So I skipped out on the #fmfparty tonight. It's not that I am taking a break (...wait - what?) or that I didn't want to hang out with you - my people... it's just that there was this Project Light Gallery opening and paired photography and poetry and well - how could I not go?
So - here goes: Five Minute Friday - The Word Prompt is: LOST
{GO}
I decided to try something new tonight... something that God has been stirring in me and calling me to but I have been -- hesitant. Reluctant, maybe. (No maybe.)
So I skipped out on you, my people... where I have Community and support and encouragement, and I go down the road with a friend and we enter in to a realm of Artists and Poets... all local... all strangers. And I am battling intimidation and comparison (even though I haven't heard or read them yet...) I feel lost in a crowd, invisible and unsure.
There was a time when I would have wanted that... to shrink back into shadows and to not let my voice be heard.
I am thankful that this is not that time. I am thankful that, though I feel the fear, and I fear rejection... I know what I know and I know that He is doing this in me, whether I want it or not!
So I remind myself of this:
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It was a nice evening and I enjoyed being out of my comfort zone and in a new circle. I did not enjoy the self-doubt and negative thoughts of how I would not be welcomed in. It is not fair to them - for I haven't even given them a chance yet, and it is not fair to me - for if I give in to those thoughts, they will stop me short, and shrink me back yet again.
And for me? Those Shrinking days? Those days are over!
{STOP}
So I will write on... diving in to this new adventure and one day soon... I will speak up and speak out in front of a mic and let my voice be heard.
Five Minute Fridays gives us the chance to dive right in and share what He puts on our hearts! Click here to read what others have to say about "LOST"
Five Minute Fridays gives us the chance to dive right in and share what He puts on our hearts! Click here to read what others have to say about "LOST"
Oh - the fine print: if you don't know what FMF is! Five Minute Fridays are hosted by Lisa Jo Baker. It is open to anyone, so to learn more about it - and to jump in yourself (the more the merrier!) or just to find a linky to see what everyone is writing about today - click HERE! The idea is to simply write... for Five Minutes flat... no editing, no deep thinking - or at least REthinking, no spell check - just write! Let it flow! We all write using a prompt that Lisa posts at 10pm Thursday night (EST.) I'm loving the community of amazing bloggers and the creativity that flows from these magical Five Minutes!
Nice to meet you, Karrilee.
ReplyDeleteI am your FMF neighbor, and I am glad to be here.
Truly, we feel as if we were lost in a crowd, but each of us is 'seen.'
Thank you for sharing an encouraging post.
Romi @ In the Way Everlasting
Romi - it's so nice to meet you! I'm glad we are neighbors! Isn't it reassuring to know that no matter what... He sees us and knows us! Thanks so much for stopping by!
DeleteKarrilee- Praise God that He brings victory and courage to try new things...to be transformed. I loved your post! So encouraging and well-written. Thanks for linking up! Peace to you!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much Karen! For most of my life, I fought change and I shied away from the unknown... now I am realizing life is an adventure and I am following His lead, even when I can't see where it is going! Thanks for stopping by!
DeleteHi Karrilee - I enjoy reading your posts since we fist "met" on FMF. I love what you shared! Last Saturday we had a poetry event, it was the first one I ever organised for the God-poets to come and express themselves. There were 4 poets in the room and the rest were visitors and all strangers. Well we walked out there having witnessed miracles of healings, people nervous to share but they stood up and things shifted in them! You know what, I know when you stand up to speak eventually something is going to happen for others and for you. You have been given a voice that is filled with Him so much so that you are part called to speak! May you become all you are destined to be, and may your journey just be beginning!
ReplyDeleteMany blessings!! Aliyah (setapartwarrior.blogspot.com)
Aliyah - that is so awesome! I love that you organized an event for the "God-Poets" This was not a Christian event, and really what intimidated me most was simply all their bios... published in literary magazines and I think literally every single one was an English professor or a professor of some kind at a regional cc or University! I did give one Spoken Word last month at a Coffeehouse night (in a church setting) and I was scared - but I did it... and it felt great! Thank you so much for the encouragement! I always appreciate it when you stop by here!
DeleteI hope you share some of that goodness with us here. I'd love to see you pair some of your photography with your peotry. Seems to me like beauty just waiting to emerge. Be brave girl!!! :)
ReplyDeleteAmy - girl - I just love you! (I did post one Spoken Word vlog around Mother's Day here... and I have performed one other one locally - but haven't written it out here... maybe I will do that! ;) Thanks for the support, my friend! Brave is the new scared, right?
DeleteYou go, artist girl! Go where His wings take you!
ReplyDelete#Kindred (...)
DeleteYes, yes... but I love how God meets me when I'm way outside of my comfort zone. It's like he was waiting there all along.
ReplyDeleteAmen Hannah! So much Amen! (Thanks for stopping by!)
DeleteYes-- love this my friend. You are seen and loved not just by God but by us too!! love you friend!!
ReplyDeleteI love you so... one day, my friend! In real life!
DeleteI feel ya, Blogger friend! I have had those self-doubt feelings a lot lately... it's frustrating! Especially since I know that if He called me to it, He'll bring me through it!! Way to go- jumping in and trusting HIM to bring you through!! I am trying to remember to let Him be my strength and confidence when I feel that I have none!
ReplyDeleteBlessings from a fellow FMF friend!
Thanks so much Boni... We can do whatever He is calling us to! Brave is the new scared! Jump right in, my friend! Praying we both are able to lay down Self-Doubt and only tune in to His Voice! Thanks for stopping by!
DeleteI'm glad you went - and I'd love to hear more *anything* that pairs photography and poetry! <3
ReplyDeleteI know, right? It really was so powerful! I loved the idea of how they did it! (They had photographs and randomly mailed them out to poets and they wrote from the image only!) Super fun!
DeleteSeriously beautiful!
ReplyDeleteThanks Ashley! <3
DeleteI have no doubt that the mic will be in your hand sooner rather than later. Love you!
ReplyDeleteLove you too sweet friend!
Deleteway to be courageous!!! :) and i love your idea of pre-approved...just think about it being your bags of money like in the parable...how many will you multiply instead of bury in the field because of fear of failure? that strange parable sometimes seems to apply to masters and servants and others...but hard to figure out with us...but sometimes it hits you that it really does apply to the gifts that you enjoy that God gifted you with!
ReplyDeleteSummer, thanks so much for stopping by and thank you for your encouragement!
DeleteYes - Preapproved! I can't take credit for that thought... it comes from Love Idol by Jennifer Lee (a book I HIGHLY recommend!)
I love the connection to the parable... we really do have to give away what He's given us to see the Kingdom increase! Happy to have you in my little corner of the interwebs!