This time, I will let go of my
fears.
I
will float wherever the wind of the Spirit takes me.
I will explore new places,
I will meet new people.
Jesus
will be so proud of me!
If you’re an introvert like me, you have
engaged in similar conversations with yourself. I would love to own a bold,
adventurous spirit, ready to launch myself to dizzying heights, assured Jesus
was waiting to navigate the wind and guide me to His intended destination.
Alas! Too often, I have found myself
tethered to the earth, to faith in the bottom line of my bank account, to the
old adage that I should act my age. But—oh, the glory—when I let go to
follow Him!
Glorious Adventure #1
There are times when you know God
is speaking. He told me to start a
Crisis Pregnancy Center in our rural county. Me? An at-home mom with three
children under the age of five? My bumbling obedience gained me board members,
an office, and seed money in a matter of weeks. Every time I took one baby step,
God showed me the next three on my journey. What a magnificent ride above the
mundane to watch God shape the ministry and touch the lives of women who needed
Him so desperately!
Glorious Adventure #2
Adventures don’t always start out fun and
exciting. During a season of huge personal pain, I had hunkered down in a
spiritual foxhole, desperately trying to avoid more of the enemy’s bullets. God
pointed out a teaching opportunity in the local paper.
“Go for it,” He said.
Not even wanting to venture out of my
house, I argued with all the “wisdom” I’d gained over the years. “I’m not
licensed to teach Spanish.”
“So what?” He responded, “It never hurts
to ask.”
He had me there. If I struck out, nothing
would change for the worse.
Gathering every shred of chutzpah in my
tattered condition, I waltzed into the school’s office the next day like a 21st
century version of the fruit-turbaned Chiquita Banana Lady.
(Everybody old enough to know the Chiquita
Banana song, sing along): “I’m a licensed teacher, but not in español. I know
the language, and I can help your school. After years and years of teaching, oh
how thrilling it would be to share the fun of Spanish with your school family.”
No, I didn’t wear fruit on my head! But
with God’s help because of my obedience,
I bubbled with enthusiasm, with cool lesson plans. I boldly proclaimed my
teaching strengths with no apologies for a lack of a specific endorsement in
Spanish.
They hired me! Not only did the position
provide great joy for several years, that little Lutheran school was the
perfect place for me to heal.
Glorious Adventure #3
A few years ago, God called me to a new
adventure. Like a burner slowly inflating a giant hot air
balloon, my passion to write full time had expanded until I was straining at
the ropes holding me to my now-comfortable teaching job. Was I ready to soar
into the unknown? Would I let go of my fear of failure?
All I knew was that in order to lift off
and allow the Holy Spirit to blow me in the direction of His desires, I needed
to cast off the tether lines. It’s been a rollicking ride as I’ve learned a
little about technology and a lot about the writing craft. God has sent me on
an exploratory journey where almost every day I must try something new.
 |
| http://cazooee.com/crewing/images/tether_ropes.jpg |
What idea has God put on your mind?
Do you have a burning desire to share the
Word with others in essay form? Pray about starting a blog or a vlog and
explore the possibilities as you wait for an answer.
Does the Holy Spirit repeatedly whisper to
your soul, “Register for that conference?” Obey Him.
Or have you gotten as far as attending the
conference and your first opportunity to pitch to an agent presents itself?
Pray that the Spirit will inspire every word of your spiel, relax and trust him,
and open your mouth.
Has He led you so far that your manuscript
is finished, but writing a query or proposal has you frozen in place? Pray for
His direction over every word, take a deep breath, and write it!
The path God intends for you to follow is different
from mine, but the necessity to release the ropes of the familiar and rise into
the unknown applies to both of us.
Will you join me in this Life of the
Untethered? If yes, then this is what you say:
“Okay, Lord, I’m letting go. Up, up, and
away!”
Linda Sammaritan writes realistic fiction, mostly for kids
ages ten to fourteen. She is currently working on a middle grade trilogy, World Without Sound, based on her own
experiences growing up with a deaf sister.
Linda had always figured she’d teach middle-graders until
school authorities presented her with a retirement wheelchair at the overripe
age of eighty-five. However, God changed those plans when He gave her a growing
passion for writing fiction. In May of 2016, she blew goodbye kisses to her
students and dedicated her work hours to learning the craft.
A wife, mother of three, grandmother to seven, Linda regales
the grandchildren with “Nona Stories,” tales of her childhood. Maybe one day
those stories will be in picture books!
Where Linda can be found on the web:
Loved this!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Beth!
ReplyDeleteThis is an awesome post. Love the way you frame following God's lead.
ReplyDeleteThank you! I'm grateful to God for the inspiration.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDelete