You have a dream in your back pocket, don’t you? Over the years, that dream has taken on many different names in your mind: Silly. Ridiculous. Hobby. Foolish. Impossible. Waste of time. You have called it that for so long, that you have never actually taken the time to consider how it got there in your pocket in the first place.
We throw trash away; we don’t put trash in our pockets. That dream is there because at one time, you saw that it had value. And so you tucked it away for safe-keeping. But doubt and fear have convinced you to keep it hidden, convinced you to rename that dream Wrong. What would it take for you to pull that dream out again, to stop taunting it with cruel names and to simply listen to what it has to say? No filters. No back talk. No eye rolls.
Dare to handle it, to hold it in your hands and consider it with kindness, with compassion, with (dare I say it?) goals. Are there tiny, itty-bitty baby steps you can take toward pursuing it? Can you at least pull it out of your pocket and hold it in your hand? Place it on the desk, maybe? Offer it up to the Dream Giver?
Three years ago, I pulled out a crumpled dream. And I put it in my suitcase and took it with me to a writing conference. At the time, I had zero ideas for a book, zero publications to my name, and zero idea what would come out of it. But the one thing I did have was the smallest shred of courage. I went to She Speaks during the summer of 2008 knowing no one and nothing. Except I had that small bean of an idea that maybe there was a possibility that I might perhaps be a writer a little bit. Maybe.
When I left the conference, I still wasn’t sure what would come of the dream. But I stopped taunting it with names. And I developed a small but respectable amount of reverence for the way God speaks to us through our desires. And I didn’t know it at the time, but She Speaks that summer was my first giant leap toward discovering my message. And the next summer at that same conference, I pitched Grace for the Good Girl to an editor, and that is why I have a book coming out in September.
And it started with a crumpled dream in my back pocket.
This summer, during the weekend of July 22 – 24, I will be back in Concord, NC at this conference I have grown to love. And I will lead a breakout session with my friend and editor, Andrea Doering. There will be opportunities for speakers and writers to develop their craft. Lysa will head the whole thing up with grace and encouragement. Mary DeMuth will talk about fiction and memoir writing and Marybeth Whalen will too, and Renee Swope will be debuting her new book, A Confident Heart. Literary agent Rachelle Gardner will talk about writing book proposals that sell, and our dear Ann Voskamp will be presenting the closing keynote. And there are so many more.
Today through April 2nd, Ann has been given the opportunity to offer a scholarship for one of you to attend She Speaks. I’ll let you visit her place for the details, but might I be a voice of courage for you today? What have you to lose by applying? The simple act of raising your hand could be the very baby step you need to take today, whether you win the scholarship or not. And while you are at it, go ahead and visit Amy Carroll at Next Step Speaker Services, as she is also offering a scholarship through April 3.
Are you feeling a little nudge? A little hope? A little excitement? I hope so. Pull that dream out of your pocket and listen to it sing.
I loved reading this and getting a little background! So informative, too! Thank you. I can totally relate to everything you posted today. thank you so much for this.
cat moore´s last [type] ..Confessions & Project 2
Do you ever just feel like crying over the prospect of those desires? Yesterday, I was thinking ahead just one baby step and thought to myself, if God shows me any more of His glory I might either (dare I say) withdraw OR fall prostrate before Him in awestruck wonder. I think that it must be why we are drawn to His glory just one step at a time. Because it is all we can handle. She speaks sounds so wonderful!
Theresa´s last [type] ..MMM Sacrificial love
Thank you for talking about this today. I hav just pulled my dream out of my pocket and had the courage to start it. I opened an Etsy shop and have great excitement, but the fear is overwhelming now. What if no one buys anything, what if they think my idea is not good. Satan’s firey darts are coming at me from all around. It is so hard to put yourself out there. You encourage me to follow through, to believe in the dream that He has given me. You have blessed me today.
Cha Cha
Thank you, Em (can I call you that? My family calls me Emmer or Emilito or Emilousy…I’ll spare you those). I really love this, because I nodded right along. The dream in my back pocket has been there so long that I forget it’s there until it comes out of the dryer all crumpled and crispy and I don’t even know what it said on the piece of paper anymore. Thank you for reminding me that it’s okay to have the dream, hold onto the dream, and follow it. I have faith that I’ll know when the time is right. That someday I’ll take that itty bitty little step and get there eventually.
xo
God uses you in the most unbelievable ways, Emily. You affirm. You encourage. You inspire. You provoke good thinking. Your rawness is a testimony that it’s hard for all of us, and that stopping at the hard isn’t what God has called us to. I am incredibly blessed to (somewhat) know you. God has used you in the most incredible ways, beginning with ministering to me!
