Have The Sunday Night Blues?

Do you get the Sunday night blues?  The weekend is over.  The laundry still isn't done.  The alarm clock will be screaming tomorrow at an hour too early.

This Sunday, I was starting to feel pretty sorry for myself.  I had just come off a funeral and the tenth anniversary of 9/11 haunted me all day.  Especially since I’m heading to New York in the morning.

The last thing I want to do is jump on a flight, Lord. 
 
As I put the girls to bed, they hugged me extra tight.

“Why do you have to leave in the morning?  Why can’t you stay home with us?”

I just need more time with them, Lord.  It’s so hard to leave.

I fought back tears as we opened our devotional together. 

And God spoke.

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.  Matthew 6:34

The words cut to my heart. 

Sometimes, God does that.  He speaks to me loud and clear.  His words are like healing balm to my fresh wounds, and I’m thankful for today.  For tonight.  For this moment.  And this moment is so lovely that I have to stop and catch my breath.

In the midst of my revelation my 5-year-old bellowed, "You're going to be alright, Mom.  You've got to face your fears!"

Where the heck did that come from?

It's all part of the grace of this moment.

Tomorrow?  Well, as Mark Twain once said, “I am an old man and have known a great many troubles, but most of them never happened.” 

Do you find yourself preoccupied with tomorrow instead of embracing this moment?

What Ruins Your Day?

My cell phone died an unexpected death.  Yesterday.  I won’t give you the gory details, but let’s just say it’s lying on a highway somewhere along Route 315.

And it really upset me.  I mean it really ruined my day. 

I was grumpy.  I was irritable.  I felt lost and disconnected.

All because of a stupid phone that can be replaced!

But that was yesterday.

Today, I’m headed out of town for a funeral.   Three young boys don’t have a mother anymore.  It’s unexpected.  It’s tragic.  It’s unexplainable.

A mother can’t be replaced.

So I’ve had a bit of a paradigm shift.  You see, I have much to be thankful for – including three beautiful children I can hold tonight – and I really don’t care anymore about my cell phone.  And I’m pretty embarrassed that I let it ruin my day.  (Yeah, I even had to apologize to my kids this morning.)

What silly things have you let ruin your day lately?

Has God Forgotten About Your Resume?

Do you wish you had a different job?  Do you think you are uniquely qualified – maybe even called by God! – to do something else?  


You’re not alone. 


I know, lots of people feel this way.  What’s the big deal?


Here’s the big deal.  Did you know that the Apostle Paul – arguably the most effective New Testament figure – likely had these same thoughts?


Check this out.


In Acts Chapter 22, Paul tells how he first responded when God told him he was going to be sent away to the Gentiles.



God:  "Leave Jerusalem immediately, because the people here will not accept your testimony about me."


Paul:  "These people know that I went from one synagogue to another to imprison and beat those who believe in you. And when the blood of your martyr Stephen was shed, I stood there giving my approval and guarding the clothes of those who were killing him."


Paul was probably thinking to himself:  Wait a minute, I’m uniquely cut out to work in Jerusalem, remember? After all, I have been an insider.  I know the ropes.  I understand the culture.  I have even walked in the shoes of those who persecute Christians.  I can make a difference right here!  I’m the guy to do it.


God's response?  "Go; I will send you far away to the Gentiles."


Did God forget about Paul's resume? 


After all, why would God send a highly-qualified insider out of his home territory to a place where he has nothing in common with the culture, geography, or religion of the people?


It’s like sending someone who has worked his way up Wall Street to run a soda pop stand in Ohio.


It's like sending a Republican to Berkley. 


It’s like sending a surfer dude to the desert.


It’s like sending Pastor Eric from the Ivy League to North Dakota (and then to Ohio!)


You get the point.


Maybe you've even told God, “Hey, you must have made a mistake here.  I'm meant to do something much more important.  What about my resume?”


I've even wondered, does God just like to mess with us?  Does he like to pull a fish out of water? 


Or, like Paul, could it be that he has something bigger – maybe something even BETTER – for our futures? 


[This post was inspired by Pastor Eric’s 8/28/11 sermon at Upper Arlington Lutheran Church.  You can download it here.]

Does Your Life (or Blog) Need a Facelift?

Spring is just around the corner.  Which is why I decided I need a face lift.

It’s not what you’re thinking.  (Ok, maybe I am a bit vain, but I’m not getting plastic surgery any time soon.)

