Small Voice

I have these moments where a thought will pop in my mind for no good reason. The thought wasn’t a car on any recent train of thought. What’s incredible about these thoughts is that they hit me like a honing pigeon right where my heart needs it and yet at the same time very soft, gentle.

It's usually something like the way a good friend or even a spectacular stranger with boldness will say something to you and it wakes you out of a trance. A right word at the right time that are the keys for drawing something deep in your heart out to be examined.

If you’ve known me long enough you will know I am a collector and avid Mary Oliver reader. Her books are strewn across my house and studio leaving me only a few steps away at any given time from turning the pages.

These two phrases of hers have stuck with me for years...

“Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?” (From The Summer Day)

And 

“Listen, are you breathing just a little and calling it a life?” ( Have You Ever Tried to Enter the Long Black Branches?)

I’m hoping, trusting that just the offering of this journal today can plant this seed for you. 

I’m not shooting for eloquent words, or some persuasive speech, just this: You have value, you have purpose. You are not meant to be a copy of anyone else. You were not meant to show up day after day setting your mind and hand to something that puts your potential and vitality to sleep. This world needs you to wake up and live fully. To have your hope and curiosity alive.

What is in your heart to do? What is that deep down small voice inside telling you about all of your potential? The part of you that wonders what you’re made of? That part of you that lights up when that idea, question, desire passes through your mind?

I am here to encourage you to start. Wake yourself up. Get yourself weaned off of your mindless routines. Shake things up a bit! You do not have to have the entire picture in your mind... but what's the first stepping stone to head in that direction? 

If you’re mentally, spiritually, or physically sleepy lean into planting seeds. Plant seeds of learning a new skill, seeds of friendship, seeds of physical movement... whatever it is, just start. Break up your unplowed ground and start planting those seeds. 

If you’re worrying - Before you fall asleep at night close your eyes and imagine yourself experiencing new things, imagining yourself with a skill, a strength, a radiating spirit that lightens another's load. Imagining employs the same part of our brains as worrying-- try using that part for building a dream and potentially touching the lives of others! Pay attention to the still small voice in your heart. It will not speak with shouting, or defeat, or urgency. That's all fear and shame. The still small voice will spark hope and triumph, goodness and a light!! 

If you’ve got excuses, see them for what they are. They are holding you back from fully living. This world needs you fully living and reaping the good purposes you have to plant. You can do the thing. Use what you have right now. When you are bored, pay attention to what you do to try and cure that boredom. There is alot of time there that can be revamped for this wake up. Spur yourself on!

If you are depressed-- reach out and serve someone else- it is the ladder out of the pit of misery.

If you’re talking yourself out of things, or feeling dread - Listen to the words you speak. Your words have the power of life and death. Use your words for life. Break up your unplowed ground and speak words of life, plant them like seeds. Let your words carry gratitude and hope and plant them plant them plant them.

If you’re anxious, strengthen your frame, and put on some armor and take consideration of your thought life. Not what your thoughts are telling you- as if you have to fix all the things you're anxious about. I mean, take your thoughts captive and run them through a filter. This is the filter I use: Is it true? Is it lovely? Is it admirable? Is it praiseworthy? If it is, think on it. If it is not, take it captive and make it bow down. Leave it. Alot of the things we can be anxious about are illusions from fear. Lies. 

If you are angry, consider resisting its potential effects by extending love instead. This is love to yourself as well as others. Not every angry thought needs to be defended or taken to the brink of its fullest vent. Love is letting go of fear, letting go of shame, letting go of the need to be right, or the need to retaliate because you were treated in a way you don’t deserve. All of this is employing self control. Never once have I heard someone express their anger in an out of control way and feel good about it afterwards. That should say something. Employing self-control in the presence of anger is very much loving ourselves so we don’t experience the after effects in our bodies.

If you feel drained - pay attention to your level of complaints. The ones in your heart, the ones in your mind, the ones that come out of your mouth. Every single person on this earth has something that they can be absolutely miserable about, and every single person has something that they can be grateful for. Narrow your heart, thoughts, focus and words in on the gratitude and starve the discontent. You will feel freshness. It will spread like wildfire, and you will have the energy you've lacked. Give yourself the rest you need- take your body to nature, give your body sleep, water and nutritious food.

If you perceive that you have lack - do not white knuckle your resources. It is fear based. Open up your hands, your home, your resources, your talents, your time - even if limited - and give give give give give. If you are in need, be generous on every occasion. It is a recipe for abundance! You cannot out give the giver of good things and God will supply all your needs and he will pour out a blessing on you so that you have seed to sow, seed to eat, and seed to share. 

Your life is precious.

The potential you carry is untapped and it is boundless.

Do not be willing to forfeit your soul, your precious life, all the good that can come from pushing yourself, asking questions, waking up, trying things.

This world needs you to live fully, make your mark, make a difference.

No matter how small of an offering you can give to bring good to this world by ceaselessly living towards your full potential, it can make incredible rifts for good. Do not write off the smallest seed from anticipation of small return. A tiny seed has great potential. 

Keep going.

Keep building.

Keep loving wastefully.

Keep showing up.

Keep strong.

Keep giving.

Keep sowing.

Keep imagining the best case. 

Keep your hope on

Keep your childlike heart alive.

Keep moving.

Keep reaching out.

Keep learning.

Keep asking questions.

Keep exploring your curiosity.

Keep your eyes wide open!

“The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his field.  It is the smallest of all seeds, but when it has grown it is larger than all the garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.” Matthew 13:31-32