Hope – Page 2 – Let's Get REAL Together

Different isn’t Worse

August 21, 2020by 4letsgetrealtogether1 Comment

Everyone loves an accent, especially a British or South African one. Longer vowels, truncated consonants. Mysterious in nature. Different cadence. Soothing, some might say.

I, however, do not hold this affinity. Unfortunately, I slip entirely too easily, unbeknownst to me, into this accent. Foreign Accent Syndrome. It is one of several inexplicable symptoms that I still sometimes experience…one year later.

It’s infuriating.

It’s humiliating.

It’s exhausting.

The accent, the delayed speech, the difficulty walking, the inability to translate what’s inside my head out to the rest of my body, the hyper sensitivity, the pain.

I ABSOLUTELY HATE IT!

And yet, in spite of it all, I am incredibly grateful. To be here. One year later. “Recovered.”

8/21/19 is my well date. I woke up that morning without any of the afore mentioned symptoms. Peculiar. Unimaginable. Remarkable. My husband couldn’t believe it. My neurologist couldn’t explain it. My friends couldn’t comprehend it.

I’d struggled eleven months. Endured speech therapy. In home therapy. Physical therapy. And then, literally overnight, I was well.

Against all odds, my “mysterious” illness left me. I was given back my life…well, sort of. Most days. It’s decidedly different now. But different isn’t worse.

I’m honestly not sure how to describe it, other than a gift. Though I knew with absolute certainty God would guide me through unwell, and back to health, I wasn’t sure what that looked like. How it would feel.

Employing sheer audacious tenacity, and copious prayer, I navigated my new normal. Return to normal? Different normal? Would this last longer than a glow stick? Or would I relapse, defaulting back to a reduced capacity? Didn’t matter. I was more “normal” than I had felt or sounded in what felt like forever.

“The Lord is my strength and my shield. My heart trusted him, so I received help. My heart is triumphant; I give thanks to Him with my song.”
Psalm 28:7 GW

And, oh how I sang! I distinctly remember joyous tears cascading down as I caught myself singing one of my favorite worship songs. Something I was utterly incapable of doing for those eleven months.

Save a small handful, you will never fully comprehend the roller coaster this has been; however, it may give you a glimpse into the unseen complexity of another’s life. We are all gloriously different. Life would be entirely mundane if we weren’t.

So today, one year later, I’ve decided to accept my difference. My new normal. It certainly beats continuing to futilely fight it. And because I’ve finally come to the conclusion, different isn’t worse. Different is simply different. By His divine design. Who am I to argue?

Just in Case

August 15, 2020August 16, 2020by 4letsgetrealtogether1 Comment

My dad used to always say, “it’s better to have it and not need it, instead of need it and not have it.” Usually, this was in reference to having a coat, umbrella, or roll of quarters tucked away “just in case.” A version of the old Boy Scout “be prepared” motto. And it has served me well, on many occasions. But there are certain things, events, or circumstances in life that you cannot ever really prepare for…

A loved one suddenly passing.

A debilitating injury.

An auto accident.

Unemployment.

A pandemic.

Loss of self.

2020.

In any of these, even the most prepared Eagle Scout would be left dumbfounded. How do you proceed? What’s the next step? Where do you go from here? Why did this happen? Who will you be if you survive this? (The hardest question of all.)

It isn’t until you are thrown into the unpredictable that you become supernaturally armed with the strength for surviving the unknown…you just don’t realize it until after you actually get through it. Onto the other side. Where the pain has dulled enough for you to truly breath again. Friends, if you find yourself in one of those difficult situations, where no amount of “just in case” planning is helpful, you can always turn to your just in time God.

Now I know what you are thinking, “oh boy, here she goes goes again! I wonder what scripture, what Biblical nugget of wisdom this chick thinks she’s gonna pull out to ‘make it all better.’” I gotta admit, I actually smirked a little as I wrote that…because I’ve been there. I’ve had the same thought. Probably even put on my best earnest face while I listened. But as soon as the advice was presented, it was as if I’d been transported into Charlie Brown’s classroom. All I heard was “wah wah wah wah.”

