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I’m stepping out of my little boat and am trying something new today. I’m jumping in with both feet and am joining a community of word-slinging women who gather each week over on Lisa-Jo’s blog to celebrate the art of writing together. She shares one new writing prompt each week and all who want to participate, take that single prompt, ponder over it, and write about it for exactly FIVE minutes – not a minute more! Our prompt this week…. Connect
READY. SET. GO!… We are more connected to the world around us than ever before. As a blogger, tweeter, pinner, facebooker, and instagramer, you might think that I dwell in a constant state of connection, but I don’t necessarily always feel that way. Some days I feel like all of this hyper-connectivity, this fast-paced, ever-changing social media orb is noisy and harsh. On those days I feel disconnected and my soul feels assaulted and fatigued by the decimal level of the white noise. On those days… those white noise, static days… I know I have to shut out the distractions, pull back and renew my mind to my purpose. Why did I place myself in this position of connection in the first place? Does this platform that I speak from reach anyone? If a blogger writes a post in the forest and no one hears them hit “publish” will their words ever be read? I jest. Then that heartfelt email hits my inbox. Kind words from an unknown reader that felt brave enough to reach out and let me know that I ministered and breathed some encouragement into her life. Did I actually do it? By the grace of God, I connect.
STOP.
   
I waited patiently out in the sweltering Arizona heat to snap this picture of the ever-elusive little hummingbird that frequents my backyard. With my shutter set on warp speed, I caught him mid-flight quietly feeding on the nectar of my favorite flowering tree. The thing is this wasn’t the first time I tried to photograph him, but it was the first time I captured such a vivid image of him. This time, I anticipated his many darts and flits. I knew that I would get my chance to see him if I just steadied myself, heat or not, and didn’t move. Although it felt like an eternity, he finally rose up out of the foliage near the top of the tree and revealed himself to me. And the reward of capturing this lovely little brown and gold backyard bird reminded me of the importance of waiting. Waiting on God to reveal a new vison for my life when my own dreams have faded. Waiting for hope to rise when my soul feels depleted. Waiting for God’s grace to to give my faith wings.
May you taste the sweet reward of waiting today. |
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