Stuck. (#Write31Days)

Day 5/ 31

One thing I would add to what I wrote about Learning yesterday– just because you want to do something, are called to do it and have that burning desire to get started– the jumping off can be scary. 

Getting stuck at the very beginning can be both humbling and frustrating.

There are two rooms off our foyer. She’s in one and I’m in the other. She is armed with a pencil and an empty composition book and is trying to “write a book.” I’m in the room 12 steps away armed with a computer and a similar goal.

I smile at the similarities and then I hear her audible sigh.

“Mommy. This is hard. I’m trying to get started and the words are so hard to spell!” 

We talk about sounding them out and she gets back to it and tries again.

She begins again, “This is going to be a loooooonnnng book and I’m still on the first page! How will I finish it?” 

Ha. At least you have words on your page… I think to myself.

I sit there staring down another scary start– and I breathe deep and tell her the words I need to hear myself, “Lu, just do one page at a time, sweetheart. One page at a time is all you need to worry about.” And she smiles and STARTS. And the irony is not lost on me.

In fact, it’s the daily reminder that I need so desperately. All too often I’m looking WAY too far down the road to have any idea how to take the steps that I need to take TODAY.

“Do the next thing,” wisely spoke Elisabeth Elliot. She knew a thing or two about long periods of waiting and uncertainty.

Many of us can use the reminder to just be IN today and just ABIDE today and be Faithful today. And not get stuck with tomorrow, and all the days after that.

Christa Wells, a beautiful singer and lyricist, wrote these words in her song, Shine, and it pretty much sums up our choice to live and use what we have or spend our energy on worry and doubt–

“Yes, it’s hard to believe
When you’re well aware that you’re not what you mean to be
And your house is full of unfinished rooms
‘Cause you’re fond of starts, but you find it hard to follow through
You think you’re recognized by your faults
But the mirror that you hold is false
‘Cause you shine

He shines His light through a prism
We give back what we’re given
To color this, to color this
To color this world, color this world
Be the friend you never had
Be the one to take a stand
Say it your way, say it your way
Say it your own way

And it’s hard to believe
That I count as much as those on either side of me
‘Cause I don’t have it, whatever it takes
To be like them, they are gifted in so many ways
Yes, we could lay our talents in the earth
We could pile on the doubt like dirt
Or we can shine

He shines His light through a prism
We give back what we’re given
To color this, to color this
To color this world, color this world
Be the friend you never had
Be the one to take a stand
Say it your way, say it your way
Say it your own way

Shine, we shine, His light refracted
Shine, we shine His light refracted”

—Christa Wells, Album- Feed Your Soul

Purchase the album here, Feed Your Soul

Hear the song here:
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cnshr4yi3Os]

*Amazon Link to album is an affiliate link.