(I say this on a day when I’m incredibly angry at Him…the first time ever…and He’s allowing the emotions…and I’m seeing how in my anger I’m going to HIM and not taking it out on others. He’s simply amazing, isn’t He?!)
Rich blessings…
Amy´s last [type] ..waiting it out
You have a gift a sweet gift that I love about you…..enourager. Thank you!
Blessings!
Abby
Abby´s last [type] ..Birthday
You have a gift a sweet gift that I love about you…..encourager. Thank you!
Blessings!
Abby
Abby´s last [type] ..Birthday
Okay…first of all, I love the red shoes! LOVE THEM! ( : Second-you have inspired me. I wouldn’t even know where to start…but you inspired me!!!
gina´s last [type] ..No Longer A Victim
Thanks for that Emily. I’ve been seriously praying over combining a dream of mine and turning it into a career. The beauty of this little dream of mine is that it could minister to many. Thanks for sharing YOUR dream.
Suzanne´s last [type] ..Wonderfully Made
Emily, I just cried at this post! Cried real tears! I won a Cecil Murphey scholarship this year to go and I am so scared! I’ve had this dream in my pocket for so long that sometimes it seems like it’s good for nothin’ and should be thrown away – a sham. My biggest fear is going to She Speaks and finding out that I’m really not meant to be a writer and I’ve been wrong my whole life. Then what?
Thank you for sharing your uncertainty and your process and encouragement with us. It’s reassuring to know that others are scared too.
Kristy K´s last [type] ..Saying Thanks
Kristy K – I am so glad you put voice to whispers that echo around many heads. But the only way to get rid of a bad song stuck in your head is listen to a good one! BELIEVE! Remember, you’re not alone. You, too, are a beautiful garden and the Master will ensure the bloom. Go get em!
Robyn Q´s last [type] ..Measuring Growth
thank you so much for writing this. Like the others above me my dreams are in my back pocket. Some seem so far away and impossible that I’m afraid to take them out.
After meeting with a couple that traveled the world in missions last night I’ve been thinking more about my dream and what I can do to make that a reality. Reading this only solidified my plans to take out my dream.
From one encourager to another, thank you. Thank you for being courageous, thank you for encouraging and most of all thank you for pointing everything back to the One who is worthy. thank you.
Emily,
I attended She Speaks last year and LOVED it. I had an ember of a calling but didn’t know where to begin. God gave me the direction I needed to begin that weekend. I learned so much sitting through your breakout session and enjoyed chatting with you at lunch (I’m the one whose husband may have gone to High School in Irmo, SC with your sister). You have been a source of inspiration this year. I so wish I could go again this year but God is using this time to refine my message and direction. I trust that when I am able to go again he is going to open amazing doors.
Mary
Mary´s last [type] ..Without Words
Digging out that crumpled dream from my pocket- little bit faded – but still readible. Thank you.
Another wonderful post – thank you!
Laura´s last [type] ..Be of good cheer it is I be not afraid
I could relate to nearly every word you wrote. I loved hearing your story. It is so encouraging. It is also so rewarding to be able to look back and see that something that started so small, God has allowed to grow and bring forth fruit.
Emily´s last [type] ..Sowing Seeds
Oh Emily, you know those goose-bumpy feeling you get when something (or Someone) is speakign to your soul? I got that as I was reading this post. I had read about she speaks last summer, but it was during an awful time for me, but I thought how wonderful it might be to attend. Now I know that God is calling me to more, to write to speak, but I still don’t have clear direction. maybe this could be the step I am supposed to take? I will definitely look into these scholarships and into the conference itself. It would be awesome to attend!
Bernice
Living the Balanced Life´s last [type] ..Good Enough is the New Perfect giveaway!
I am So. Ex.Cit.Ed.
Flower Patch Farmgirl´s last [type] ..Short and Sweet
I can’t wait to read your crumpled piece of paper!
Bianca´s last [type] ..the ugly truth…
What a wonderful post! Sometimes we just have to believe that our big dreams come from God—that they’re in us for a reason. http://www.thelazychristian.com/2010/08/i-dreamed-dream.html
Rachel @ The Lazy Christian´s last [type] ..Sex and God and Religion and Stuff
For so long I’ve let fear keep my dream deep in my pocket.
Oh but this year God has been whispering, encouraging,
asking me to pull it out and give it to Him!
