Category: Purpose

That big question in life. Why am I here?

Grateful to Encourage

My husband and I moved south!!! After years of planning and praying, we left the DC metro area for coastal North Carolina. And while our new area is changing into something more cosmopolitan, it is still The South.

The South is traditionally known for Southern hospitality. As a newbie I don’t know all that the expression entails, but I have previously observed unusual affection, often demonstrated with terms of endearment like sweetheart and honey, from complete strangers. I find it genuine and heartwarming. During our first days here however, I am also experiencing an absence of warmth. From the frustrated bank teller working us through a change of address and check order, to the sullen barista at a healthfoods café, to the distant cashier at the upscale grocery store on the day before Thanksgiving, folks don’t seem to be their cheerful selves. Retail is a tough job and masks do not help (see previous post) but something is amiss.

We’ve heard it once, we’ve heard it 100 times, these are unprecedented days. The months will soon be a year of rumors of disease and daily numbers reports. Fatigue from the virus and its fallout are palpable. When the lockdown began last spring, I remember thinking ‘at least the weather is getting warmer and we can be outside, and it isn’t over the major holidays.’ Now winter approaches and the holidays are here. This is long and this is hard.

Over Thanksgiving some brothers in the faith brought encouragement. In a Thanksgiving email, Joe Rogers wrote us: “(we) love people, especially family … Period. Politics, misunderstandings, harsh words, differences of opinion, rejections, exclusion from gatherings- these things can and do hurt … stay faithful. Stay healthy. Be kinder than necessary.” Around Thanksgiving kitchen preparations, “Pater,” one of the family grands, almost admonished us regarding God’s great love for people. Pater repeatedly declared God’s endless, loving efforts to reach every soul, as he occasionally chopped cilantro and I quartered parsnips!

I am grateful for these reminders. Our world is hurting and as followers of Christ we have the opportunity to demonstrate God’s patience and kindness to brighten the lives of others around us.

Let the peace of heart that comes from Christ be always present in your hearts and lives, for this is your responsibility and privilege as members of his body. And always be thankful. Colossians 3:15 (The Living Bible)

This weekend we shopped small business in a new hometown.

“A Writer’s Daughter” Turns Two

August marked the two-year anniversary of my blog. I enjoy the discipline of writing and posting. Ideas and topics come to me regularly and I pair them with what I pray are appropriate Scriptures. For me, the challenges of blogging include technical issues and the pictures. I can’t always navigate the WordPress software and ‘sharing’ through social media sometimes goes awry. Last spring, I attempted to strengthen my photography skills by enrolling in a class. Then our daughter got engaged and we plunged into wedding planning for her July wedding. I flunked the class because I couldn’t complete the homework; so much for the teacher being a student!

Thank you for subscribing to my blog. If I had a goal for my blog, it would be to increase the number of subscribers, however I am not fussing over my statistics. I write in response to God’s prompting. When I introduced my blog, a friend expressed her hope that it would reach millions. Such success is unlikely, but I will follow through faithfully. The Bible tells us to be faithful in the small things (Luke 16:10), so I plan to continue posting. The song “Dream Small” by Josh Wilson captures this message. He says, “simple moments change the world … find little ways.” Many amazing things happen in the world because of the obedience of ordinary people in seemingly insignificant ways.  Watch the song below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dOBaLrItEyc

I snapped this as Dad sweetened his Dunkin coffee.

As I created my blog two years ago, two parallel ideas emerged in my mind: God as The Author and my father’s writing career. My blog is not meant to be a tribute to my Dad but I am happy to acknowledge his wonderful influences. I had a special chance to spend time alone with him this summer while my mother was out of town for a funeral. Though my dad is experiencing some age-related declines we enjoyed the extended visit. He shared an idea he has for a new book and he asked about my writing. We discussed gardening and he kept me company on errand running. Dunkin Donuts is a favorite spot for us and we discovered a Russian gourmet store in the same shopping center. We stopped in to eye all the Slavic goodies. I asked the clerk to speak to my Dad. Dad responded with a robust Ukrainian phrase, sounding quite authentic!

I look forward to writing on as I continue being blessed by the presence of my earthly father* and my Heavenly Father. Thank you for your part in this calling.

*My friend Seth Barnes recently shared blogs of time with his aging dad.   www.sethbarnes.com

 

 

Now That’s a BHAG

A few small tables displaying a basic assortment of Christian books and Bibles line a corner of the large lobby of my church. I stopped there in December to buy a little gift. Lots of other folks thought of shopping there too, so a line had formed. As I got closer to the cashier, I spotted my friend Cheryl who runs the book ministry as a volunteer. People were commenting that she was busy with sales and she replied, “My goal is to outsell Amazon!” Now that’s a BHAG!

A BHAG is a Big Hairy Audacious Goal. James Collins and Jerry Porras coined the term in an effort to incentivize companies and employees to dream really big. The idea is not necessarily to set a realistic, reachable goal but to think way beyond expectations and believe in the impossible. For example, Walt Disney embodied the BHAG mindset and he achieved legendary success. The adage “Reach for the moon and if you miss you’ll still be among the stars” is a similar expression.

We have just begun the New Year. This is a season when many set goals, or at least reconsider priorities. But New Year’s resolutions almost seem out of vogue these days because people fail at them or forget them so quickly. I am not keen on setting New Year’s resolutions yet I do think of a new year as a fresh start and a chance to improve and grow. My nature is pragmatic and realistic so BHAGs aren’t my mental default. Instead I mull over changes I want to make and prayerfully reset priorities for my time. Above all, I love to make lists, which is a type of goal. Lists, and weekly planners, act as short term goals for me and the reward for me is checking them off. Apparently this is not a bad idea.   Just the other day a professional email came through at my work suggesting that making very low, easy-to-reach goals was helpful. As the goals are met, mood and accomplishment improve.

