Random Journal Day-ers!

What’s next for you? How is your vision quest going?