The Start of Something New

This morning, I was reminded how important it is to listen to your dreams, callings, talents, and the quiet voices that seem to tap you on the shoulder. Sadie Robertson had Ben and Erin Napier on her podcast, and Erin mentioned her blog.

Writing and public speaking have always been an art I admire — they can paint pictures and communicate a wild ride of emotions in such simple ways. Everyone can write and journal, and speak. Two months ago, I felt a strong pull to start blogging, whether one person, ten people, or only my own eyes read each sentence. Then, after a while, I legit just never put all of it together.

I asked myself why I ever stopped doing something I loved so much. What was the reason? Probably fear — fear that it would look bad, be embarrassing, or that I wouldn’t know what I was doing. Which is ironic, because the first thing I’d tell someone else is that nobody likes being around a perfect person.

I’ve never wanted to be friends with someone just because they’re skinny or because their life looks aesthetic online. A good friend is someone who leaves me feeling better when I leave than when I arrived. Perfect people have never made me feel more loved, accepted, or needed.

Failure is impossible when it comes to art and words — there are no boundaries. What’s keeping me from starting or finishing the race? 2 Timothy 2:7 talks about the race God gives each of us. I believe that voice that taps your shoulder is God’s way of revealing your race.

And I came to one word as to why I didn’t keep fulfilling my passion to write for fun. I will use a word our world tends to avoid: lazy — showing a lack of effort or care.

When I put thoughts to paper (yes, always paper — typing it on a computer feels like a cop-out, I don’t care what anyone says), something shifts. There’s value in laying it out, putting words to a thought, and seeing life from the outside through an outside lens.