November 13, 2021

Defining Whispers by Wendy L. Macdonald

 


Sewing supplies aren’t the only things that can be repurposed. Before I explain, what this has to do with writing, please allow me to share some whispers that led me to this truth.

There are a lot of significant words I’m sure I’ve forgotten; words others have spoken to me that were helpful and encouraging in my writing life. Yet, there are some defining whispers that touched me in a way that hinted there was a new way I was supposed to go.  

One such whisper happened during a home-based business gathering I attended many moons ago with some neighbors. The meeting was held in my living room because I had a brood of youngsters to keep an eye on too. At the time, my mission was to create one-of-a-kind handmade purses I designed and created using remnant, repurposed, and retro fabrics and/or notions. Making those purses was an artsy adventure of love. Each purse was unique and each had its own name.   

During one meeting, a motivational coach asked me a question something like, “What are you passionate about contributing to the world?”

 After some brief thought, I said, “To create and inspire beauty.”

Beauty is one of the basics for a lovely life. Beautiful decorating, beautiful gardens, beautiful music, beautiful art…well, I’m sure you get the idea. 

Then she dropped a line that lit the fuse of doubt concerning my purse pursuit, “There may be other ways you can contribute beauty to the world that you haven’t discovered yet.”

True. Making purses was a slow way to beautify the world. Only two local stores at the time carried my creations. But her words stuck with me and caused me to wonder if God was calling me to something better—something bigger—than a handbag.

I had contemplated becoming a writer. But by the time the information package for a writing course arrived in the mail, my mind was elbow deep in homeschooling our three children. The forms for the Christian correspondence course never got signed, sealed, and sent. Thankfully, I continued writing in my journals. (A practice I began in 1983 during my recovery from eating disorders.)

The next whisper came when our family moved to town, and my sewing stuff was moved to the south-facing attic room. My husband and son placed a large desk under the window that overlooked an ancient cherry tree in the front garden. A whisper in my heart suggested it was the perfect space for a writer. By this time, only one store carried my handmade items since the first one closed its doors. I hadn’t made the effort to find another one. But I’d been bit by the blogging bug.

Yes. The room did indeed look like a writer’s room. 

And that’s when I obeyed God’s nudge to allow writing to eclipse sewing as my main way of creating beauty. I still sew now and then. Rarely purses. Now my sewing machine is used to create journals for writing in. All the stuff I collected for purse-making is perfect for making junk journals. Hooray. It makes my day not to waste so much as a button.

With writing, one doesn’t waste a thread of life experience either. They're all usable for blogs, poems, and devotionals. And bigger projects too. 

I’m nosy-to-know the moment you realized writing was a bigger deal than the cards you already held in your hands?  

Beautiful blessings ~ Wendy Mac   

    

 They will be called oaks of righteousness,

    a planting of the Lord

    for the display of his splendor.

Isaiah 61:3 NIV


Wendy L. Macdonald is an inspirational blogger and podcaster who loves to photograph nature on Vancouver Island. Her byline is: “My faith is not shallow because I’ve been rescued from the deep.” Her main website is wendylmacdonald.com where she enjoys interacting with readers.

13 comments:

  1. I am so inspired by this Wendy. (I often wondered where the word 'purse' came into play when corresponding with you via email!) I can relate so deeply with your story. My first creative love was visual art and I tried for a time, after graduating from university, to do commission work while also drawing and painting for pleasure. (Hoping someone would buy something...)Like you, children and homeschooling took over. However, I did discover my love of writing after having my first child and not having the time or energy for messy visual art projects.
    PS: I also enjoy sewing and other creative pursuits. I would love to sit and have tea with you someday! I feel as if we are kindred spirits in many ways.

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    1. Yes, we must have tea together one day, dear Tracy. I enjoyed learning more about you. You've been gifted with an abundance of creativeness and you've been investing it for Him.
      Blessings as you continue to add beauty to the body of Christ.
      (I have assisted with a play production once and it taught me what goes on behind the stage is no small feat. Your resume and patience are impressive, my friend.)
      ๐Ÿ’Œ

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  2. Nice blog, Wendy! We've all been repurposed by God and I'm so glad. I've repurposed a lot of things in my home. One of my favourite things is rectangular margarine tubs. They're great for storing dry food like spaghetti or lentils in as they're food-grade plastic. I also use rabbit-shaped bottles for paper clips, thumb tacks, and other small objects. I could go on but you get the picture. These items would be tossed out but I repurposed them. By the way, those margarine tubs are the right height to store muffins in. A friend told me that's what she uses those for. I also have rescued some old computers and a laptop which might have been recycled.

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    1. Thank you, Bruce, for the handy tips for repurposing household stuff. It's fun finding new life for things.
      Gotta wonder how much God delights in turning sinners into saints. He's such a gracious and loving Creator.
      ๐Ÿ•Š️

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  3. I see we share a similar heart pull in life 'to create and inspire beauty.' It took me years to sort that out in the depths of my heart, but when I did, I knew I was in my place. What a defining moment when that motivational coach asked you that impactful question.

    My writer heart leapt with joy when you mentioned your desk sits under the window overlooking an ancient cherry tree in the front garden. My own desk sits under the window that overlooks our backyard garden - it's my favourite spot in the house. I love to write in my room with a view.

    I would be most interested to catch a glimpse of those 'junk journals' you create from the material meant originally for purses. Perhaps you have photos on your blog?

    Thanks so much for a lovely post, Wendy.

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    1. Thank you, dear Brenda. I also noticed we have the love of beauty in common. (By the way, your website is gorgeous.)
      Your writing spot sounds wonderful too.
      My junk journal journey is something I began during one of the pandemic lockdowns. YouTube has tons of videos about this interesting hobby. It's fun to use my sewing machine, threads, ribbons, fabrics, buttons etc for creating journals.

      Blessings as you continue to create beauty ~ Wendy Mac

      P.S. Here's a link to my very first made-from-scratch journal: https://youtu.be/uLamJNP2MXc

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    2. Thanks, Wendy! I'll check out the link.

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  4. An inspiring post as always, Wendy. It’s wonderful to read how God has woven your threads into the fabric that is your life. The best part, to me, is how He has used that fabric to wrap others in His love through you. Your writer’s room sound like a perfect place for freshly flowing creativity. What a gift. Thanks for sharing one of your many gifts with us

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    1. Thank you, dear Sharon, for your encouraging words. Trust in what God's up to has been a crucial serenity saver when the back of what He's weaving appears messier than usual. But those tangled thread places turn out to be the most beautiful parts of the picture when He reveals the other side. He can be trusted. He is love.

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  5. Thank-you for this beautiful post ... I agree with one of your life passions: to create and inspire beauty. I am also passionate about us being aware that there is much beauty in this world; sadly it is often forgotten, overlooked, or taken for granted. Thanks for reminding me that I've also had many a whisper in my life.

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    1. Thank you, dear Jocelyn, for pointing out something so important for our emotional and spiritual health--seeking to see beauty. It's always there waiting for us to give God glory for it. Blessings as we continue to pursue His beauty.

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  6. Thank you, Wendy, for sharing how your motivational coach nudged you into a larger vision for your life--and how this nudge grew. It was wonderful how God developed beauty in you, both in your journals now and in your writing! And thanks for bringing beauty into our lives.

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    1. Thank you, dear Sandi, for your encouraging comment. It's amazing what God can create from dust or ashes. By the way, I'm enjoying your writing prompts.
      Blessings - Wendy Mac ๐Ÿ•Š️

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