We usually don’t want scripture OR wisdom in those seemingly most desperate of circumstances. We want Morpheous’ blue pill, returning us back to the way things were, blissfully ignorant. The quick, painless fix. Because if God were truly real, He wouldn’t have allow this to happen (right?). Period. The end.

NOT “God doesn’t give us more than we can handle.” NOT “God turns all things into good.” NOT “God’s plans are always best.” While all of these are absolutely true, NONE of them are helpful when you feel as though you are all alone, drowning in the middle of an ocean during a Cat 5 hurricane.

But here’s the thing, sometimes, in the worst of times, what we really need is God to send someone to just listen. Someone to silently sit with us. Someone to hold our hand. Someone to say “I’m sorry.” Someone to allow us cry, scream, cuss…whatever!

I pray you have that “someone” in your life. And if your arms are burning right now from treading water while trying to think who that “someone” could be, it would be my privilege to be your “just in case” safe place. That’s my Let’s Get REAL Together mission. That’s why God has watched over me through the unfathomable, so I could be here with you today…just in case.

Plan to Wait

July 10, 2020July 10, 2020by 4letsgetrealtogether2 Comments

No one “plans to wait.” We plan to go. We plan to do. We plan to succeed. “Wait” seems to utterly wasteful, counterintuitive to our need for immediacy.

This pandemic has brought many of us into a season of “wait and see.” Will we be able to keep our travel plans this summer? Wait and see. Will we be able to send our kids to school in the fall? Wait and see. Will we be able to return to our former “normal” lives? Wait and see.

“But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it.”
Romans 8:25

Eagerly wait? Who does that? Those who believe the best is yet to come. Those who seek growth beyond what this Earth can offer. Those who expect He will honor our wait.

“But as for me, I will watch expectantly for the Lord;
I will wait for the God of my salvation. My God will hear me.”
Micah 7:7

“My soul, wait in silence for God only,
For my hope is from Him.”
Psalm 62:5

“Yet those who wait for the Lord
Will gain new strength;
They will mount up with wings like eagles,
They will run and not get tired,
They will walk and not become weary.”
Isaiah 40:31

I want to gain new strength, to rise above, to grow my faith. In order to do so, I must wait. Silently, though my thoughts scream. Expectantly, though my anxiety fights for control. Patiently, though my body is restless.

I must plan to wait…because it allows peace to permeate. His plans are infinitely better than anything I can come up with on my own. And in my plan to wait, I put my trust where it belongs…in His hands.

Sweet Release

May 31, 2020by 4letsgetrealtogetherLeave a Comment

Today I am sad…

Sad because of all the hate.

Sad because of all the debate.

Sad because of the polarization.

Sad because of all the incessant sanitization.

Sad because I created an account joining the Zoom nation.

Sad because my kids can’t just be kids, hanging out with friends without unnecessary reservation.

Sad because as I type this on the laptop, my eyes keep moving back to my phone propped up nearby with live video feed of a practice I’m not able to attend, fearing I might miss something that I can’t possibly or even remotely control.

*SAD*

All this sadness has given me a headache, quite literally. My limbs feel heavy, as if moving through mud. There is so much stress and tension in my body that I have a sick feeling in the back of my throat. I am desperately fighting this overwhelming sadness because I know full well that it’s not healthy. And yet, like the mysterious invisible hair that makes our skin crawl with a tickling irritation, I cannot seem to put my fingers on it and simply remove this feeling.

Then this “memory” pops up on my personal social media page.

“God cares for you, so turn all your worries over to Him.”
1 Peter 5:7

Not some of your worries. Not just the the big or little ones. Not the ones you think He can handle. *ALL OF YOUR WORRIES*

Funny God. You have the ability to show up anywhere! Even in a Facebook memory. It’s times like these where the phrase “God works in mysterious ways” becomes very present and applicable. You’d think that I’d already learned this a hundred times over: God is in control. I am not. Worrying about all that I cannot control does not gain me anything.

I confess, today was the first time in a while that I opened my Bible app upon waking (a habit I used to have). After making my way through today’s Bible story about witnessing, I moved onto my neglected devotional plan (Reset Your Mind, Overhauling Toxic Thoughts) and clicked “catch me up.” The title? “Capture Your Thoughts,” followed by a quote.

