I agree with that message. Someone I follow on Instagram posted it today and it felt appropriate to share with my message.
When I typed the title for this entry my mind wandered to a memory from long ago. Do you remember the late 70’s early 80’s TV show Fantasy Island? It was an island in an undisclosed tropical location where people paid a lot of money to go there and have their biggest fantasy fulfilled. As the new guests arrived each week Tattoo would run up the bell tower and ring the bell and shout “The plane! The plane!” The mysterious Mr. Roarke would greet the guests upon arrival with a toast introducing himself and always ended with “Welcome to Fantasy Island.” I LOVED that show. It was an escape from reality even as a child.
It has been about 30 years since I watched Fantasy Island (yes I am showing my age here) so I do not recall any of the storylines in particular. I do remember many of the fantasies being outlandish…I guess that is why they were called fantasies. Mr. Roarke always warned the guests that once the fantasy had begun, he could not intervene unless it became dangerous. More often than not, they all ended with an intervention. Roarke and his sidekick Tattoo had to stop the fantasy to rescue the guests and there was always a moral to the story…a life lesson.
To me…that is a perfect example of why we should not mess with God’s plan for our lives. We have free will and we are free to decide what we do or don’t do but we have to live with the consequences. Like Mr. Roarke, God allows us to make our own choices without intervening. But if our choices go against His plan for our lives sometimes we learn HUGE lessons. He is ALWAYS there for us when we realize we do need him but he will allow us to fail so we can learn for ourselves that we just cannot do it all on our own.
AND OH HOW I HAVE LEARNED THAT THE HARD WAY! But I praise Him for loving me the way He does and for intervening when I needed him most, showing me the way.
I have been reflecting on 2015 as it is coming to a close. All in all it has been an amazing year. It is difficult to see progress while you are in the midst of life but as I mentioned in my year end post for 2014 (see 12/28/15 entry) it is SO important to look back at the progress you have made. And I do not mean looking back and dwelling on things that were screwed up. I mean looking at the big picture and putting everything into perspective. A lot can change in a year.
I encourage you to make a list like I have done. Some of my victories for 2015:
I took an unexpected trip to Florida in January to visit a friend and soaked up some much needed sunshine in the middle of winter.
I successfully turned 43 and it didn’t hurt a bit.
I wrote a book.
I wrote my first professional book proposal and pitched it to not one but three acquisitions agents for three different publishing houses.
I attended two faith and writing conferences.
I took a 12-day road trip in my little Honda CRV on a journey of two thousand miles…by myself. I learned, I worshipped, I camped, I swam in the ocean, I visited friends, and family, and I attended my nieces wedding. I have traveled a lot in the past and this was hands down the best trip of my life because I APPRECIATED EVERY SINGLE MOMENT OF IT!!!
I moved twice…the first time out of necessity and the second time out of wanting better surroundings. I am enjoying decorating my new apartment as well as my new life and in the process I am realizing I do not need a lot of THINGS. I already have all I need.
I was in the presence of two of my favorite authors and INSPIRING women and was blessed to hear them speak and got autographed copies of both of their latest books. (BEYOND THRILLING!)
I read a lot of books. I have learned that in order to become a good writer I must be a good reader and my love for reading is growing more every day. I want to soak in as much information as I can possibly get my hands on. Brene Brown, Cheryl Strayed, Mandy Hale, Lysa Terkeurst, Elizabeth Gilbert…a few of my favorite female authors. John Maxwell, Max Lucado, Dr. Henry Cloud, Rick Warren, Tim Keller, Scott Sanders…to name a few of my favorite male authors. But my go to book is THE BOOK. I am enjoying studying the Bible for the first time in my life. It doesn’t feel like a chore like it did to me in the past. I WANT TO KNOW THE TRUTH! And I want to share the truth.
I enjoyed bike rides, I watched sunsets, I had lunches in the park with the squirrels, I took plenty of pictures so I could remember, I couldn’t wait for Sunday morning church service, I looked forward to lunch dates with my dad at the nursing home every Sunday, I watched a lot of movies, I hiked, I made new friends, I had laundromat adventures (turns out it is the place where I seem to think best), I wrote a lot, I found a new hobby in dumpster diving and consignment and side of the road shopping for treasures, I attended a few concerts…Dave Matthews Band (of course!), Casting Crowns, and Chris Tomlin.
