U is for the Beauty of U-turns ~ by Michelle Strutzenberger

Each morning, I wake to the heartache of knowing a precious family member has chosen to walk an unwise path. But recently I was encouraged as I remembered that just because she has started on that path does not mean she has to finish on it. She can make a u-turn.

Someone making a u-turn, I have determined may be one of the most beautiful, hope-filling actions we can witness or experience on the road of life.

I also know how very hard it can be to admit that we need to do a u-turn. Coming to a place where we realize we are not heading in a life-giving direction can be very humbling. I’ve been at that spot in the road several times. Sometimes I’d rather die than gulp down my pride and slowly spin on my heels away from where I was venturing.

With our writing goals and projects, sometimes we need to make u-turns. In a culture that prizes setting our objectives and then working relentlessly until we fulfill them, choosing to make a u-turn partway through can feel like failure or at least evidence that we didn’t think things through beforehand as carefully as we should have.

I’ll never forget a video series I began with high excitement. Partway through, I realized the enormous effort and time required made the project an unwise move. I hadn’t realized until I started the project just how much it would require of me. It was very humbling to share with my audience that there would be no new videos for a while.

It’s helped me to recall my wise father’s oft-repeated counsel: “A wise person changes his/her mind.” Sometimes, the very best thing we can do is change our minds. We have gathered new evidence, new experiences, new insights, and now we need to make a u-turn. Sometimes, we should have gathered that information before we even started down the road. But sometimes we need to travel down the road before it becomes clear that it’s not the one we should be cruising.

The challenge for each of us is always this – when we see we need to make the u-turn, will we be humble enough to take the necessary action?

On Earth’s physical roads, u-turns are often forbidden. Even when the signs aren’t posted, we can feel like we’re doing something wrong when we whip around and start heading back in the opposite direction.

But in our everyday lives, u-turns can save lives and families, relationships, and jobs. As we trust God to help us become humble enough to make these u-turns, they become massive signs pointing to His immense grace and abundant love.

In everyday life, u-turns can be beautiful. Is there one you need to make today?

Michelle and her family enjoy hiking mountains and trails together. She is currently writing a series  called, What Growing Up in a Mennonite Family of 10 Taught Me About Survival. To receive the bi-weekly tips, visit this link and subscribe.

Unsung Heroes ~ Valerie Ronald

                                                                                    image by Pixabay

Most writers have them. People in their lives who encourage, help and believe in their calling ˗˗ the unsung heroes of a writer’s journey. Without seeking recognition or praise, they find ways to smooth the path so the writer can move ahead in confidence. An unsung hero is not well known but has a significant impact from behind the scenes.  

My mother was an unsung hero in my writing journey. She listened to me read my fledgling stories when I began to test my writing wings as a child. She told me I had a way with words. When I wanted to enroll in a journalism program after graduating from high school, her belief in my writing ability gave me confidence to do so. Although her early dreams of becoming a nurse were never realized, she wanted to do what she could to help me with mine.

At one point I was discouraged from pursuing my writing by someone who felt threatened by any independence I exhibited. Now I share my life with my husband, who encourages me in numerous ways to exercise the gift God has given me. He makes sure I have the right tools, like a good computer and space to write. He finds an audience for my writing by publishing my devotionals on the back of our church bulletin. When I need time and quiet to write, he accommodates those needs within our life together. He and my mother are just two of the unsung heroes of my writing journey. Teachers, employers, critique group members, fellow writers and readers also join the ranks of those who have a part in any success I have in the writing field. They have affirmed me, prayed for me, guided me, and helped me in big and small practical ways to pursue my dream.

Writers can sometimes suffer from fragile, sensitive egos. We pour our hearts out on the page, fussing over our creations like a mother with a child. It is daunting to put our writing out to the public, where it can be a possible target for criticism or rejection. Having someone behind the scenes who believes in our gifting can give us the confidence to pursue our craft, or keep trying when we’ve had a setback.

The biblical character, Barnabas, is an example of an unsung hero, appearing in the pages of scripture for that very reason. His name means “son of encouragement”, because he helped and supported others in their endeavors to further the gospel of Christ. He is mentioned frequently in the book of Acts, especially because of his advocacy of the Apostle Paul.