“Taking thoughts captive means controlling them instead of letting them control you.”
Priscilla Shirer

I feel somewhat empowered and a slightly relieved that I do have control over something: my thoughts. Somewhere, in my desperation to control the chaos that has engulfed our world, I handed what I could control over to fear, sadness, and helplessness. Silly me…

With my focus now redirected solely on writing this (as the Zoom feed has ended), I take a deep breath. Intentional. Cleansing. Recentering. What do I truly want filling my thoughts?

If it is heavy, I let it go. If it is hurtful, I let it go. If it isn’t of Him, I let it go. I cannot be His witness if I am wrapped in worry and warped thoughts. These do not point others towards Him. Period.

I am DONE feeding the worry worm. I am replacing this fruitless activity by cultivating healthier habits. Start my day with HIM. Align my thoughts with HIM. Cast my worries unto HIM.

*Sigh* Ahhh, sweet release…and just like that, I am in a better place.

Applause

April 8, 2020by 4letsgetrealtogetherLeave a Comment

I thoroughly enjoy watching movies—all kinds (though horror and romance stories are my least favorite). Not all of what I watch would be what you might call “appropriate.” Case in point, one of the random Netflix movies I’ve recently watched: Fighting with my Family. Filled with questionable language, characters, and morals, there was an incredible gem:

“Just because millions of people aren’t cheering when you do it, doesn’t mean it’s not important.”
~Paige, from the movie Fighting with my Family

We can be submerged in the most questionable or uncertain circumstances and still find precious gold. The grocery store stockers tirelessly working behind the scenes. Our healthcare providers fearlessly serving the sick. The teachers suddenly thrown into learning an entirely foreign method. These unsung heroes absolutely deserve applause…but that’s not why they do it.

You may be asking yourselft, “I’m not any of these professions, what I can I do?” Whether we admit it or not, we all seek affirmation. And when we don’t receive the “bravo” or thunderous claps, we believe what we are doing is unimportant, useless, undistinguished. It’s that feeling of helplessness that often leads to hopelessness, trapping us on the ride that spirals downward into depression. But, my friend, it is in these very moments of ambiguity that you can thrive…you simply make the conscious decision to do something.

Today is your time. It’s mine too. Right here, right now. In the midstream of this…when we are called to be each other’s champions, from our safe social distance. If you are completely quarantined, you can pray. Prayer is powerful. If you are a student, you can call a friend or family member. We all crave connection. If you are able to get outside, you can wait for your walking neighbor to pass by, smile and wave. This elementary interaction might be the only one they have that day. If you are healthy, you can offer to pick up groceries for a friend. The list of what you can safely do is endless, you just need to choose one and do it.

While you may not see these seemingly small acts as significant, the recipient will. You may not hear any applause, but it’s present. You may not see the accolades, but they are thunderous. You may not feel important, but you are mistaken.

Humanity is currently on stage, and everyone is watching. Now, more than ever, you my friend, have a purpose that only YOU can fulfill. How can I be so unequivocally certain? Scripture…

“Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the LORD’s purpose that prevails.”
Proverbs 19:21

God created each of us not only ON purpose but FOR a purpose.

I am not immune to His plans, neither are you. That internal conflict we feel, the one that keeps us up at night. The one that resonates like an incessant earwig. The one that drums in our minds. That one. The one we cannot seem to escape. That, my friend, is His plan and your purpose. Waiting, for our compliance to complete…

Question is, are you only here for the applause or are you prepared to fulfill your purpose? The choice is yours, and it has eternal consequences. What’s more important what that?

Right now. This very moment. THIS is the point just before the crescendo when everyone expectantly holds their breath in anticipation, not knowing what comes next. This is the precise moment when we, individually, are standing in the spotlight, whether it’s main stage, off broadway, or center stage on our living room floors. We were purposefully created to shine…because light dispels darkness, my friend.

“When Jesus spoke again to the people, He said, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.’”
John 8:12 NIV

The stage is set.

The world is watching.

Now is the time for us step up.

Today we must rise and fulfill our purpose.

The role we have unsuccessfully searched for our entire lives. The one that completes the puzzle. The one that helps others in ways we will never know. Isn’t that worth far more than applause?

