Day 2-- http://alifethatisnolongermine.blogspot.com/2014/10/bravery.html
Day 3-- http://alifethatisnolongermine.blogspot.com/2014/10/kasee.html
Day 4-- I wrote one, but I am too chicken to post it.
Day 5-- http://alifethatisnolongermine.blogspot.com/2014/10/late-night-rambling.html
Day 6--
http://alifethatisnolongermine.blogspot.com/2014/10/tonight-was-all-about-pepaw.html
I am not sure how this will turn out, but we will try it. I read in a book once that if you want to be a writer you have to write at least once a day. She mentioned in the book, that she started as a blogger and then pushed herself to write everyday, only leading her to write her book 'Lets All Be Brave," its a beautiful book. I laugh sometimes while reading it because our writing style is a lot alike.
Now to get back on track, My friend Lindsay came to visit about a week ago and she told me all about the 31 day writing challenge. So we told each other we would do it and hold each other accountable for doing them each day. www.thenester.com , a blog she follows, encourages the 31 day writing challenge and she gets an incredible turn out. I haven't read much of her stuff, but if anyone can challenge people around the world to write the thoughts out for 31 days. I am a fan. I love that this is pushing some people and this is a walk in the park to others. This will be a push for me, but I am ready to take it. I am excited to see what I learn about myself while writing and having to post it everyday for the month of October. I missed yesterday. We will start with October 1.
Day 1
a week ago today, we went to the Rescue Mission, its a homeless shelter here in town. It houses about 75 people, men, women and families. The first time I visited I remember thinking about how much of an orphanage it was like, the place was clean, the people were super friendly, but it was a home for people who didn't have anyone in this world. Who, in societies eyes, have hit the bottom. The realness of this thought is though, we went to take a tour of the shelter about 2 in the afternoon and the rooms were empty. They were all at work. They are trying to change their living situations because I am sure they hate being viewed as 'homeless.'
Last Thursday, we were on the schedule to provide dinner and a small service. During lunch with the man who is the overseer of the outreach program, he asked me to speak at the Rescue Mission. I told him that there was no way. I told him that he could do it or I could find someone else, but he insisted. Seriously, he would not let me say no. He was asking someone who did not pray out loud 2 years before, talking to someone who gets anxiety just looking at the microphone. No way was I going to do this.
Thursday rolled around and my 'message' was written. I am not exactly sure what to call it. It wasn't a sermon and it wasn't necessarily a message. It was just me talking. Throughout the week, I was worried about what to talk on, I didn't want to come in and speak the same message they hear every week and then leave only hoping that they understood it that time. Sure, speaking hope and encouragement into their life is so powerful, but when does the rubber meets the road? When do we stop just standing in front of them speaking on hope and actually let them see the hope in their own lives. While, I prepared, I found myself getting upset because I had a million thoughts and no way to put them on paper. My audience was different this time, I spoke at a woman's retreat once, I talked about my mission trip to Africa, but this time I couldn't just talk about going on mission trips, I couldn't talk about the intense level of poverty. I was having to readjust my mindset, instead of telling people to go love on the less fortunate-- I was speaking to the less fortunate.
The worship set was coming to a close. I sat in the very back and said 'Jesus, you know I can't do this. You know that I can't do this alone." I walked up to the podium, which I promised myself I wouldn't stand behind. Its too intimidating. I placed my bible and notes on the podium and opened us in prayer. My first words were "Hey, I am Callie and I am nervous"-- I explained to them that I am not a pastor, that I am not a speaker, but that I am a writer. I talked about my blog and then read them something that I wrote, after that it was like an outer body experience. I didn't remember anything. However, I do know that I mentioned Joseani and how she changed my life, I told them of their worth, but the most important thing I did, was pass out note cards and challenge them.
I had the guys in the back help me, I passed out note cards, pens and told each of them to write down their passions, write down what they think they are on this earth for. I watched them all write, I watched them smile as they wrote, I watched them giggle, some got teary eyed and some would look at me smile and then look back at their card. They wrote their hearts on a note card. After the note cards were filled out, I told them to keep them. I told them it was to remind them of their importance. I read Ephesians 2:10 and expressed to them they are so beautiful in Jesus' eyes.
As I finished up, I apparently was so confident up there that I cued the band to come back up and had a line for prayer. I watched at two women sat at their table and wept. I told them that everyone has a story. I want to hear theirs. I want to know their story. We all should want to know their story.
I walked to one of the ladies at the end of the night and she embraced me in such a loving hug. She told me that I helped her, she talked for a bit and then I had the opportunity to pray for her. I noticed that there was another lady waiting behind her. She hugged me and started crying-- I prayed for her and all she could say was 'thank you.'
