All I Ever Have to Be

Have you ever wondered what your purpose on earth is?  Have you ever really tried to understand why God made you the way you are?  I have, I do and have been doing so for the past few years.

As a child I had dreams, many of which where played out in childhood games.  I believe these dreams are our deepest desires coming to the surface.  It could be marriage and kids, travel, adventure or performing to the masses, whatever it was, it is part of you.

Over the past 3 years, I have asked myself lots of questions. Some I have found answers for and others, well, I am still searching and analysing.  Last night as I cooked tea for my hungry tribe, some words of a song that I haven't heard for years, came into the head.  "All I ever have to be is what you made me" - a song by Amy Grant from my years of youth.  Wow, where on earth did that come from?  It then dawned on me.  That is my answer.  

I now start to realise that I don't have to be what everyone else expects me to be.  I don't have to comply with what others may suggest is the right thing for me.  I don't have to be a certain way, I don't have to act like this or that.  What I do need to do is to be me.  Simply, utterly, completely me.  Just the way that God intended.  Where that leads, what comes as part of that journey is absoutely, totally fine.  

Being authentic and true to yourself is not always easy, particularly when you question who 'you' are.  For some of us, it can be a lifelong search and I think there is the risk that we will miss so much if we keep our head in this space for too long.  We will miss the magic of moments, the joy of life and the beauty that surrounds us in the form of family, friends and life in general. 

Sometimes I think we search too hard for answers.  We feel the need to be able to see years ahead but that is not real.  We can plan for the future and anticipate what might happen however,  we will never be able to see everything that lies ahead.  If your quest to discover yourself is in full steam or just leaving the station, can I ask you to do one thing?  Take a seat near the window and remember to look out and enjoy the view.  At every station, get out, stretch your legs and immerse yourself in your surroundings.  Whatever you do, don't stay sitting in your carriage wishing that you could be part of what was going on outside.  Stop over analysing and actually accept that all you have to be is who God made you to be. 

Regards,

Need a guest speaker?  Read more about how you can engage Lynnelle to speak at your next womens event www.lynnellerichardson.com.au

Leap of Faith

That chasm is huge, the bottom unseen, the distance across too far for a mere mortal.  To even contemplate it is madness.  There is no reason to act and are plenty of reasons not to take that step.  It requires a leap of faith.

Image source: guardian.co.uk

In the past week we have seen Felix Baumgartner leap from the edge of space back to earth.  A feat that one would say is impossible, yet he has proved otherwise.  As he sat in the capsule for two hours, slowly rising to the desired height for the jump, I wonder what the conversations running through his mind were?  If it was me, it would have included, "What on earth possessed you?",   "You are going to die!",  "Next time you have a brilliant idea, ignore it!".

While in my life, I am not about to leap from the edge of space, change is coming and I am not sure how I feel about it.  This unexpected change, a scenario that had never played out in my head before, has presented itself leaving my husband and I have to make a decision regarding our future employment. 

It is hard to imagine at times life outside of what we have become comfortable with.  A life in a new town, new job, new school for our son - lots of new things.  Now the thought of moving had been discussed however, the way in which this has arisen was not discussed.  A sudden change in job security and here is an opportunity to make change.

For us, we are so uncertain as to the right decision to make as we look at the impact on our life and family that any move would have.  It feels like this giant chasm has opened up and we can choose to take that leap of faith into the unknown or we can stay on the edge looking over and always wondering what life would be like 'if '.  This one is going to require a whole lot of faith to achieve what at times feels like the impossible.  To make the leap, we feel as though there is so much that must fall into place.  Much that we would say would seem impossible but we all know that sometimes, the impossible becomes possible with faith.

Perhaps it is time.
Perhaps we should.
Perhaps we shouldn't.

A life of no regrets....will this be one?   We are looking at this with a positive mindset and searching for what amazing opportunity lies before us however, that ever so comfortable position of staying where you are is also appealing.

Will we leap across that chasm or will be still be standing at the edge wondering 'what if '?  Time will tell.