Handwritten Letters

I was pleasantly surprised when I shuffled through my snail mail today and spotted a hand-written letter from a friend I met through an online lung disease support group.  It got me to reflecting on our changing world.

Our world of technology can be convenient and fast.  I can send my sister who is now in Haiti an email, and she will actually receive it today.  Amazing!  Even as writers we can now submit by email and save on a return envelope and postage.

In fact, technology is changing so quickly that I can hardly keep up with all the computer jargon.  Just when I learn how to do some project on my computer, it's outdated by some new program.  It's a life-long learning challenge.

Don't get me wrong.  I love technology, but I don't want to lose sight of that powerful "old-fashioned" way of writing a letter.  My friend reminded me today how special and personal it is to get a letter in the mail.  And even though I loved being able to send her a quick ecard thanking her for her thoughtfulness, I am inspired to dig up my stationery, shake off the dust bunnies, and send my friend a handwritten letter, too.

Have you handwritten a letter to a friend or relative recently and sent it by snail mail?  Let's keep this line of communication from joining the obsolete!

Perfectionism Plugs Creativity

Many years ago I was given a personality test that analyzed me as a perfectionist and a worrywart.  Nothing that I didn't already know myself.  But what I didn't realize then is that I don't have to allow myself to be defined by a test or by what someone else says I am.

I too often allow the perfectionist in me to take full reign.  Oh, I have improved in some areas.  For instance, I used to think every smudge on the windows must quickly be wiped off.  Today I stand and admire a perfect little handprint made by a grandchild, and I don't have the heart to wipe it off for days.

In the creative area, especially in my writing, perfectionism easily tosses inspirations out to the trash file.  As Julia Cameron writes in The Artist's Way, "Perfectionism is a refusal to let yourself move ahead."  Those ideas spin around in my thoughts, but I don't act upon them because I think they're not good enough.  Or I think someone else can write about that better than I can.

Often when I'm writing I am constantly worrying about the little details of grammar usage, etc, instead of concentrating on the bigger picture and just letting myself write freely from my heart.  Even now, you'll never guess how many times I've hit the backspace button. 

So how can I unplug that perfectionist plug?  By blocking out the little voices that say it isn't good enough and concentrating on the passion planted within me. By writing spontaneously, trusting that all the little details will work themselves out.  By spilling out my ideas on the written page and telling myself that every idea is a good idea and worth activating.

Above all, I can concentrate on the Creator of creativity Who is perfectly powerful to unleash my potential in a way that produces glory to His Name.  If I look within myself, I will never measure up; but if I look to my perfect Savior, I will be more than enough.

Reader, are you letting your perfectionistic nature stifle the creativity within you?  How can you work on more freely expressing yourself in your everyday life?

Bloom Where You Are Planted

"Bloom where you are planted."  An old quote but still so relevant to today.  What does it mean to me?

We are all planted into different gardens of life, and God wants us to bloom in the garden where He has planted us.  It may be a garden full of the thistles of heartbreaking trials, but He offers to each of us the breath of life, and He longs to nourish us into radiant blossoms.

I read a refreshing article today in our local newspaper about a girl with downs syndrome who was voted as homecoming queen in Chester, SD.  She blooms with her loving, bubbly spirit.  What a blessing that others see past her limitations to the awesome gifts God has planted in her heart!

We all have limitations in some way, but God plants seeds of gifts in each of our hearts.  Sometimes these gifts can be smothered with past pain and insecurity, but through God's grace the seeds will sprout and grow and bloom.

While searching for the author of the above quote, I discovered the lyrics to an old song, and the last lines moved me - "Look at the gifts you have been given.  Let them go free!"  I am so ready to deny I have any gifts, but I am taking a journey into believing God has given gifts even to me, and He can and will nurture them with His love and mercy.

No matter who you are or where you dwell, each one of you has God-given gifts that He desires to flourish to His glory and the welfare of others.  Will you search your heart and share how God is using the gifts He has given to you to bless others?