I am learning that when I give it all to Him I no longer have to fear failing.
Thank you so much for your encouragement sweet Emily!
Kasie@~The Art of Life´s last [type] ..Because Creativity is Important
Powerful words, beautifully written. Thank you.
Thank you so much for this beautiful post and for all the information. So generous of you to share it with all of us. I, too, loved reading more of your “back story.”
Joyous´s last [type] ..Writing Dreams
I have to resist writing you a thank you note every single day. Honestly. I hold my breath as your blog loads…knowing words like water will pour. Refreshing, encouraging, dream-growing water. Wish I could chat with you over coffee someday. It’s so easy to forget I’ve got something in pocket at all…so grateful for the daily reminder.
Shelley.´s last [type] ..some other beginnings end
At my husband’s urging, I very timidly gave it a try. Thank you Emily.
Linda´s last [type] ..Lets Pretend
I raised my hand today!
Thank you, Emily, for always being a writer-cheerleader-encourager-extraordinaire. You are a hundred kinds of beautiful!
Kristen-Chasing Blue Skies´s last [type] ..On Blessing Others When Your Heart Isn’t in It
I love the fact that you are living your dream!! You really are amazing. I wish I could go, it is clear across the country though for me. I am going to have to keep watching and trying to find one just a little closer!!
Pattyann´s last [type] ..Wordless Wednesday
A confession I need to make:
I put trash in my pockets. Routinely. As if I didn’t know that trash belongs in the trash can. As if there weren’t plenty of trash cans in my house, never more than a few steps away. And so from time to time I have to go through my pockets, emptying out all the trash, finally letting it go.
Every now and then, I’ll find a coin amidst the gum wrappers and pieces of lint and bits of string.
Now you have me wondering if there might be a hidden treasure in one of my pockets. I don’t know; right now I feel too weary to pick through the trash. But I thank you for the words of encouragement. Your words are a priceless gift.
I love you, Emily!
Richella at Imparting Grace´s last [type] ..Best DIY Project of March
Hi, Emily!
I don’t know how I ended up here, but this article was exactly what I needed for the day…thanks. It is so rare to find people nowadays who are inspiring others, without thinking only about themselves.
Regards,
Anna
Anna´s last [type] ..Yachtcharter Griechenland
Wow, the red shoes frame this post perfectly. This is the reminder I needed today and the encouragement that God never allows our dreams to be wasted. May he use them in His way for His purpose. Can’t wait to read your book and see how God has used yours for His purposes.
Julia´s last [type] ..Over here
What a wonderful encouraging post! mmm, yes i do have a crumbled dream tucked away. Time to take it out, dust if off and give it CPR!
I’m so thankful God is using you to speak.
I’m scared to fail.
Melissa Brotherton´s last [type] ..a well-placed period
thank you for this – it was so encouraging.
and i echo melissa…i’m {so} scared to fail.
eloranicole´s last [type] ..bucket lists & faith steps
Emily, I currently feel exactly like you did in 2008. Thank you for sharing where you were. It is amazing what the Lord has done from then till now in your life with your words, with your simple offering. I have a thrilling anticipation of what He may do in my life, and that makes my desire swell…both to pursue Him more deeply and to pursue venues such as She Speaks. I’ll be asking Him about it, and hoping that He says Yes. Thanks again for your testimony.
Thank you… This conference has been nagging at me and I’ve been praying about it, wondering if I’m jumping the gun and wondering if its God whose propelling me or some crazy pipe dream… Last night I took the leap and submitted a post for scholarship consideration. And I made my blog public to an audience I’ve been hesitant to consider… Thank you for your encouragement here. It’s exactly what I needed.
Nikki´s last [type] ..He Speaks – She Speaks
I just love this message! Your words speak to me over and over and I find strength & endurance to keep climbing. I also find I am sharing the message with others around me – work, church, and home. Thank you for being brave and following the dream once stuffed in your back pocket! Be blessed ~
Robyn Q´s last [type] ..Measuring Growth
Thanks for the shout out, Emily!
JUST WHAT I NEEDED TO HEAR.
THANK YOU.
THANKING HIM.
HUGS FROM MY HEART.
Lisa Currie-Gurney´s last [type] ..These Just Made Me Say Wow!
Hi Emily, This post really spoke to me and it likely touched the hearts of many writers/readers. You have truly been given a gift. I’m so glad you’ve decided to share it with all of us. That makes us blessed too.:)
Elizabeth at Home´s last [type] ..A Battle Worth Fighting