That night changed my life. Its funny how things work like that, you go somewhere or do something huge to help people and what happens is they help you more than you can ever imagine helping them.
Every one of the people in the shelter have a story, they didn't intend on ending up at the homeless shelter, but they did. They are not defined by their living situations.
I have a previous blog about my first time there-- http://alifethatisnolongermine.blogspot.com/2014/05/a-night-with-meaning_23.html
Now to get back on track, My friend Lindsay came to visit about a week ago and she told me all about the 31 day writing challenge. So we told each other we would do it and hold each other accountable for doing them each day. www.thenester.com , a blog she follows, encourages the 31 day writing challenge and she gets an incredible turn out. I haven't read much of her stuff, but if anyone can challenge people around the world to write the thoughts out for 31 days. I am a fan. I love that this is pushing some people and this is a walk in the park to others. This will be a push for me, but I am ready to take it. I am excited to see what I learn about myself while writing and having to post it everyday for the month of October. I missed yesterday. We will start with October 1.
Day 1
a week ago today, we went to the Rescue Mission, its a homeless shelter here in town. It houses about 75 people, men, women and families. The first time I visited I remember thinking about how much of an orphanage it was like, the place was clean, the people were super friendly, but it was a home for people who didn't have anyone in this world. Who, in societies eyes, have hit the bottom. The realness of this thought is though, we went to take a tour of the shelter about 2 in the afternoon and the rooms were empty. They were all at work. They are trying to change their living situations because I am sure they hate being viewed as 'homeless.'
Last Thursday, we were on the schedule to provide dinner and a small service. During lunch with the man who is the overseer of the outreach program, he asked me to speak at the Rescue Mission. I told him that there was no way. I told him that he could do it or I could find someone else, but he insisted. Seriously, he would not let me say no. He was asking someone who did not pray out loud 2 years before, talking to someone who gets anxiety just looking at the microphone. No way was I going to do this.
Thursday rolled around and my 'message' was written. I am not exactly sure what to call it. It wasn't a sermon and it wasn't necessarily a message. It was just me talking. Throughout the week, I was worried about what to talk on, I didn't want to come in and speak the same message they hear every week and then leave only hoping that they understood it that time. Sure, speaking hope and encouragement into their life is so powerful, but when does the rubber meets the road? When do we stop just standing in front of them speaking on hope and actually let them see the hope in their own lives. While, I prepared, I found myself getting upset because I had a million thoughts and no way to put them on paper. My audience was different this time, I spoke at a woman's retreat once, I talked about my mission trip to Africa, but this time I couldn't just talk about going on mission trips, I couldn't talk about the intense level of poverty. I was having to readjust my mindset, instead of telling people to go love on the less fortunate-- I was speaking to the less fortunate.
The worship set was coming to a close. I sat in the very back and said 'Jesus, you know I can't do this. You know that I can't do this alone." I walked up to the podium, which I promised myself I wouldn't stand behind. Its too intimidating. I placed my bible and notes on the podium and opened us in prayer. My first words were "Hey, I am Callie and I am nervous"-- I explained to them that I am not a pastor, that I am not a speaker, but that I am a writer. I talked about my blog and then read them something that I wrote, after that it was like an outer body experience. I didn't remember anything. However, I do know that I mentioned Joseani and how she changed my life, I told them of their worth, but the most important thing I did, was pass out note cards and challenge them.
I had the guys in the back help me, I passed out note cards, pens and told each of them to write down their passions, write down what they think they are on this earth for. I watched them all write, I watched them smile as they wrote, I watched them giggle, some got teary eyed and some would look at me smile and then look back at their card. They wrote their hearts on a note card. After the note cards were filled out, I told them to keep them. I told them it was to remind them of their importance. I read Ephesians 2:10 and expressed to them they are so beautiful in Jesus' eyes.
As I finished up, I apparently was so confident up there that I cued the band to come back up and had a line for prayer. I watched at two women sat at their table and wept. I told them that everyone has a story. I want to hear theirs. I want to know their story. We all should want to know their story.
I walked to one of the ladies at the end of the night and she embraced me in such a loving hug. She told me that I helped her, she talked for a bit and then I had the opportunity to pray for her. I noticed that there was another lady waiting behind her. She hugged me and started crying-- I prayed for her and all she could say was 'thank you.'
That night changed my life. Its funny how things work like that, you go somewhere or do something huge to help people and what happens is they help you more than you can ever imagine helping them.
Every one of the people in the shelter have a story, they didn't intend on ending up at the homeless shelter, but they did. They are not defined by their living situations.
I have a previous blog about my first time there-- http://alifethatisnolongermine.blogspot.com/2014/05/a-night-with-meaning_23.html
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