If you’ve been reading this series for the past 16 days, chances are that there is a thing that has been coming to your mind. I can’t tell you what it is, but you know. Maybe you’ve been wondering if something we say here will spark you do do that thing. Maybe you’ve been looking for a reason not to do it. Maybe you heard the topic change the world and you clicked away but now you find yourself back here, for some reason.
Why is your heart beat quickening now? What is that thing that keeps coming to your mind? What have you been avoiding because of fear of failure or success? What if, just for today, you ignored the voice that keeps telling you not to start? What if, just for today, you took one step toward influence? Want to change the world? Then start. It’s the hardest part.
“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles … The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly … who at his worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.”
Theodore Roosevelt
Since we have already decided (just for today) that there is no fear in starting, are you willing to name it? To hold it in your hands, turn it over and examine it, explore the depth and breadth of what it might mean? Tell us, what is your arena?
Thanks for this, Emily. Thankfully I am on Fall Break today so I don’t have to go to class at 8:00 a.m. My plan for this morning is to go sit in my chair and write.
To write more boldly. To be unafraid of the opinion of others, and really tell the things that God whispers to my heart.
This is scary, the naming of it. But really, it’s been percolating for a long time and just over the weekend I had several opportunities to informally do this thing I’ve been reluctant to name: To encourage struggling women. There are some particulars attached to this thing but that’s the essence of it. And now that I’ve said it, I sort of want to go back and hide in the bathroom.
No hiding allowed. Women need you! There is a sphere of influence that only YOU can reach. You know these things in your head. Time to boss the rest of you around into taking action. YOU CAN DO IT, because our God is faithful – He equipped you for this. Now, He’s calling you out so you can discover what He already knows to be true about you!! So exciting.
I will be praying for you!
Hi Emily,
I adore your blog — truly, it is like water in the desert. For many years (like many) I dreaded and avoided sharing my writing. In the past few weeks, after many others, I left the bathroom and started a blog of my own. This weekend, I let “my world” know. Terrifying exhilaration.
My step this week is to continue to share the truth of my messy need and point the way to our beautiful, redeeming Savior, who beckons us to draw near. My step this week in my inner life is to take the view off myself as much as I can and gaze full at my unchanging Rock.
Thank you for the holy encouragement, Emily, and bless the work of your hands.
Participating in the 31 Days series has been my thing. Your words have been so perfectly timed for me. And like Ashley above, I recently let people know that I have a blog. We’re out of the bathroom! Yikes!
Love the Theodore Roosevelt quote…well, I think I need to take more steps towards a book proposal that has been in me, is finding some backbone through the 31 day series and I do believe is getting more focused. Oh, and I need to start to really believe He is all He says He is…that will help a lot of…EVERYTHING;}
My arena this week is to be good to myself. To not say one negative thing about myself, and to truly believe that God delights in me.
Writing. And, this 31 challenge is forcing me to start. Thanks to Nesting Place—and you—and, the other original 8.
My arena is to be me more open and share my writings on my blog. To tell people I have a blog. I did and I am participating in the 31 days series and this has been met with much opposition… Migraines, sick children, Internet failure for days… But I press on. The second part of my arena is Compassion International, I know God has laid on my heart to become a child advocate and I thought umm… No way! This to me is impossible, but I am trusting Him and moving forward. And Emily thank you for your series, each day God has spoken straight through your words to my heart. As if you wrote them just for me on the exact day they were needed. Much thanks!
Really busting forth with my art. I’ve dreamed about who I am creatively my whole life. I know I’ve barely scratched the surface of what He has for me. I need to stop piddling and go forth BOLDLY. Fear is a factor and a thief. The timing of these 31 days has been … wow. My huge culminating project is moving into the production phase. I am scared to death. Afraid to fail. Afraid to succeed. My head knows the answers, but the rest of me has been clawing onto the bathroom jam. It feels good to read about it, dream about it……. but it’s not enough. I was created for more. Time to MOVE!
Thank you so much Emily!!!! You have me inspired to take a leap of faith with my art. I have always loved photography and I haven’t touch a “big camera” in almost 20 years. So two weeks ago, I borrowed my mom’s SLR and I started snapping away. I am startingto enter photo contests just to get my feet wet – again!!! I am thinking about starting a blog about my farm and the beauty that I see everyday. I just need to find the time to set it up and make the commitment to update it regularly. However,your words are what I hear when fear begins to set in. I appreciate your encouragement. I am starting to MOVE too. : )
This writing for 31 days straight has been a coming out of the bathroom for me. Huge. And so my arena would be writing more. Sending out magazine articles and devotions. Still praying about the book thing. That one makes me want to run back to the bathroom. Run there and possibly lose my lunch. (Sorry. TMI.)
Feels so good to be taking these first steps, though.
To let God use my writing to enliven myself and others. Photography for the art of it. To be and do just me… and not worry what others think.
Whew…my stomach is turning. But, I named it!!!
starting is a good place to start
love and light
Through reading your 31 Days, I am realizing I have had expectations for myself in certain areas because others planted seeds there. But now I think God has something completely different planned. Definitely time to soul search.
Thank you
Naming my change: Doing some deep soul searching to figure out where/and to what, I should be moving.
Nursing School. Through three pregnancies and seven years of being a stay at home mama, I wanted to be a nurse, to go back to school. But I stayed home and loved my babies for that season. Now they are school age and I was accepted to nursing school just last week. Fear keeps trying to talk me out of it but The Word tells me that with my God, I can scale a wall…even the wall of nursing school. So bc I trust my Friend and King, I will start in January! With Him by my side, I can do all things through Him bc He is Good, Strong, and True. So here’s to starting!
I think, for now, for this season, mine is finding out who I am without my Mother at my side. She was my encourager, my friend and the ever present reminder of love. I am empty without her and yet I go on. I take care of my family with her memories in my heart, Now I must step out of the bathroom by myself and I am unsure which direction I will go. I will allow the Lord to lead but my knees are shaking.