Maybe it’s because it’s Fall, but I’m just going to go ahead and put down some meandering words on the page/screen. I hope that’s okay with you. Truth is, I will always have a soft spot for the old-school way of doing things, when blogging was a new thing and we were all getting our feet wet and we were taking pictures and getting to know each other and we weren’t so worried about what we had to do as bloggers. Instead we focused on what we get to do.
I’ve been sitting down with people, to talk about the book, and all this talking about the book has made me realize the back-story of the book is its own sort of story. Writing a book happens in the midst of your life. While the bills are coming in and the children are sick and the roof is leaking and the dog keeps throwing up on the throw rugs and you’re still draping your leg over his in the dark. The words don’t always get to be first. They hardly ever get to be first.
If we’re lucky, we live out the heart of the words in the ordinary stuff of our every day lives. But we don’t necessarily get to focus on the writing of the words, because time keeps marching on and there are people to see and places to go and checkbooks to balance and wine and bread to be consumed.
In the middle of the life you’re living, sits this idea of something you’d like to do, somewhere out there in the future. Maybe it’s a dream, or an adventure, or an enterprise, or a hope. But it’s out there, underneath the layers of all the other things that stand up tall right now and keep your focus pulled in tightly. That future thing seems out of reach, and maybe it is for now.
But time keeps marching on, and one day, the future thing and the you that you are or will be on some day to come, will find your paths crossing and you’ll be living smack dab in the middle of the reality of that thing. You might have to pinch yourself, because you didn’t really think it could ever happen. Even though you saved or studied or sacrificed or spoke soft words of encouragement to yourself through the tight weave of the grosgrain of your ordinary days, you might not have been fully convinced.
Mostly, things change incrementally. We barely notice it, until we have to buy new shoes for our toddlers or cut back a branch on a tree or decide to go ahead and let the gray take over. But it’s happening. Bit by bit, in the midst of all the ordinary that we might be tempted to wish away on the days when child’s pose is what we feel like doing more than anything, we are moving in the direction of our dream come true.
Peace on earth. Thy Kingdom come. We are not so far from your shores. Can you hear our heartbeat? Can you sense us drawing near? We have not lost sight, even in the midst of our ordinary days — especially in the midst of these days upon days.
This is lovely. I’m glad you did the regular ol’ blogging thing today. I think we should start a trend – Back to Regular Ol’. xo
I do love Regular Ol’. I think it might catch on.
Good to see ya’ again, Deidra! I’m coming off 31 days of writing about morning invitations … and despite the day in, day out of it all, I love blogging and the community it has birthed more than ever!
;-}
Standing ovation for the 31 day-ers!!!
I loved this, Deidra! This just seems so full of hope, “But time keeps marching on, and one day, the future thing and the you that you are or will be on some day to come, will find your paths crossing and you’ll be living smack dab in the middle of the reality of that thing.” Thank you for encouraging words today. Blessings to you!
Thanks so much for reading, Gayl!
I love this. I like the regular blogging. I was better at that.
Me too, Jamie. Me too.
I really don’t know how to do this any other way. Hence the 31 day series, I guess. About done with ‘this’ for a while, though. Whew, it’s been a long month.
The 31 Day Challenge is more than a notion. Challenge is absolutely the right word, and kudos to you for sticking with it, sister!
What soothing words to my weary heart. Some days I long for the regular ol blogging thing. But, like you, when I take a moment to savor the long view it’s a joy to see how the Lord brought us all together in one big feast of an on-line community, and then sends us out to do our thing in our every day lives. Thank you, my friend. xo
Yeah. The long view gets lost if I’m not careful. I’m with you. The online community is absolutely one of the most important elements God used to restore my mind in a very dark season. If nothing else ever comes of blogging and the Internet, this community has been more than worth it.
lovely.
xoxo.
Regular, old blogging kinda just gives me warm fuzzies. <3
I know, right? It’s almost vintage-y.
Goodness, I needed this today. Thank you.
I’m glad you found your way here, Ronne.
Slowly savoring your book, Deidra, and agree, the old time posts and the connections they bring give us life…Thy Kingdom come, Lord, when all the connections will be everlasting!
I hope we never give up on Thy Kingdom come. (Thanks for reading my book.)
Love those onions, dirt and all.
Simple things.
I love this and I would love to sit and listen to you talk about the book. And the incremental changes, I so get that! You book is doing a number on me and changing me in a good way….thank you.
Thank YOU for all you’ve done to get the message of that little book out into the world, Mary. I couldn’t have done it without you.
This is so timely for me…I am 41, taking prerequisites for a nursing degree at a local junior college, juggling four kids and a house and husband and the biggest dust bunnies you ever saw…and as you said, I am smack in the middle of the dream that I thought may never come. I feel encouraged and happy after reading your words…thank you, Diedra!
I discovered the largest dust bunny in the history of mankind yesterday, right in my dining room! These are the things of life, aren’t they? All of it, woven together to tell a single story that leaves a lasting impression on this world. Keep on keeping on, sister! The best is yet to come!
I appreciate the ordinary and the extraordinary. God gives us so many blessings to enjoy. 🙂
So many blessings!
I keep thinking that I should change the name of my site to The Luddite Blogger because I do the barest of bare essentials technically with my blog, and have come into it all head-over-teakettle in the past year or so.
I loved your book, and I like what I’m seeing here and other places on the web, but SO little time for reading on the computer. . . cuz I still do really like books better.
I really enjoy your writing, Michele (I’m a bit of a stalker, over at Living Our Days). And, I’m especially grateful for your review of Every Little Thing. I’ve been reading blogs less and less, too. A book in my hands is still one of my most guilty pleasures. I’m so glad you joined the conversation, here. Welcome!
Wow! As I lay here, wide awake, willing a few more welcome hours of sleep, I decide to see what appears on when I open my Jumping Tandem bookmarked page. I had just asked God to recharge me and kick me back in gear for what I need to do and I come upon these encouraging words. Thank you my dear sisterfriend for being an instrument of God, willing to yield yourself to His will and the calling He has placed on your life.
I love this so much, thank you, Deidra.
Taking some time to get back to regular ol’ and read some blogs today. I love this because it reminds of the Deidra I happened on when I first started blogging. This is a breath of fresh air. Thank you.