Valentine's Day and why I blog.

A writer writes not because he is educated but because he is driven by the need to communicate.
Behind the need to communicate is the need to share.
Behind the need to share is the need to be understood.



~Leo Rosten

I have been wondering why I blog. Does anyone else besides me even care or read it? This weekend someone actually came up to me and talked to me about one of my posts. I was so surprised. Then today I came across this quote. I do have this need to communicate, to share and to be understood. I also have a strong need to let other people know that they are not alone. I want others to know that even in this technology age where we can email, video conference, facebook, chat, text and twitter, that life can still get lonely at times. Sometimes we all feel alone and wonder if anyone else really does care about what we are going through and even with all of these ways of communicating, do we REALLY communicate with each other. Our communications are still so shallow. We still work so hard to protect ourselves and to keep others from really knowing us. This blog allows me to share with others about what is really going on in my life. It also allows others to lurk... (that's what I've seen it called) to peek into another's life and see that truly we are all much more similar than different.

Recently our family has been making some big changes. We have moved closer to our church. That move has meant leaving much behind. A home, friends, family, spending time with my nieces, being involved with my children's sports and lots of stuff. (It's not possible to cram a 3600 square feet of stuff into about 2200 square feet) We are only 30 minutes away so I will still see my family and friends and I will always be involved with my children's sports but it IS still different. I want to be clear that Rob and I know that God has called us to these changes. Following God is an amazing journey but not always easy, even when you know you are doing the right thing. Oddly, I keep thinking I'd be more upset about these changes. I am at peace. I'm sharing this because I know how overwhelming God's plan can seem. How impossible, impracticle. Even more difficult when other people are involved like spouses, children and extended family and good friends. Following God is not just a choice that I make in a bubble. There is a trickle down effect. I believe that when one of us chooses to follow God, it opens the opportunity for God to be able to work in the lives of others as well. Not that God can't work without us, but when others see us doing what He wants, it can become less scarey for those who watch us.

God loves us and wants us to draw closer to Him. Sometimes it means walking away from what we know and what feels comfortable. This move is a work in process and has not been without it's bumps and tears. Just because it is the right thing to do, doesn't mean it will be easy. I can only say that God is pleased when we follow Him. I have not finished this journey yet so I don't know all that is to come. I do know that as long as I am taking this journey following God that I am in the right place.

Happy Valentine's Day everyone.
May Jesus be your special Valentine today and always.


Love,

Who do you lean on when coffee just won't get you through?

So today was one of those days. All the coffee in the world wasn't going to get me through. This morning I knew I wouldn't make it through without God's strength. Why is it that it takes a day like today for me to be aware of how much I need God? There was one point in my day where I was driving through my town and wondered WHO could help me... WHO I could lean on and that is when I realized that this God of mine is pretty awesome. Not that I didn't know that already, but sometimes it's like I'm realizing it in a whole new way. It's kind of like reading a bible verse that you've read before but on that day at that particular moment it has a whole new meaning to you.

So today is a new day. A day of new beginnings. A day of tears, a few smiles between the tears and most of all a day of hope. I just want to thank God for sending some special people my way today... a few people who knew what kind of day I was having and offered words of encouragement and support. In a world of emails, twitter (not that I tweet), text messaging, IM, facebook, and so many other ways to keep in touch "at arms length", it is truly special to have someone look you in the eye and say, "I care." It takes a lot to actually say those two simple words... and it is much easier to just walk away without saying them aloud. "I care." It seems to me that that is God's message to us and maybe we need to reach out to share that message with each other more often.




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