Last week was pretty crazy…in a good way. Crazy in a I-can’t-believe-I-get-to-do-this kind of way.
It was overwhelming at times.
There were moments of stress.
But each day I took in another deep breathe and quietly whispered, “Thank you”.
You don’t always know when they come.
Opportunities.
You spend so much time dreaming of them.
Wishing. Hoping.
But then one day you wake up and they’re staring you in the face.
And you feel as if you’ve been given a moment, a chance.
It’s a moment of truth.
Can you really do it?
Do you really even want to?
Last week was a moment of truth for me. A time to stop dreaming and live it.
And it was amazing.
Now you’re probably wondering what it was. And when I tell you, you may think, “That’s all?”. But, you see, when you have a dream, even a sliver of an opportunity is huge because, like I mentioned, it’s a moment of truth. And if you don’t choke, you can keep dreaming. If you do, well then it’s back to the drawing board to find a new dream. And I don’t care who you are or how many of your dreams have come true, that’s scary.
So here it is: Three teachings. Two writing deadlines. One week to execute. All while being mom during the day.
- Monday I taught to a women’s group about friendship.
- Wednesday I team-taught with Filipe to a marriage group. (This wasn’t any prep, so I can’t take full credit for it. Filipe did the outline; I helped teach.)
- Thursday I had two articles due- one on the subject of prayer & fasting, (the other was a simple interview so it wasn’t a lot of thinking, but another “thing” nonetheless.)
- Saturday I taught at a parenting workshop.
The significant thing for me was that I thoroughly enjoyed each of the topics I studied. I enjoyed writing about fasting as much as I enjoyed teaching on parenting. The process of narrowing down the material was exciting (& nerve wracking, but mostly exciting). I even liked the pressure of executing. In twenty-four hours I went from a small paragraph of fifty words to two thousand. I look back and still wonder how I really did it. I’m not even sure. But the need to deliver kept me focused.
While I have so far to go in teaching and writing, I love doing it. But I don’t just want to have a clear and concise outline with flawless execution. I don’t want to just write a good sentence, I want that sentence to change someone. I want someone to apply it and their lives be better because of it.
Of course, I believe in those moments of execution the Holy Spirit is ultimately working, He’s the one who inspires and He prompts real change. I just enjoy being the one He can use to do it. I feel like I’m doing what I was created for. And I don’t know if it gets any better than that.
A week like last has to be rare in my current season, (and it will not likely happen again). My days were still spent doing laundry and taking the kids to the pool, but it helped me see that the times I do spend studying and writing aren’t for nothing. They’re not just for myself.
If you’re wondering how I did it? One number- 5am. It’s a new norm for me, and the fact that I love it and have embraced it also tells me this must be something.
Enough about me, what about you?
What are your dreams? What gives you a sense of “this is what I was created for”.
Do you even know? It’s hard to dream in light of others’ expectations, so push away the feelings of what “I’m supposed” to like or do. Find what connects with your heart. It may not be big to someone else, but when it strikes a cord in you, it’s big for you. And that’s what matters (I think so anyway.).
What are the slivers of opportunities you’ve been given?
Mandy