I became a full-fledged pescatarian in July and have only been eating fish and seafood for the last six months! My compassionate heart for animals cannot live a hypocritical lifestyle anymore. I am proud of this accomplishment! After eating meat for 43 years and now totally abstaining reminds me I can do pretty much anything I set my mind to and do it well!
I SOLD MY TRAVEL TRAILER. That dark cloud that was leftover from my second divorce is now gone and is being used by a couple who will take good care of it and probably take it to a nascar race or several. Oh the adventures that 2013 Crossroads Zinger 32 QB will have! 🙂 I am happy for a travel trailer and the adventures it will have? Does that mean I am crazy? Or crazy happy with God and his perfect plan?!?!?
There were a few negatives but when I wrote them down (there were only four total that I qualified as not so good things) they didn’t add up to much of anything. I thought to myself “That’s it???” Bed bugs? A flawed mattress? Accidentally deleting my personal Facebook? (Which turns out was a blessing). A few minor health issues? Those were really all I could think of and they are FIRST WORLD PROBLEMS. Enough said!
One year ago I was still caught in the trap of focusing on my past more than I would like to admit. 2015 has truly been about living in the moment and taking things one day at a time…as they come. I have had a couple of lows, yes, but I have OVERCOME them with Gods help. Prayer and blind faith have helped me climb out of those valleys.
I have learned that living in the NOW is where I have found my most joy. It allows me to see God in everything. It keeps me grounded. It keeps me from following my free will to places I do not need to explore. It helps me listen for his voice whispering yes or no or wait. He is right there pointing the way and gently guiding me. Isaiah 30:21 “Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.”
The NOW has helped me become secure and content with who I am and where I am at this very moment and not longing for things or places I am not quite ready for yet. The NOW is allowing God to use me how He wants to use me. The NOW is giving me courage and more confidence than I have ever mustered up in my life. The NOW is allowing God to define me instead of being defined by others ideas of me. The NOW is allowing me to feel and to think and not be ashamed to share my story. I do not need to avoid my emotions…it is OKAY to not appear perfect to others! It is okay to be vulnerable. It is OKAY to LIVE in the NOW.
I recently started a new job. I am with the same company that I have been with for a little over two years but they moved me to a new area. If you have been reading my blog for a while you know I complain a lot about my job. Complaining isn’t cool but as I just said, avoiding emotions is not cool either. So God has moved a little bit in my life and it is like a breath of fresh air learning something new. I will be rotating jobs every few months once I am trained and someone told me that the job they are training me on first is the most difficult in my new area. Somehow the words “crying rotation” came up. The rotation where pretty much everyone has had a melt down at some point…at work…in front of everyone. Well, I have been there and done that already in the position I just left and I kicked my previous “crying rotation” in the butt. I can handle this. And if I cry? Oh well.
“The middle is messy but it’s also where the magic happens.” ~ Brene Brown
Magic is happening all around me and inside of me. And it is happening NOW! There is no place I would rather be. I have goals and dreams and desires but I am allowing God to lead the way. I am not hopping a plane to Fantasy Island to fulfill some crazy whim like I did in my 20’s and 30’s. I sure did some living back then but I also did some learning. And if I do get a wild hair and lose my patience waiting for God, I am secure in knowing that He will intervene when it gets too much for me to handle. He is so good like that. He has a plan so much better than my own. “The plane! The Plane!” If I hear that I know I better be on the lookout for God to come rescue me! lol (I don’t apologize for being a bit goofy!)
I will be posting my year-end video later this week but this will be my last lengthy blog post of 2015. I just want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for your support. I know I have a handful or loyal readers and I so appreciate you and your comments and feedback. Your kind words keep me going. I wouldn’t be sharing my life if I didn’t have anyone to share it with so I thank you! And I thank you for allowing me to be a part of your journey as well.
Remember, there is magic in the mess. 🙂
Blessings and Happy New Year!
Stacey ~ iamalive