Story (FMF #44)

I link up with Lisa-Jo on Fridays for a writing flash mob…throwing caution to the wind and gathering to share what a few minutes of free writing can buy.

Today’s topic: STORY

GO.

I have it memorized and can call it forth at any given moment.

There once was a girl, and she felt pretty average and fairly inadequate in all she did.

And she would start new things and quit before she ever finished.

And she would shrink back and try to blend in and hide.

And she never quite believed she was anything special, though she wanted to be in the worst way.

So she lived life in the quiet and in the fear and teetered on the edge of What Could Be.

Oftentimes the story sometimes stays on repeat at the front of my brain and filters everything I say or do or taste or feel.

But sometimes it is way in the back of my brain, until one day I remember it’s there and then it moves itself to the front for a while again.

And we do this dance, me and this story, and sometimes I lead and sometimes it does, but usually it ends with me shrinking back and hiding.

Living in fear is exhausting.

The story is not a classic anymore. It’s not a fun vintage one with a golden spine and whimsical illustrations that make me smile.

Instead it’s just old and tattered. The pages are ripped and the cover is torn.

It’s time to throw it away.

There’s a new story waiting to be opened.

STOP.

Posted by

Monica

Posted on

April 13, 2012

Posted under

Five Minute Fridays

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Five Minute Friday #8

Linking up with The Gypsy Mama:

“Around here we write for five minutes flat on Fridays. We write because we love words and the relief it is to just write them without worrying if they’re just right or not. So we take five minutes on Friday and write like we used to finger paint. For joy in the process. No matter how messy the result.”

Today’s topic: GOODBYE

GO.

It never seems to come without being accompanied by a hello, the goodbye. Goodbyes can be hard, and for many I know it’s painful. But it’s not like that for me. While there is temporary sadness in the moment of the goodbye, the excitement of what awaits on the other side of hello keeps me from giving way to sadness and mourning.

Maybe because the goodbyes have been so many. Maybe I’ve become immune. Goodbye to friends, to family, to relationships. To homes and cities and jobs. To habits and dreams and hopes. But maybe too, because I trust God enough to know that He doesn’t call me away or the sake of being away. But rather for the sake of calling me into. And the anticipation of the into…that’s the exciting part.

God called the Israelites out of Egypt, yes…but He was calling them into the Promised Land. Ruth said goodbye to her homeland and hello to a new husband. Job said goodbye to all he had and hello to a double portion of everything. Mary said goodbye to her reputation and hello to the Son of God. Jesus said goodbye to His sinlessness to say hello to us — face-to-face for all of eternity.

And so, when the goodbyes come, I give way to sadness for a moment. I hug hard and remember the blessings. But then I close the door and turn and walk expectantly towards hello as He bids me come.

“But forget all that—it is nothing compared to what I am going to do. For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it?” (Isaiah 43:18-19)

Hello. Sweet, sweet hello.

STOP.