Flip of the Switch

March 19, 2020March 19, 2020by 4letsgetrealtogetherLeave a Comment

March 19, 2020

In uncertain times, it’s easy to get swept up in all the mania! It looms above like thick clouds waiting to burst and drown us in its deluge. It swirls around us like annoying summer misquotes ready to bite. It stares intensely like an animal waiting to pounce and devour. Frankly, it could possibly be more harmful than what we are currently facing around the globe…

We can decide to flip the switch and simply turn it off. Yes, we need to stay informed; however, we do NOT need to be enslaved by all this craziness! While you and I do not have the ability to make others comply with regulations, whether it be social distancing or hoarding, we unequivocally DO have the power to control our own actions and mindset.

Today, I decided to flip the switch, and it was WONDERFUL! Instead of fretting about my compromised immune and respiratory systems, I tried something: I went outside and ran. This is a HUGE victory because I physically have not been able to run for 19 months. Today’s run was a slow process, no judgement on my time, but I ran consistently for over a mile! Seven months ago, walking required a cane and I had little stability (let alone stamina). *FLIP*

I also went outside in public with no makeup on (hence the fabulous selfie you see). Why is that such a big deal, you might ask? Well, to frame it for you, I had on a full face of makeup and jewelry for both my kids’ deliveries! I simply do not leave the front door without at least some makeup! Because I knew the likelihood of running into someone (pun totally intended) was slim to none, I felt EMPOWERED to do this “unthinkable” act. *FLIP*

I sat down at the dinning room table with my kids, spread out a project they’ve been wanting to do for ages, and enjoyed simply being together without a time constraint. We listened to music, reminisced, and laughed, without a single ounce of guilt! It was priceless. *FLIP*

So in my REA/L moment with you, my friend, let’s flip the switch! Instead of giving fear control over us and allowing the current mania to overwhelm us, let’s spread some positivity! Let’s try something new and encourage others to do the same. Let’s share a little insight to our real selves!

It’s free. It can be done right from your home. And it’s ripple effect might just help reset our nation, even the world, in how we respond and come together in times of uncertainty…all with a simple flip of the switch!

Risky Business

January 14, 2020January 14, 2020by 4letsgetrealtogether

January 14, 2020

Expertly engineered, it stood expectantly awaiting what came next. It’s purpose? To ignite and unite a multi-generation community, ushering in hope through its brilliant display. A beacon that would burn for hours through the night, into the next day. Its light not easily extinguished. If you’ve never experienced an Aggie bonfire, it’s truly an experience to behold.

We are made in similar fashion: skillfully created, never identically duplicated, with a specifically planned purpose waiting ignition. Once our fires are ablaze, purpose set into motion, we become beacons, offering hope, community, and possibility to others. But here’s the million dollar question: Will you allow yourself to be used and fulfill your purpose?

It’s risky business living out loud, on purpose. Someone will always have a comment about how or what they would have done differently. Someone will always question your motive or means. Someone will always try to knock you down, just for the fun of it. It’s risky business being on display, but without risk there is no reward.

Our greater purpose will not be achieved within our comfort zone. Period. Why? Because we would not have stretched far enough for anyone else to benefit. Our greater purpose involves more than just us! “God has given each of you a gift from His great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another” (1 Peter 4:10 NLT).

Your gift, your purpose, is unique unto you, but it is not meant exclusively for you alone. You, my friend, were made for more. Through the power of His spirit, you are called to be a light unto the darkness of this world. You are created to be seen so others may glorify Him. Stop hiding, tucked firmly under your comfort zone blanket, hoping you won’t upset the apple cart, and praying you can make it through the day unnoticed!

“My dear friends, stand firm and don’t be shaken. Always keep busy working for the Lord. You know that everything you do for Him is worthwhile” (1 Corinthians 15:58 CEV).

Some may say it’s risky business serving the Lord, working to fulfill His purpose, allowing others to plainly see. It’s risky operating under “that kind of pressure.” It’s risky being transparently vulnerable. What if I fail? What if people think I’m crazy? What if I’m not 100% sure of my purpose? What then?

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and He will make your paths straight” (Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV).

Obediently trusting Him is always worthwhile, anything else is risky business.