Let's Start Believing!

One thing I learned in college was that in order to be a good writer, you have to be a good reader. To be honest, I don't think I am a good reader! I enjoy reading, but am by no means an avid reader. I love libraries; I think they are treasures of knowledge, history and wisdom, but I don't spend hours in them reading or even perusing the shelves. I believe there is an art form to storytelling, to book printing and binding, illustration, prose and poetry, but I have yet to master it. Even still, since childhood, I've wanted to "be" a writer. 

What I'm learning that means is: I write, because it's what I do. It doesn't mean my identity is "writer" "author" or "wordsmith". I simply write. Almost daily, I write. I write even if no one reads it. I, myself, may not even reread my own writing! For years I've kept journals upon journals of written messages, imaginings, quotes that inspire me, quotes from the Bible, prayers and poems. I write because it's a part of my life work. It's something I love to do.

Because of this, I've always said that "one day" I will write a book. But I find myself poised with the question Do I need to write a book? Do I need to write this blog- whether it's for myself, or for others? This is the question I'm beginning to explore. I've never thought about writing a book for someone else. Yet, as I consider the idea of writing for the purpose of sharing something that helps someone, writing in order to edify others, educate others, or inspire and motivate others, I wonder how I might do that. We ALL need to know that we matter. We ALL need to know that we're important and that our life is significant, worthy, and our life stories worth sharing.

I start with this (after a brief hiatus from my last post) because I feel pressed to finally start my book! In an act of faith that this is something to actually and actively pursue, I've invested in a book-writing course. (It's available for others interested here.) Even with a degree in "Creative Writing", I needed more of a nudge. (Don't we all need a little nudge sometimes to pursue our dreams?) What might you be nudged to finally start doing in this time? What dream, ambition, or life goal have you thought about doing, but have always put off until "one day"? I want to simply encourage you that perhaps NOW is that "one day". In this season, before the 2020 year is finished, you can embark on the journey of it! 

We all know that 2020 has been a year full of unexpected challenges and even setbacks for many people. Although it has come with surprise, tension, trauma and awakenings for our world, we do have a chance and a choice to embrace a positive change. Not only is the year 2020 not finished yet, but 10 days ago we celebrated the Jewish New Year: 5781. A season has changed. Physically, we turned from Summer into Autumn. And spiritually, we can also turn from darkness to light, from death to everlasting life! Today, as I post, 10 days into this New Year, we acknowledge the day of Yom Kippur, which is a Jewish holy day that commemorates the day when a High Priest would sacrifice an animal to Adonai, for the repentance and forgiveness of sins for the entire community. How grateful I feel to know that Messiah Yeshua, our Great High Priest, has sacrificed for us ALL once for all time! We no longer need an annual animal sacrifice; instead, we possess a daily one. We have been gifted with a Living Sacrifice, an eternal promise of Hope, and a reminder of being forgiven and set free.

So as we move into this new season, knowing we are forgiven and have a new beginning, a blank slate, I invite you to consider what it looks like for you to invest in yourself. God has invested in you in the greatest way, by sending His Beloved Son to live, die, and live again so that we might live forever. Is there a book you've been wanting to read? A course or lessons you could take or begin? I believe in you. What's more, God believes in you! Do you believe in yourself? For me, what I needed to know was there was one person (that being my husband) and God who believe in my dream. If they do, why shouldn't I?