The plane was scheduled to leave in fifteen minutes. Sitting next to me, a child sat crafting a school project. “What are you working on?” I asked inquisitively. Without looking up, “a rocket” he mumbled. My eye’s scanned the chairs across from me; sure I would see his parents watching intently . . . indeed, sitting across from me was a well-known author in the homeschool community. The mom author asked if I home-schooled? – we connected with a hearty handshake and a few family stats. She identified me as someone on her level of professionalism – and I felt welcomed into her community.
Awaking from that dream – I navigated my way up dark stairs to a dimly lit computer desk. Pulling a white, three ring binder from its place of slumber – what am I saving this for? These words that I hoped would someday be a book?
What good are our talents if they’re not given?
My husband developed a friendly relationship with a retired couple. They bought some land and placed a little trailer on it, we would weekly cut their grass. The wife died before they could build their retirement home overlooking the green hills of the country side. I listened as the husband tearfully recalled a private moment. While cleaning out his deceased wife’s clothing drawer, he found beautiful lingerie carefully wrapped in tissue paper . . . “What was she saving this for?” his red, tear soaked eye’s looked at mine with a pain of loneliness and an ache to hold her again.
If we save for the perfect day, are we depleting this day?
While I shuffled papers and pondered pretty nightgowns gone unworn – I was reminded of this, God is abundance, a source of unending resources. If we hide our journey, hide our vulnerabilities, hide our stories – we deplete this day of solutions, of hope, and of relationship.
Do you have something on hold? Something tucked away for the perfect day? May I persuade you to visit its slumbering place? Consider this day the day of opening your heart and hand. The talent you privately nurture, the words you hesitate to say, or the adventures you place on hold because . . . why?
This is the day that the Lord has made;
let us rejoice and be glad in it. Psalm 118:24 (ESV)
Will there ever be a perfect time or do we create the perfect time and the right day when we hand over what we’ve held in waiting?
This is the perfect day – this flawed and unplanned day – to acknowledge you have much to give. Be brave as you slip into the uncomfortable – it’s a vulnerable garment. You will feel exposed and wonder, am I good enough to be accepted? Your story, your talent, your journey – they are waiting to be welcomed into community.
Blessings,
