The Dormant Season

“It’s cold, mommy!” My daughter uttered these words after I pulled her bundled body from the car seat. “It is cold, baby!” I ensured that only her eyes were exposed, held her close and dashed into the house. In the last six weeks, this scenario has played out day after day. I’m used to it now, having experienced the snowiest winter on record in Metro Detroit in 36 years, as well as the coldest I ever remember. Like many Michiganders, I’m so over it. I’m tired of aching knees, icy streets, mounds of snow and bitter temps.

This weather hasn’t made it easy to move forward with some things I committed to in the last few months. For instance, this winter my inner voice has often said, “Let’s go to the gym.” My combative inner child has responded by thrashing around on the floor and yelling “Noooo, it’s too cold!” or “I want cake!” Let’s just say that I’m looking for a muzzle to fit my inner child. Then there are household tasks--like having both a clean office and a clean bedroom at the same time (#fail). And of course, there are these writing goals. I’ve done a decent job of working on my new novel, but when it comes to consistency in blogging and social media, I kind of suck. I think it’s because so many ideas are floating around in my brain that I entertain many and commit to few. Consequently, I feel like I’m in a dormant season.

My own revelation of dormancy reminds me of the cycle of seasons. In winter, nature goes into a waiting state. Vegetation that was plush and colorful a few months ago is now barren and frozen in time. I realize that my absence from this blog and sporadic resurfacing on social media have probably given the appearance that I, too, am suspended from life, but I ask you to note my use of the term “appearance.”


You see, when something provides an appearance, the visual may not reflect the reality. Yesterday I watched snow flurries dance outside the window and saw a tree in our yard that had the appearance of death. Since we’ve been in our home, beautiful red berries, resembling tiny maraschino cherries, blossom on that tree. Today that tree looks absent of life, but I know there’s something going on in the inside that proves it’s alive. An energy moves through that tree’s roots, trunk, branches and bark that will manifest in spring. It is preparing for a season of harvest.

This understanding encourages me this winter. Though I might appear to be dormant, please know that something is alive on the inside. Yes, this has been a time of rest, but I am preparing for a harvest of my own. Spring is right around the corner.




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Shellie

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Circumstances, Excuses and Sheer Laziness

I’ve been away from my blog for a while—about seven weeks if you’re counting. That’s like an aeon in Blog Land. Clearly, I’m standing at the crossroads of “What the heck are you waiting for?” and “Just pack it up and go home.”

 

So how did I get here? Well, it started with the proliferation of a number of circumstances. First, there was nurturing the little one’s virus that kept her up late and required medication every four hours. Then there was preparation for my first book signing in August, for which I traded writing time for planning time (check out the pictures here). Next, I had to handle a couple of projects for my daytime job that crept into my evening and early-morning hours. Add to that my daughter’s obliterated bedtime, which we’ve struggled to regain ever since she got sick, and well… I looked up and it was September. But there were some good circumstances at hand, too. For instance, I took time to share some treasured moments with my family before our beautiful Michigan weather changes and limits the outdoor activities we’ve come to enjoy over the last few months.

 

Now that September has ushered in a reminder of getting back to business, I have spent the last few days trying to get my head around my writing affairs. Despite the fact that I’ve got a two-page document on blog topic ideas, I’ve struggled with not only what to write, but also how to get back into things and how to commit the time. It became easier to put writing on the shelf so I would not have to think about it.

 

The process of regaining focus reminds me of how easy it is to look up one day and realize that your dream has slipped out of your grip. If you’ve been following this blog, you know I’m passionate about breathing life into dreams. You’ll also probably realize that when I downloaded “Joyce Meyer:  Promises for Your Everyday Life--a Daily Devotional” and found that one of the first devotionals was on jump starting your dream, I knew it was a divine reminder to get back on track.

 

As part of that devotional, Joyce (I’m taking the liberty of calling her by her first name because in my imagination, I know her personally) noted two requirements for jump starting your dreams:

1.       Have a clear vision.

2.       Keep your vision in front of you at all times.

This hit home because for the last few weeks, I’ve been struggling with both tasks. First, I was asking myself what was the next step for my vision? Would I plan another book signing, focus on book clubs, do more blog tours or write new material? I truly didn’t know. Second, I had pushed my vision out of my direct line of sight and into my peripheral vision. I knew it was there. I could see it, but I wasn’t focusing on it.

How did this happen? The answer is simple. I allowed circumstances to take the driver’s seat and excuses and sheer laziness were riding shotgun! There they were—the three of them shouting about how much I had to do, how tired I was, how nothing had inspired me and how there just wasn’t enough time to do things in the way I wanted them to be done. Well, it’s time to regroup and refuel. I’m putting circumstances in the back seat and kicking excuses and sheer laziness out of the car. I’m taking control of the wheel and encouraging you to do the same for your dream. I’ll be keeping you posted about this mission, too.

In the meantime, if you need a reminder for how to stay in the driver’s seat, feel free to borrow mine. It’s not actually mine; I got it from my dear friend (in my head) Joyce, who wrote something profound in the devotional I told you about. As part of prayer to Jesus, she wrote, “I chose to trust You to help me live the dream You’ve given me more than I trust my circumstances.”

Did someone just say Amen?

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Shellie

 

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When the Plan Plummets

There is a lesson that I’m supposed to be learning right now. How do I know? Well, the last 10 days have hit me over the head with reminders that I’m not in control, nor is any man. No matter how much planning I do, there is always the possibility that my expected result won’t come to pass.

