I write because I can’t not write.
God gives me a story to share that my heart must birth into words that brings life. As my story finds its legs, crawling turns into walking and walking turns into running. Running towards something — no, someone, holding a greater story than my own. The One who wrote my story in the first place. Jesus.
I don’t know what will come of it-all. Honestly, I don’t know if I have enough margin in my life to do it-all. As I’m in a season of mothering four small children, homeschooling and striving to be present in my everyday-already-full-life. All I know is that I wake up writing and fall asleep writing.
Words in my mind longing to find their permanent home on paper, typed out, remembered so they won’t fly away, wasted.
I’ve said Yes, to this calling, and I am committed to being obedient to God in whatever capacity that looks like. A next step for me was attending the Allume Conference this past week. Allume is Christian conference for writers, bloggers and communicators. My desire was to refuel from good teaching, connect with kindred spirits and learn from others who are further along in their writing journey.
“Together” was the theme crafted for the weekend and the heartbeat behind each talk. Being like-minded. Joined together by the same-love. Fastened together by our sameness and not separated by our differences.
Acknowledging, that – Yes, we all bring our differences to the table :: giftedness, backgrounds, experiences, culture and race. And yet those very differences somehow unite us. Knowing the truth that we were intended to be different. It wasn’t a mistake on God’s part. He intentionally made each one of us different on purpose. No one less than. No one greater than. No one meant to be left out.
We sit in our individual chairs.
Set at a shared table.
Big enough for all.
With Jesus at the head.
We are different.
We are the same.
We are both.
Together.
By no coincidence. Just a few days prior to Allume, I sat in in my living room with my-people. My small group — Andrew and I lead through our church. Our discussion was on Philippians 2:1-11. As you read these words let them wash truth over you.
Be like-minded, having the same love.
Let nothing be done through selfish ambition.
But in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.
Let each of you look out not only for his own interests.
But the interests of others.
Christ Jesus, who being in the form of God did not consider it robbery to be equal with God.
But made Himself of no reputation.
He humbled Himself.
Obedient to the point of death.
Therefore God also has highly exalted Him.
And given Him the name which is above every name.
God’s Word admittedly tells us that we will have different interests and we will have selfish tendencies. But this comes as no surprise to God. After all, He’s the one who knows us better than we know ourselves.
God is our example.
He is 3 persons, He is One. Different and the same. And we need to know all 3 persons to truly know the One true God.
We too, must know each other, know people who are different than us, so we can be a true reflection of Him. Giving Him the glory He deserves.
Church, may we be fastened together by our sameness and not separated by our differences. Holy Spirit show us the steps to take to close the gaps that have brought division and separation within Your Church. We are the same in You, Jesus. Help us believe it. Compelling us to move towards change.
*Readers stay-tuned for the next post in my blog-series “Before I Forget because Yes, You Forget”. I have not forgotten. Thank you for joining me on the journey~