There's a scene
in Harry Potter and the Order of Phoenix where Hermione describes how Cho must be feeling after kissing Harry.
Ron said,
"One person can't feel all that at once, they'd explode."
"Just
because you've got the emotional range of a teaspoon doesn't mean we all
have," said Hermione nastily, picking up her quill again.
I don't know
about you, but I have a tendency to overthink things and be overwhelmed by all
the thoughts running through my head in the process.
Something as
simple as writing and publishing a blog post became too overwhelming to
accomplish.
I believe the
devil knows how to steal our joy. He knows the lies to plant in our heads to
keep us from participating in things that bring us joy. Things that bring God
joy.
The ironic part
of it all, is that I wrote ten blog posts last year I just didn't share it with
anyone.
When I finally
got brave enough to publish my "Finding Joy in the Journey" post, all
of my fears and self-doubt flooded back in.
What if people hate what I write?
What if people question my authenticity?
What if people think my posts about my
trips are boastful and self-serving?
What if people make assumptions about my
health issues?
What if people question my motives?
But what if someone needs
to hear it.
When I was
talking to my dad, the wisest person I know next to Jesus, about why I took a
hiatus from writing publicly and what my reservations about
blogging again were.
He told me,
"You could give 100 people ten dollars, and someone would still be mad you
didn't give them 2 fives."
You can't make
everyone happy. I've heard that again and again. Why does it take me so long to
believe it?
Doubt is such a dream
killer. What is doubt keeping you from?
Is it writing that special project you've
wanted to for so long?
Is it running a race you feel unqualified
for?
Is it opening up to your friends so that they
can help carry your burdens?
For me it's all
three of those and through this blog I hope to tackle writing about special
trips and adventures I go on, training for my third half marathon in late October and sharing
my heart through it all.
Life is too
short to be paralyzed by other people's expectations and even the voice in our own
heads that wants to tell us we're not enough.
Go out and dream
again, friends. Doubt is not welcome here.
But He said to me, "My grace is
sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.Therefore I will
boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest
on me." 2 Corinthians 12:9.