I’m talking about a face lift for my blog!

Why does a face lift make me “feel” better?  After all, it’s the same blog.  The same content.  The same message.

But it still feels new. 

It’s like trying a new recipe. Putting on a new dress.  Drinking a fresh cup of coffee.

Remember what it felt like to get a new pair of shoes as a kid?  You could run faster and jump higher.  And my own children are no different.  Sure, they may be materialistic (like the rest of America) but I also believe something else is going on inside of them.  Something deeper.

I am convinced there is a God-given desire inside of all of us that wants to be made new. 

He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” (Rev 21:5)

And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart. (Ezekiel 36:26 NLT)

Can you feel it? 

It’s that tug inside our hearts that tells us there is something more. Something beautiful.  Even something new. 

Maybe it’s time for a face lift.

Do Small Children Bug You In Church?

It’s really hard to focus during the sermon when my four-year-old Abby is hanging on me, dropping crayons, or complaining that she wants a drink of water.  How are parents of young children supposed to engage in worship?  And what about the people sitting next to us?

Today, I’m linking up with Michelle DeRusha at Graceful for “Hear It On Sunday, Use it On Monday.”
I was going to link up last Monday for the kick-off, but I got a little distracted during the sermon, and I couldn’t pull my thoughts together for a blog post. It was one of those weeks where Mom Abby was particularly impatient. She kept getting out of her seat to go to the bathroom (she claimed she had a stomach ache) and when the pastor said “Amen” and the church was stone quiet, she blurted out rather loudly, “Is it over yet?”

Why do we drag her to church?  Why make a 4-year-old sit through a boring worship service when her older siblings are in Sunday School?   

To start, I for one believe that small children benefit from worship.  Abby knew the Lord’s Prayer before her ABC’s, and she bellows her words loudly and claps her hands and sways her hips to the music. I’ve been in some churches where this wouldn’t be acceptable, but our church in infested with children.  Lots of them.  (Heck, my Pastor Eric has 5 little ones of his own!)  Besides, we usually sit toward the back.

So why isn’t she in the 4-year-old Sunday School class that meets during worship?  The answer is simple.  Yours truly is her Sunday School teacher at the next service, so after worship we’re off to Sunday School.  Together.

What did I learn from the sermon this week?  Lots.  So much that I’ll have to save it for another post.  Instead of worrying about Abby, I adjusted my attitude and expectations.  I decided that for this season of my life, I’m going to enjoy the warmth of a sweaty 4-year-old on my lap who has to go to the bathroom.  And when she prays the Lord’s Prayer at the top of her lungs, I’m going to savor every word. The next time she gets antsy, I might even let her out early to get a drink.

Now, I’m headed over to Graceful.  For those of you who haven’t met Michelle DeRusha, she’s a rocking (not shopping) mom who works at NPR, has her own newspaper column, and blogs like an angel.  And she’s not buying herself clothes for a year!  Sounds like someone I can learn from!  (She’s also newly represented by the extraordinary Rachelle Gardner, and I really can’t wait to read Michelle’s memoir once it’s in print.)

Why I'm Hooked On Grace

If you’re reading this, I am assuming a couple of things about you.  You’re one of those people who is pushing yourself toward something.  Career. Family. Spiritual Growth. Relationships.

And, if you’re like me, you don’t want to settle.  You don’t want to wake up in 20 years and say, “Geez, that was a big waste of time!”

We only get one shot at this life, don’t we?

This intense pressure – to take the best shot at life that we can – may drive us to action.  It just might drive us to step out of our comfort zones, to change, and to grow.

But it can also paralyze us.

After all, who wants to fail?  Isn’t it just easier to settle?  And if you don’t try, maybe you can protect yourself from disappointment.

I was recently reading a thoughtful post by David Rupert titled “Why Do We Stay in Bad Jobs?”  It got me thinking.  Isn’t it fear – and specifically the fear of failure – that holds us back from achieving our true potential?

This is where grace comes in.  You see, I think God already has this whole “fear of failure” thing under control.  Grace means that I don’t have to perform.  I don’t have to have a road map.  And I don’t even have to get it right the first time. 

Someone else got it right for me.  I just have to accept a gift.

I know, this sounds too simplistic.   Some would even argue that grace destroys motivation.  Why try to be the best if you don’t have to?