Although formerly a persecutor of Christians, Paul was recommended to the apostles by Barnabas, who spoke boldly of his dramatic conversion and newfound faith in Christ. He brought Paul to Antioch where they worked together, teaching the people. After his cousin, John Mark, abandoned Paul and Barnabas on their first missionary journey, Barnabas mentored the young man, restoring him to a position of usefulness in the ministry. Barnabas did not seek recognition for himself, choosing to make an impact encouraging others for the greater good.

An unsung hero in your writing journey may be the one who makes meals for you when you are working toward a deadline, or takes care of your children, or shares some contacts within the publishing field to help you get started. Sometimes someone critiquing your work to improve it can make a difference. Rather than take those who help us for granted, we need to express our appreciation with gratitude and affirmation.

Our unsung heroes are good role models for how we, in turn, can help others exercise their gifting. I know from experience how crucial others’ support is to me as I seek to fulfill God’s call to write. Doing the same for someone else pursuing their dream encourages them, and is a way of thanking God for His provision of our own mentors and helpers.
 

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus. (Phil. 2:3-5a NIV)

Valerie Ronald writes from an old roll top desk in Portage la Prairie, Manitoba, with her tortoiseshell cat for a muse. A graduate of Langara College School of Journalism, she writes devotionals, fiction and inspirational prose. Her purpose in writing is to encourage others to grow in their spiritual walk.
 

U is for Unless by Lorrie Orr

 

Unless the Lord builds the house,

its builders labor in vain.

Unless the Lord watches over the city,

the watchmen stand guard in vain.

Psalm 127:1-2

When I spent a day wandering through Edinburgh earlier this summer, I was unaware of the city's coat of arms which bear the Latin inscription Nisi dominus frustra, - Without God, frustration, taken from Psalm 127. Written as a song for pilgrims walking up to Jerusalem, this psalm of ascent addresses the futility of life and work without God. Building a house or a life, guarding a city or my own security - nothing I accomplish will be of eternal value unless I relinquish control to God. Yikes. That's easy to say and oh, so hard to live out. I have my own list of unless-es:

Unless I am published, I am not a writer.

Unless she apologizes, I won't make amends.

Unless I hold it all together, there is something wrong with me.

My unless-es narrow my vision and distort the truth of who I am in Christ. They belittle my work and the lives of others. When I yield to "unless God," He reorients my focus and plans to his purpose and calling on my life - to bring glory to his name. When I let go of control there is room for God to work. He shows me what nourishes me. He broadens my vision and enriches my writing. He provides a map for my soul, a guide for the journey of life.

In my writing I have only to write as best I can with the knowledge and grace he has given me. Everything I do flows out of my life in Him, and I am left with freedom and abundance.  

Lorrie writes from Vancouver Island where she loves to walk, alone or with family and friends. She writes a slice of life blog at 

www.fabricpaperthread.blogspot.com

Uniquely You - Tracy Krauss

 You are unique. 

The Bible has quite a lot to say about this, but one of my favourites is Psalm 139. 

Verses 13 – 16 say: 

“For you formed my inward parts;

you knitted me together in my mother’s womb.

praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.

Wonderful are your works;

my soul knows it very well.

My frame was not hidden from you,

when I was being made in secret,

intricately woven in the depths of the earth.

Your eyes saw my unformed substance;

in your book were written, every one of them,

the days that were formed for me,

when as yet there was none of them.” (ESV)

Just like there are no two snowflakes alike, there are no two people alike. Even identical twins have their differences. In His infinite imagination, God made each one of us unique. Think of it! Billions of people throughout history, and not one of us is exactly like another!

Similarly, God has a unique purpose and calling for each of us. Again, from Psalm 139, verses 1 through 6:

“O Lord, you have searched me and known me!

You know when I sit down and when I rise up;

you discern my thoughts from afar.

You search out my path and my lying down

and are acquainted with all my ways.

Even before a word is on my tongue,

behold, O Lord, you know it altogether.

You hem me in, behind and before,

and lay your hand upon me.

Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;

it is high; I cannot attain it.”

As a writer, this gives me confidence and comfort. I know that God has called me to write, but my calling is not the same as yours. I must constantly remind myself of that, especially when I feel discouraged because of someone else’s “success”. I must continue to follow the unique path that He has given to me, bathed in prayer and relying on His guidance.

Tracy Krauss writes from her home in Northern BC. Visit her website: https://tracykrauss.com