A friend just gave me this planner, photographed in the same setting as my blog theme photo. The planner was created by Cheryl Martin and the Excellent Living organization.

Speaking of work, you might be surprised to know that elementary students are required to write personal goals quite regularly. Counselors provide guidance about how to draft goals. Young students come up with some winners: “I want to spelle beter.” Children often lack the maturity to implement steps to meet their goals. Things like practicing math facts daily teaches the student the times tables, but kids don’t always make that connection. My hope is that children do begin to understand the link between effort and success; that is an important part of education and life.

So how does this topic of goals connect to words from the Author of Life, which is the aim of my blog? I think the Bible states some incredible BHAGs. For example, Jeremiah 29:11 says, “I know the plans I have for you … plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a future and a hope.”   That sounds wonderful but God spoke those words to people in captivity, living in exile a thousand miles from their homeland. For them, prosperity and hope were a BHAG! Another amazing Scripture BHAG is, “Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us.” (Ephesians 3:20) Wow, God outperforms even our wildest imagination but the fine print identifies that the power is God’s and only if that power is activated in you, by belief and repentance. Which leads to the ultimate Biblical BHAG: God’s plan, His goal for mankind.   Scripture states that the one sacrificial death of Jesus justifies the sins of the entire world, for those who claim that truth (Romans chapter 5). And that is NOT a wishful BHAG; it is a goal accomplished, a task finished, for you to embrace in this New Year 2018!

Postscript:   I don’t know if you can PS a blog post, but I will add this anyway. When I announced my blog, a friend emailed me back that she hoped my blog would reach millions. I was thankful for Cynthia’s dream for me. My goal is to write regularly, highlighting God’s word with my experiences. I have usually met my own deadlines in the past 18 months and I appreciate all of you who are reading and sharing my posts. Please feel free to continue sharing it and sign up to automatically receive posts, if you haven’t already. The best way to find my blog on-line is www.brendaproulx.com.

September 2001

They say “timing is everything”.

Fifteen years ago, a director at my church asked me to mentor a group of younger mothers. I had never led or taught adults before.  I had misgivings and some scheduling conflicts, but I prayerfully agreed to become a group leader.

My group first met in September 2001. Our nation, and particularly the DC area, was reeling from the airplane terrorist attacks.  In that group of 5 or 6 ladies, one was the wife of a pilot, one was a military wife, one was a flight attendant and my hostess’s husband was in the State Department, specializing in the Middle East!  What a group at what a time!

God is faithful. He bonded us together.  Initially, I looked at those cute gals in the prime of their adult lives and felt dowdy and middle-aged.  After a time, I became thankful for what I learned from them and for their friendship.  The director’s confidence and wisdom kept the mentor groups going strong.  She selected great curriculum and fostered wonderful community among the leaders.

My own mothers group flourished for quite a few years. Since then I have received graduation and wedding announcements from some of those families.  Several of them continue to attend my church.  A couples group formed that still meets.  I am aware of no divorces from among them!

When Queen Esther risked her life in the court of the Persian Empire in order to save her Jewish people, her uncle made a famous statement. He said, “Who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?” (Esther 4:14)  What opportunity has God put in YOUR PATH for THIS TIME?

Divergent

Divergent. Not the young adult book series and movie but the story of two men. In a weekend, one of them had a party and the other one was featured on a TV crime show. There were similarities.  Both men marched to the beat of a different drum, were unconventional, even awkward.  But the outcomes of their lives couldn’t have been more divergent.

The one man chose a path of helping others, meeting needs, counseling, listening, visiting, praying, often ministering where there was illness or death. And when hundreds from his congregation gathered to celebrate his work and retirement, men and women shared through tears stories of this man’s friendship and caring. His unique and naïve ways were transformed to bless others.

The other man was called a “gentle giant” and a “loner”.   He worked too but working inside of him was a dark, bitter and violent response to his world.  Over his young adult years, he brutally attacked two victims who survived and he took the lives of at least two young college women.  His crimes were eventually found out and he is spending his life in prison.

Jesus said, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”  (John 10:10) The pastor enjoyed a full life because he surrendered his limitations (and we all have them) to God.  The other man’s life was stolen by evil as he succumbed to the worst of his nature.  We all have to make the choice:  the full life through Jesus or destruction.

Yard Sale: A Long View

There is a truism for garage sales. It’s the jackpot theory.  You browse many yards, finding nothing.  Then you hit a jackpot sale with everything you were looking for in perfect condition and at great prices!

I occasionally went to yard sales when my kids were young. Toys and other children’s deals were plentiful.  One weekend I went to a sale in an older neighborhood that was being razed for new development.  Sure enough, I experienced the jackpot phenomenon.  After many dud sales, I hit upon a bonanza!  I found a treasure of craft supplies, gardening tools, and items for entertaining, all at one house.  A thought struck me as I purchased what the seller was unloading:  she was ending a time of creating and sowing in homemaking that I was presently immersed in.  She might be looking back but I was looking ahead.  I wondered if she was satisfied or regretful.  I saw a future that I could seize or squander.

The Bible talks about choosing endeavors of significance. “Anyone who builds on that foundation (Jesus) may use a variety of materials – gold, silver, jewels, wood, hay or stone.  But on the judgment day, fire will review what kind of work each builder has done.  The fire will show if a person’s work has any value.”  (1 Corinthians 3: 12-13) That Saturday was many years ago.  I still use the party-sized coffee maker I bought that day and I’m still aiming to do work that is fire retardant.  I pray that this blog has value for eternity.