I don’t know about you, but when someone gives me a gift – especially a gift I don’t deserve – I want to give back.  I want to show that I’m grateful.  I too want to experience the grace of giving.  And when I experience unconditional love – love that isn’t dependant on what I’ve done for you or what you expect from me -- I want to love back. 

Besides, if my identity is secure, I don’t have to worry about proving myself.  I am free to be me – a child of God.  Sure, on the outside, I might look like a mother, a lawyer, a writer.  But all of that could be gone tomorrow.  I’ll be a child of God forever.

Which means I don’t have to worry about whether my writing is good, great or lousy.  Heck, I don’t even need to worry about who is reading this blog (if anyone!) or who is going to post my next Amazon review.  Even typos aren’t the end of the world (ok, they are still really annoying).

Grace has set me free.  And it’s a great feeling.

How about you?

*****

[I’ll be traveling internationally next week and won’t be blogging.  I sure will miss you, but I’m going to give myself some grace, ok?]

What’s Your Major?

 
What was your college major?  And did you end up taking a different path? 

That's the question today on Working Mommy Wednesday.

I have a short answer and a long answer.

First, the short answer.

I majored in political science and minored in history.  And I loved every minute of it.  I could have stayed in college forever.  Which is why I didn’t get a real job after graduation.  Instead, I went to law school.  (And, for the record, law school isn’t nearly as fun as college.)  But I do love practicing law.

That was the short answer.

There’s also a longer answer – there’s more to the story.

I didn’t just major in political science in college.  I had something else up my sleeve.  Something more important.

In college, I majored in Jesus.

That’s right.  College was a defining moment for my spiritual journey.  I decided in college that I was going to follow a guy with long hair and sandals who said he was God.  A guy who walked the earth over 2000 years ago and gave his life for others.  A guy who claimed to raise from the dead.

I had always believed in Jesus.  But college is when I decided I was going to take him seriously.  He became my major for almost 4 years.

But that was almost 20 years ago.

If you looked at my life today, what would you say I am majoring in? 

Law?

Motherhood?

Writing?

The American Dream?

I’m not sure you would say I’m majoring in Jesus.  As much as I want to major in Jesus, life has become so complicated.  Most days, he gets crowded out by other demands.  Most days, he’s a minor – not a major.

***************

The fact of the matter is, we’re all majoring in something.

When people look at your life, what would they say is your major?

Cookies For Kids

Before bed, my 4-year-old Abby prays, “Dear God, help all the kids in the world to have food, water, and cookies.”

Her older sister, Anna, interrupts her.

“Abby, you can’t pray for cookies.  All the kids in the world don’t have toothbrushes.  They’re going to get cavities!”

Abby is quick to respond.

“Dear God, I pray that all the kids in the world would have toothbrushes.”

I try not to laugh.  I can almost see God smiling.

Have you ever been reluctant to ask God for something big, just because you think he can’t provide something little?

I think about this for awhile after I put Abby to bed.

Sometimes, I assume God won’t answer my prayers.  So I don’t even ask.  Or I ask for something that I know is within reach.  I make sure my prayers are “logical.”

But then I wonder, is faith really supposed to be logical?  Are we limiting God by settling for crumbs when he really wants to give us cookies?

So I picture all the children of the world eating cookies.  And it’s beautiful. 

You don't have enough faith," Jesus told them. "I tell you the truth, if you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it would move. Nothing would be impossible.  Matt 17:20 (NLT)

Which Disciple Are You?

Just like there are different kinds of people, there are different kinds of disciples.  (For purposes of this post, I’m using the term “disciple” to refer to people who follow Jesus.)

Consider three different disciples who followed Jesus:  Peter, Thomas, and Phillip. 

We’ll start with Peter.  Peter is always jumping in head first.  He acts without thinking.  He’s extremely zealous, and because he’s impulsive by nature he makes lots of mistakes. 

Peter likes action.  He’s the guy (or gal) who thinks, Wow, walking on water looks pretty cool, I think I’ll give it a try.  But then he gets in over his head, loses sight of Jesus, and falls in.  At least none of us would accuse Peter of standing still.

Thomas, on the other hand, is slow to act.  You have to push Thomas into the water.  He doesn’t like to get wet.

In addition, Thomas has to see it to believe it.  And even when he sees it, it’s still so hard to believe.  Thomas is thoughtful and deliberate.  He’s not going to drink the Kool-Aid without reading the ingredients and doing some research.  Yet when Thomas is convinced, you know it’s for real.

