And so you purpose to take a step in the direction of influence and start. This time you aren’t moving to run from regret or to catch up to an expectation, but you are moving because you have been inspired and you can’t not move. You have glimpsed your full potential and you can’t let go of the delicate hand of Hope. It was hard to see her before, but now that you’ve started to move, you realize she’s standing there with you, eyes bright and dancing.
Her grip is firmer than you thought it’d be. That girl is tougher than she looks.
And so with Hope standing by your side, you wonder if she might tell you where you’re headed. But there’s mystery in this Hope. Instead of pulling out a map, she simply repeats the same three words, over and again.
Show up, friend. You don’t have to fix them and you don’t have to save. Show up, with all of your love and insecurity, with all of your messy beauty and irrational fears. Don’t wait until you think you’re ready. Can we really ever be ready for change?
Show up in the world and be who you already are. Not hiding behind a mask of strength. Not pretending to understand things you don’t. Not a girl who has all the answers. Not a mom who can handle everything or a teacher who is always fresh with ideas or a wife who never gets it wrong. Show up human. Show up authentic. Show up today, in everything you do. Be there, present, ready, real, engaged. Show up and see what happens. The world is begging you.
Here are all the post in the 31 days to Change the World series. If you would like to have new posts delivered into your inbox, subscribe here for free.
This is so refreshing to my heart and soul! Thank you.
I love this post, Emily.
Do you remember the director of that really big Compassion project in Manila? The project where they had all the art work and where we visited the program for mothers and babies?
I don’t remember her name, but she said so many profound things that have stuck with me. When talking about the role volunteers play in making the project run so smoothly, she said this, “Some people don’t feel that have much to offer, but sometimes just showing up is a ministry.”
I loved that. Such truth. There is immeasurable power in simple faithfulness.
“A river cuts through rock, not because of its power, but because of its persistence.” – Jim Watkins
Yes! I remember her well. I wanted to write down every word she said. Such wisdom. So glad you reminded me of her, Kat. Can’t wait to see you again next week!
Thank you for this post…so many times I get bogged down in fear – thank you for reminding me to stay the course and be inspired that change can be and is most often a joyous thing! Loving your book too – can i write a blog review after I’m done?
Yes!! So good. The courage to show up comes when we experience this phenomenon. When we have taken the small step and seen Him fill in all the miles to the finish line. It’s having seen His strength in our weakness, His provision when we were lacking that pushes me to “show up”. Knowing when I take my step, a Big God shows up in a Big Way. Thanks Emily for this, especially as I prepare my heart for Relevant (newbie!)
Thank you for this reminder that we don’t have to know everything, be everything to everyone, hide who we are or how strong we’re absolutely not sometimes. That we can be who we are, and love who we are, without making any excuses or passing judgment, not to ourselves or to anyone else. Show up human, show up authentic. It can’t be put much simpler than that. Blessings, Emily.
“Show up huuuuuuuuuumannnnnn!”
It’s no accident that I usually hear the line of yours that I like best in an Oprah Winfrey voice…
Just show up…a really good word for me today. You see, this week it took a great deal for me to just show up. The enemy, lying to me, says that isn’t good enough. I should do more, be more, give more – in other words, be the strong good girl that I have wanted to be for so long, but am not. I am not. I am broken and feel like I have very little to give right now. But I CAN SHOW UP. And wait. And see what God does (without my “help.”)
Thank you for the encouragement. I needed it.
Keep showing up, girl! You can’t BE more… He’s already made you everything He desired before the foundation of the world. It’s just a matter of letting Him unfold that in you….. Blessings!
exactly what I needed to here today! its amazing how God can use us, if we are just willing to say “Here I am”
“not hiding behind a mask of strength.” there are those masks again. ; ) between your book and your blog, i better get rid of them already!!!
i told shannan (martin) that between her, you and the Holy spirit, these dreams of mine are pretty much required now to become realities. : )
and, if i needed any more prodding… i won that book from you (11 secrets to getting published) AND someone gave me microsoft office (i’ve been praying for a word processor; our computer has nothing on it). time to start writing my story. it’s time to share the beauty from the ashes!
Oh Emily, Once again your heart comes across so beautifully through your written words. This blessed me immensely today!
I am more of a lurker on your blog than a commenter but I am so looking forward to Relevant and a chance to meet you. Your book has been an amazing blessing to me. It is like the signature of a letter God has been writing to me for a while now. So deeply changed because of your obedience in writing it. Thank you!
I think that my winning Mary DeMuth’s book (11 secrets) on your site was a divine push in the direction God has intended for me all along. I’m amazed, and inspired, and scared. I’m already a professional writer, but most of my work is commercial/corporate writing and I never, ever thought I’d write a book. Yet here I am, devouring Mary’s book, writing my own book outline, and starting on a couple different chapters. Just look what you helped start!
My husband was just saying these same words to me last night — just be yourself. Don’t pretend to know all there is to know about your platform. Just be honest. I’m learning. And your words were like the Holy Spirit saying, “amen.” I don’t own this, so I don’t need to be defined by it. All I need is to be honest and obedient. Such a humbling place to be.
I linked to this post (and partially quoted you) in my post today, here: http://honestlyadoption.blogspot.com/2011/10/show-up.html
I’m being challenged to stand up for something that is good and true and it’s SO NOT LIKE ME to make waves. But today God said the waves are already there and asked me to step out anyway…to watch Him do what he does best. Make a way.
Thanks for speaking into my heart today and confirming some hard things.
You go girl! Way to take that new path in Him. Hang on to Him today!
You speak straight through to my soul. I’ve felt like this is a waiting time, a healing time, a “not yet” time. And maybe it is. But maybe I can start small even now? Maybe?
Oh, Emily. Thanks for that dose of encouragement. You have such a gift of giving me hope for the future if I continually show up each day and do my part.
Thank you!
Christen
Yes yes yes!!! Just showing up is the best thing we can do for making a big change (or even a little one) and becoming who God’s gently pulling us to be. I love how you said this part: “Show up in the world and be who you already are.” It’s so true. We have to be who we are or a vital part of the Body of Christ is AWOL. Keep preachin’ it, friend!!
Every week I wonder what difference my actions bring and how God is using me and every week He surprises me. It’s funny what happens we just show up.
“Show up in the world and be who you already are”….
Love that!!
Such a recap of my day – thank you!
“Show up… with all of your messy beauty and irrational fears.”
“Show up and see what happens.”
Wow, Emily. You are changing my world.
Such wonderful words, especially the last paragraph. Thank you.
There’s always that precursor to have to have it all in place before I can “show up”. Not today. Not from now on. Thank You Emily.
This was very nice. I was confused for a moment because I wasn’t sure if this self reflection, a post, or a poem. Very nice.
Wow, I’ve had it all wrong for so long. Wanting to know what’s ahead, how this life will all play out. But I simply have to take the hand of Hope and show up! How refreshing is that?
so glad i took the time to read your post this morning. it’s so easy to forget to show up and as you wrote, not fix or save anything or anyone. thank you, emily, for the reminder to embrace the person i am today.
Love the discription of Hope, and that “her grip if stronge that you thought it would be”. I have heard a quote ” hope springs eternal”. Yes.
…perhaps my favorite post so far in this series.
xo
Wonderful post. You spoke my heart. Hope is an amazing thing that keeps us going when we want to give up. I can’t function without it.