Sit Still

I'll save the what-happened-this-year for my prayer journal. Suffice it to say, I have been enlightened and blessed this year. There has been quite a lot to give God thanks for. And, I do.

I also thank you for reading these posts and for the kind words in your responses - whether here, on Twitter, on FB, in an email, over the phone or in person.

A verse of scripture has been nestled in my spirit for a few weeks now.  It pretty much sums up where the end of 2012 AD finds me:

Sit still, my daughter, until thou know how the matter will fall...
Ruth 3:18

It's not always easy to "sit still", but I try.

This time of the year also finds me in the lines of Joni Mitchell's Both Sides Now and Tina Turner's version of Help.

Both Sides Now

Bows and flows of angel hair

And ice cream castles in the air

And feather canyons everywhere

I've looked at clouds that way

But now they only block the sun

They rain and snow on everyone

So many things I would have done

But clouds got in my way

I've looked at clouds from both sides now

From up and down, and still somehow

It's cloud illusions I recall

I really don't know clouds at all

Moons and Junes and Ferris wheels

The dizzy dancing way you feel

As every fairy tale comes real

I've looked at love that way

But now it's just another show

You leave 'em laughing when you go

And if you care, don't let them know

Don't give yourself away

I've looked at love from both sides now

From give and take, and still somehow

It's love's illusions I recall

I really don't know love at all

Tears and fears and feeling proud

To say "I love you" right out loud

Dreams and schemes and circus crowds

I've looked at life that way

Oh but now old friends are acting strange

They shake their heads, they tell me that I've changed

Well something's lost but something's gained

In living every day

I've looked at life from both sides now

From WIN and LOSE and still somehow

It's life's illusions I recall

I really don't know life at all

I've looked at life from both sides now

From up and down and still somehow

It's life's illusions I recall

I really don't know life at all

***

Help

When I was younger,

So much younger than today

I never needed anybody's 

Help in any way

But now those days have gone

I'm not so self assured

Now I find, I've changed my mind

I've opened up the doors

Help me if you can,

I'm feeling down

And I do, appreciate you being round

Help me get my feet back on the ground

Won't you please, please help me

And now my life has changed

In oh so many ways

My independence seems to vanish in the haze

Every now and then

I feel so insecure

I know that I just need you

Like I never did before

Help me if you can,

I'm feeling down

And I do, appreciate you being round

Help me get my feet back on the ground

Won't you please, please help me

***

It's good to step back or sit still - or something of that sort - and look at things from other perspectives; evaluate and, yes, even ask for help if needed. Then, act - fearlessly.

May 2013 be a truly wonderful year for you! Here's hoping that we will all find the courage to Do LIFE - Live In Faith Everyday.

Claudia 

www.cyopro.com

www.twitter.com/cyopro

Way to go! You dreamer and creator, you!

You know how sometimes you make an adamantine decision to do something, and, one day into the next, procrastination reigns, the next thing you know it’s like two and a half years after and it’s still not done? Ever get that? Of course, you can hardly help but wonder what happened to that rock hard resolution? What was sharp enough to poke a hole – sometimes not easily detected – into your iron-clad resolve? Whatever it was, it succeeded. And you wake up one day and kinda go, “Hmm. Whatever happened to my dream to do so and so?"

Well, this post isn’t about the lost dreams or the procrastination or the poked hole or the rusty resolution. Nope. This is about acknowledging and saluting you if you have ever had the courage to dream and then do it! This is about admiring your perseverance and your vim, vigour and vitality; your guts and gusto in going against the odds to get to your goal. And, believe me, sometimes it takes a lot of guts. And gusto!  I know.  I stepped out of my comfort zone again today.  It wasn't an awful experience, but it did remind me that creativity requires strength.

We live in a cynical world and people can be brutal in their criticisms. They don’t have to know you (and even those who do, how well do they?) to try to crush every move you make. You would think they get paid to do it (some do, I guess); that they find a warped and twisted joy in doing it (some do, I guess). On top of that, they have a tool to effect that criticism loud and clear and for many to see (read: read). For, with all the social networking and mobile apps and what not, a venomous word is just a click away, most times from behind that previously-spoken-about wall of anonymity.

When one finds the courage to do according to his/her dream, being grounded, and having time-tried-and-tested support, is paramount. You gotta have the people you have known, and who have cared about you from Adam, in your corner. For, once you create something, here come the editors! They never…well, make that, they don’t (it would appear) have the guts to create something, perhaps fearing that there are others out there like themselves who can’t wait to tear ‘em down and rip ‘em to shreds. They opt not to be creators but editors. Not the constructive type, either. So, you create and put it out there and the response (read: backlash) from the small online world (each person is just a touch of a button away which makes it small) comes fast and furious. As you know, no matter what, you will never – as in never – be able to please everyone. I mean, come on, look at how many were displeased with Jesus. Jesus!

It takes guts to create. And, it takes guts to share it with someone as you risk ridicule or rejection. Be wise in your choices regarding with whom you share and make sure to make a paper trail. Be creative with wild abandon but apply common sense and wisdom in your transactions. As a well-meaning creative person with good intentions, you might not even be able to fathom how cruel some will get as they set out to ravish your new ideas, or even just “change it a little”, to call it their own.

Use up your God-given talent; He’s got your back. Be wise. Be fearless.

And, way to go! You dreamer, doer, creator and achiever you!


 
Claudia
http://www.cyopro.com/
www.twitter.com/cyopro