Finally, Phillip has a completely different style all together.  Phillip isn’t afraid to experience his faith.  He longs to be in the middle of spiritual activity, and he tends to bring others along on his journey.  For Phillip, faith is relational.  He’s not afraid to jump in the water, but he might just take you with him. 

Most of us are some combination of Peter, Thomas, or Phillip.  When I first heard it explained this way, I thought, Which disciple am I?  Then I thought about my closest family and friends and thought,  Which disciple are they?  Then I immediately thought, Which disciple is the best?

I started to miss the point. 

Peter, Thomas, and Phillip all approached Jesus with unique backgrounds, strengths, and weaknesses.  Yes, we can learn from them.  But thank God they’re different.

Do any of them sound familiar? 

******

So, which disciple are you?

Early Bird Or Night Owl?

Are you an early bird or a night owl?

You guessed it, I’m a night owl.  Sure, I can function early in the morning if I have to, but I’d much prefer the late evening – when my creative juices start flowing.

To tell you the truth, I’m sick and tired of all these people (you may be one of them!) who over-spiritualize the morning.  Some of them claim that all the “important” prayers and spiritual moments happen in the early morning.

Are they right?

I think not!

To prove my point, I’ll use the Apostle Paul as an example. 

Nick and I just finished reading the book of Acts, and for the very first time I noticed that Paul is known to pull all-nighters.  I’m not kidding.  According to Acts 20, he preached until midnight – which ended up turning into daybreak.  I can just picture him sitting around the kitchen table with the believers in Ephesus.  Some of them were probably thinking, “When is he going to shut up.  Doesn’t he want to get some sleep?”


I may be partial, but it seems to me that Paul was a night owl.  On another occasion, he even stayed up all night in prison – singing instead of sleeping!

Of course, those of you who rise early in the morning will probably claim that Jesus was known to be an early bird.  I can’t argue with that one.  Maybe the important point is that we need to come to God when we can give him our best – when he can have our full, undivided attention.

So when are you at your best?  Morning, noon, or night?

Do You Have Hope?

We celebrated Labor Day this week, and I thought to myself, there are too many people out there who are dissatisfied with their work.  Some are unemployed.  Others are under-employed.  And still others are just pain miserable.

As someone who tremendously enjoys my chosen profession, my heart goes out to you if you’re in one of these ruts.  I can’t imagine what it must be like to wake up to a job every day that you hate, or to feel trapped in a cycle of unemployment.

But I do have one question for you.  Do you have hope?

To start, I’d like to share with you an amazing revelation that I learned last Sunday from Pastor Eric.  It’s the difference between wishing and hoping.

Often, we hear young children misuse the word hope and say things like, “I hope it wasn’t raining.”  What they mean to say is, “I wish it wasn’t raining.”

You see, hope and wish are quite different.

Wish – is focused on the present

Hope – is focused on the future

We all know lots of people who wish life was different.  They complain.  They bemoan.  A few of them seem content, but they usually seem uninspired.  Like they’re not looking forward to anything.

How many people do you really know who have hope?  People who aren’t beaten down by other people or circumstances.  People who live in the present, but eagerly look toward the future with anticipation.  People who know that tomorrow will be better.

Are you wishful or hopeful? 

Yes, even though I work in a career I enjoy, I’m thankful that I have a greater hope.  So while I wish that the economy was doing better this year, I continue to have hope in the future.  I’m just glad my eternal 401K isn’t dependant on the stock market.

****************

Now, the moment you've all been waiting for.  Were you hoping to win that Starbucks card? 

Congratulations Michelle DeRusha, and have a good weekend all!

Tasting Heaven

(Written on my first day of vacation, August 12.)

Today, I am tasting heaven. 

I am watching Anna and Abby wade in Lake Huron.  The sun is shining on them, and they are smiling and laughing.  They are getting their clothes wet, and I’m thinking to myself, I should really make them change into bathing suits.

But I let them play.

So what if they are getting wet.  So what if we are late for dinner.  I don’t want this moment to end.

I wish time would stand still.  I wish they would never grow up.  I wish they could stay innocent forever.

So I let them play some more.

I am tasting heaven, and it is so so sweet. 

Tomorrow may be hell, but today I am tasting heaven.