 

The first reminder came on the fourth of July. I was excited that my first radio interview was scheduled to air that day. It was my day off, as well as a day off for nearly everyone knew. I wanted people to listen in, so I scheduled social media updates, plugged the interview in my subscriber newsletter and made sure family and friends knew how to tune in. Even the gracious host who interviewed me spent days plugging the interview on social media.

 

As the hour neared, everything was in order. I got my daughter down for her nap and waited with my husband for those last few minutes. When the theme music played, I prepared for the moment of truth. Thoughts ran through my mind.

 

·         Did I say “umm”?

·         I hope I wasn’t breathing too hard into the headset.

·         Did my answers make sense?

·         Would it be hard to listen to my own voice for 30 minutes?

 

But there was one question I did not ask: What if they accidentally air the wrong interview?

 

That question did not cross my mind, but it’s the one question that could have prepared me, because that’s exactly what happened. Initially, I was mortified. After about two minutes it was clear that the wrong interview was going to air for duration of the segment.

 

Eventually—hours later—I saw the humor in it. It was totally beyond my control and the host’s control. I haven’t been in the radio world since I was a deejay at my high school radio station, but I do know that human error occurs. It was just a mistake.

 

The host and the radio station were extremely apologetic and went above and beyond anything I could have expected in a situation like this. They not only aired it later that day, but they also aired it four times over the course of a week. That meant even more exposure and more opportunity to reach people with information they were looking for. What a blessing!

 

Maybe I’m getting a lesson in perseverance. Maybe I’m getting a lesson in flexibility. Maybe it’s not about me at all. There could have been someone out there who couldn’t listen at the original time, but needed to hear our discussion on self-publishing. My hope is that someone heard it and it was motivation for her own dream.  I don’t know the true reason for this lesson and the other lessons I’ve experienced lately, but I do know I’m being prepared for this exciting and somewhat daunting path I’ve chosen.

 

So I will keep pressing forward and will do so with flexibility. For now, I etch this in my memory: “Write your goals in concrete and your plans in sand.” –Anonymous

 

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Shellie

 

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Fear Factor Part 4: Faith Over Fear

I have come to the last entry in my series on fear, and this exercise has been a great blessing to me. I’ve been able to rethink my own ideology and habits, and I’ve received feedback that these posts have helped others. Thanks for the encouragement to keep things going. Without further ado, let’s get into the topic of placing your faith above your fear.

First, let’s define faith. You may know it as a belief in something for which there is no proof, a commitment to God’s teaching or a strong belief in something or someone. I like to define it as the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen. Yes, I took that straight from the Bible (Hebrews 11:1). For me, this definition has exemplified the process of believing in something even when everything else says, “There’s no way that can happen.”

I used to believe I had strong faith until it was truly, and I mean truly, tested. I’m talking about the kind of test that has you praying on your knees day in and day out, crying ‘til there are no more tears, angry in your waiting, wanting with all of your being to get it right and seeing nothing but what’s wrong. I’m also talking about that point when all that’s left is your weary, battered and humbled self. When you’ve been tested like that and you can still hear that voice that tells you to keep going, then you’ve truly experienced faith.

I challenge you to tap into that faith and place it above fear. Hold onto that pole during the storm and say, “I won’t let go!” Remember what you’re working toward and stop looking back—your fear is there and it’s waiting for your return, but your faith is right next to you. Your faith wants to wrap its arms around you and take you to the next step where hope is waiting. So keep walking.

Shellie

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Fear Factor Part 3: Regaining Focus

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11

I wrote this scripture on the board of my daughter’s hospital room a year-and-a-half ago. Day after day, it reminded me of God’s promises. There was a purpose for her life—a blueprint, if you will—that went far beyond what my husband and I could see or imagine. It told me that our micropreemie—weighing less than two pounds—would not only be fine, she would also have a phenomenal story to tell and a long life. I believed that deep in my heart.

For 93 days I read that scripture, recited it aloud and meditated on it. The experience was overwhelming and brought with it complicated machines, regular testing, surgeries, setbacks followed by victories and victories followed by setbacks.  Sometimes leaning on the scripture I mentioned became completely arduous. Our daughter’s time in the hospital became a testimony for what God can do even when circumstances seem bigger than life. Today she is healthy and shows no signs of her difficult beginnings, but there were moments of weakness and weariness in our circumstances that caused us to lose focus on what we believed in.

It is those “moments” that I’d like to explore briefly. At some point in your life, you have probably experienced some sort of distraction that interfered with a goal. Some distractions are unavoidable situations of life. Others are meant for your personal growth …if only you don’t get stuck. It’s easy to get stuck in any number of circumstances. For example you can get:

·         Stuck in not having the money

·         Stuck in not having the time

·         Stuck in not having the courage

·         Stuck in not having the resources

·         Stuck in not having the support

But if there were the chance that you’d get out of that rut that’s trapping you from moving forward, would you? Would you be willing to commit to the focus you lacked or gave up? Would you be willing to believe in a higher plan for your prosperity, hope and future? If your answer is yes to any of these questions, then congratulations! You’ve made the first step toward discovering (or rediscovering) your focus.

So what’s my advice? Well, think of this commitment to focus as a road trip. Know your starting point and your end point. Know when it’s time to gas up and eat. Know what you need to take with you and who should be riding shotgun. Decide where you will stop along the way and set a time for getting back on the road. And oh yeah, don’t spend time looking in the rear view mirror. You can’t make the trip if you’re constantly looking at what you left so long ago.

 

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