*********

Part of me wishes I was still sitting on Lake Huron.  It’s Monday, and I’m back in the office.  But I’m refreshed and in good spirits. 

I close my eyes, and I can still taste heaven.  I can hear the water.  I can hear their laughter.  And I can almost feel the breeze on my face.

Sometimes, when we need it most, God gives us a taste of heaven.  Even on a Monday.

Taste and see that the LORD is good.  Psalm 34:8

Is God Testing You?

God won’t ever tempt us.  But he does test us.  And sometimes, it isn’t very fun.

This past Sunday, Pastor Eric gave a sermon on the testing of Abraham.  In short, God tells Abraham to sacrifice his only son, Isaac, as a test of Abraham’s faith.

Some time later God tested Abraham. He said to him, "Abraham!" "Here I am," he replied.  Then God said, "Take your son, your only son, Isaac, whom you love, and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I will tell you about."  Genesis 22:1-2

No, God didn’t want the death of Isaac.  But he did want the heart of Abraham.  And although Abraham was willing to give God everything – even his one and only son – God intervened and spared Isaac’s life.

"Do not lay a hand on the boy," he said. "Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son."  Genesis 22:12

Was God trying to play a cruel joke on Abraham?  What kind of God would put one of his followers through such agony, only to then say, “Well, I was just kidding about that sacrifice.  I just wanted to see what you were made of.”

These are tough questions that I don’t expect to get adequate answers for in this lifetime.  Sure, I’ve heard the obvious answers -- God had no intention of letting Abraham sacrifice Isaac; Abraham's (and Isaac’s) faith only grew stronger after the test; and God ultimately used the story to foreshadow, quite brilliantly, the sacrifice of his one an only son, Jesus, to demonstrate his unfathomable love for us.

These answers make sense in my head.  But in my heart, I still wrestle with the test.  Why was it necessary to put Abraham through such agony?  And how are we supposed to know the difference between a temptation and a test?

Pastor Eric explained it like this:

A temptation is something you want to do, but know you ought not to do.

A test is something you don’t want to do, but know you ought to do.

I had never heard it explained quite like this.  So simple, yet so difficult.

Who likes being tested?  No me.  Tests are something we all wish we could avoid.  Even the brightest students are relieved when final exams are over.  And unlike final exams, tests of the heart can be difficult to study for.  We don’t know when a test of the heart is going to be over, and sometimes it’s hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel.

Has God been testing you lately?

Do you know how to recognize the difference between a temptation and a test?

And, does the story of Abraham’s test inspire you?  Or, like me, does it scare you to death and raise unanswered questions?

If you want to listen to or download Pastor Eric’s full sermon, follow the instructions here on his new blog.

If you want to check out his story, read his article Finding God At Dartmouth.

Just Give Me A Sign, God

Do you ever feel like you just need a sign from God?  If so, you’re not alone.

In Jesus’ day, the religious leaders were always demanding a sign from heaven.  Something to “validate” Jesus’ words. 

This didn’t resonate with Jesus very well. 

[Jesus] sighed deeply and said, "Why does this generation ask for a miraculous sign? I tell you the truth, no sign will be given to it."  Mark 8:12

Ouch!  When Jesus “sighs deeply”, something must be wrong.

To put Mark 8 in context, you have to read the prior chapters.  Jesus had just healed the sick, walked on water, and fed thousands and thousands of people.  He had given plenty of “signs”!  Yet, the religious leaders still missed it.  They probably wanted a political sign – or a magic show that would display worldly power and authority.  Healing the sick and feeding hungry people probably isn’t what they had in mind.

Over 2000 years later, and some things never change.  I hear myself telling God, “If you’d just do this one thing, I’ll know it’s you speaking.”  Or, worse yet, I tell God that I’m entitled to a sign before I choose to demonstrate faith.

Yet the signs are all around me.  Just because the sign I want isn’t the sign I get, it doesn’t mean that God isn’t speaking.  Sometimes, we just choose to wear earplugs.  Or the noise around us is so incredibly loud that, even when God does speak, we still can’t hear very well.   

For example, yesterday morning in church, I was singing a song that I've sang dozens and dozens of times.  But somehow, I had totally missed the words before.  And I heard them for the very first time.  They pierced my soul, and I found myself silently weeping.  How could I have missed it before?  God was speaking directly to my heart, yet I've been too busy asking him for a "sign."

Have you recently had one of those ah ha moments?  Instead of asking for a sign, I suggest we look around us, take out the earplugs, and turn down the volume.  We may just have the sign we've been looking for.

Wednesday Woman: St. Therese

Thank God we’re all different.  St. Therese helps me appreciate this well-known yet often forgotten reality.
In her short life of some 24 years, St. Therese admits struggling with the comparison game, wondering “why the good Lord has preferences….”

Then, God shows her --through none other than the flowers of nature -- to appreciate our differences.  She writes:

I have come to realize, that the radiance of the rose and the whiteness of the lily do not take away the fragrance of the little violet or the delightful simplicity of the daisy.

St. Therese’s words are indeed fragrant, especially for women (and especially for mothers!) who often feel inferior to one another.

Some of you are brilliant roses.  You are bold and beautiful.  You have a strong aroma and a zeal for life that few can match!  You’re the kind of woman that everyone wants to invite to a party because it won’t be complete without you.

Others of you are white lilies.  You are kind and pure.  You are always serving other people and often put others before yourself.  You’re the kind of woman that throws a party for your friends – although you’re often content to be in the background, allowing the roses to be the center of attention!

And still others are simple daisies.  You are steadfast and loyal.  You are the kind of woman who, because of your common sense and simplicity, is an example to all of us -- a rock for others in time of need.  What would we do without you?

St. Therese concludes it best:

[P]erfection consists in being what God wants us to be.

I don’t necessarily want to be a rose, a lily, or a daisy.  Instead, I want to be the woman God created –the fragrant flower that will blossom when the season is right.

Aren’t you glad we’re all different?

Freedom From What People Think

Why does it matter so much – what other people think?  Sure, we’re all people pleasers by nature, but there are times in life when we just have to step up and do the right thing.  Because it’s the right thing.  Because it’s our calling.

I realize it’s not really “in” to talk about a calling in today’s culture.  People start thinking you’re crazy.  Or worse, they start thinking that you think you’re better than everyone else.  That you have it all figured out.
That’s not what I’m talking about.

In The Cloister Walk, Kathleen Norris writes about her own calling as a writer:

[T]o answer the call as a prophet, or a poet for that matter, is to reject the authority of credentials, of human validation of any kind, accepting only the authority of the call itself.

I have a long way to go!  I don’t know about you, but I’m not at a point where I can completely forgo human validation.  Yet Norris’ words make a powerful point.  Are my actions based on what I know is right?  On what I know I’m called to do?

Or, are my actions based on the ever-moving target of pleasing other people?

******

Do you struggle with worrying about what other people think?  If so, please join me in praying for the strength to live out your calling.

Dear God, please free us from what other people think.  Help us to accept the authority of Your call as validation.  And give us the courage to live out our God-given indentities.  Even if other people think we're nuts.

No Risk, No Reward

I’ve always admired people who take risks.  What kind of risks am I talking about?  It varies.

Some people take physical risks.  Jumping out of an airplane.  Riding a motorcycle.  Undergoing an experimental medical treatment.  Traveling to a foreign country in political turmoil.  Protecting others in the line of duty.

Other people take personal risk.  Starting a business.  Investing your savings to pursue a dream.  Going back to school and leaving a stable career.  Taking a stand for your faith.  Choosing to forgive, even though it hurts.

I had never really thought of writing as risky business.  But that’s exactly what it is. 

Just last week, I was feeling a little sorry for myself.  I had just read a few negative reviews about Chasing Superwoman from the blogging community.  One of them said that I have no balance and even feels sorry for me and my family!  Another review said, again, that my lifestyle is completely out of control and even questioned my shaky prayer life.

I guess I was prepared for the genuine (and expected) attacks about my writing and message.  I just wasn’t prepared for the personal attacks on my character.

Then, at the suggestion of my agent, I read a post by Mary DeMuth, A Risky Gift, that put everything in perspective.  Mary writes about the risks she took when she wrote her own memoir, Thin Places:

With my memoir Thin Places, I've felt the deepest fear, the longest worry of any book I've ever released. I felt naked when it released. I feel exposed when folks email their own stories of tragedy. I've risked and wondered if that risk was necessary. But then I realize that my story--my painful, redeemed story--is my gift to readers. It's a risky gift, one that I wrote so that others wouldn't feel alone anymore. (Emphasis added.)

Like DeMuth, I’m feeling pretty naked right now.  I’ve realized that, in putting myself “out there” I’ve taken a big risk.  I’ve even wondered if the risk was necessary.  After all, I have a incredible family, a great career – a life with much predictability and stability.  Why rock the boat?

In simple terms:  No risk, no reward.

I’ve realized that a “risky gift” is something that costs us.  In DeMuth's words, “[s]omething that worries us at night, makes us tremble in the day.”

Have you ever taken a risk that kept you up at night?  And was it worth the reward?

Tuesday Tip: Ask And You Shall Receive

Since the release of Chasing Superwoman this month, I’ve had several friends and colleagues say to me, “Thanks for inspiring us to follow our dreams.”

Many of these friends aren’t working moms.  Many of them don’t share my perspective or my faith.  But they do share a deep desire to make a difference in this world.  And they all have dreams.

In my case, my dream was to write a book.  I’ve already written at length about the publishing process – I’ve known for 8 years that I wanted to write a book.  But at some point, I had to pull the trigger.  Following your dreams takes action.

Simply put, if you want to step out in faith, you have to ask.  The New Testament puts it like this:

You do not have, because you do not ask God.  James 4:2

Sure, I had to act on an idea.  But first I had to muster up the courage to make the ask.  Sometimes I wonder what God would do if we just decided to ask.  Many of us wouldn’t just be wondering about our dreams – we’d be living them.

This Tuesday, If you’re thinking about following your dreams, I’d like to leave you with one question:  What are you waiting for? 

If I can follow my dreams, so can you.

Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.  Matthew 7:7

Tuesday Tip: Talk To Strangers

I’m always telling my kids, don’t talk to strangers!  After all, strangers are dangerous.  Strangers can hurt you.  Strangers can invade your privacy and steal your identity.

The problem with my advice?  I’m not a very good role model.  My kids are always asking me, “Mom, why do you talk to strangers?”

It’s a fair question.  Besides the obvious answer -- I’m a grown woman and am entitled to live by a different set of rules than my young children – the real answer is simple:  I don’t want to miss out on divine appointments.

Have you ever met the right person at the right time?  Some meetings are more than coincidence.  And according to the book of Hebrews, some of those strangers out there happen to be angels.  “Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it.”  (Hebrews 13:2)

I don’t know if I’ve ever entertained an angel.  These days, nothing would surprise me.

A couple of months ago, I was delayed in the Cincinnati airport.  You guessed it, I met a stranger.  Ann and I started talking, one thing led to another, and we found we had met for a reason. 

Ann is an IT specialist who builds online, interactive studies and book clubs for churches and ministry groups.  She was looking for writing content.

I explained to Ann that I was writing a faith-based book about my journey as a working mother.  I was looking for creative vehicles to promote the book.

Ann and I didn’t know we were looking for each other.  But God knew.  And I’m thrilled to say that Ann has inspired me to develop discussion questions for the book – questions that will be used in Ann’s online, interactive book club.  Check out her website – Light the World.  The online book club will launch in the coming weeks (and I’ll have a chance to interact with my readers)!

Sometimes, it pays to talk to strangers. 

Have you ever had a divine appointment? 

Is Better Really The Enemy of Good?

Voltaire is well known for saying, “Better is the enemy of good.”

Lately, I’ll been wrestling with this concept. 

I’ve also thought the opposite.  In fact, when I was in college, someone told me a quote that really stuck with me.  “Good is the enemy of excellent.”

So who is right?

First, let me say that Voltaire certainly had a point.  We can kill ourselves over perfection.  Perfection is exhausting.  Perfection is mind numbing.  Perfection is even paralyzing.

I would fully agree with Voltaire had he said, “Perfection is the enemy of very good.”  But that wasn’t his point.  His point (I think) is that human nature is such that we always feel like we can make it better, and better often gets in the way of good. 

It’s a fair point.  But I still can’t agree.  Not completely.

Most of us will settle for something good and miss out on something great.  Why?  Well, it’s pretty scary to give up something good.  Greatness usually involves risk.  Greatness involves uncertainty.  Greatness involves stepping out on a limb.  You know the phrase, “No guts, no glory.”

As we head into Memorial Day weekend, it’s fitting to reflect on guts and sacrifice and courage.  Would we enjoy the same freedoms today if our founders simply said, “You know, I think things are good enough the way they are?”