Lonely People

On this Five Minute Friday (somewhere...it's early Saturday morning), I saw the writing prompt , "Friend" on Lisa Jo Baker's Five Minute Friday and took this this little piece I had written last November and spent my "five minutes" polishing it up a bit and thought I'd share it below:
http://lisajobaker.com/five-minute-friday/

Lonely People

I have decided that the loneliest people are people who want to be.

Yes.  That’s right. They have no friends, no one cares about them, thinks about them or ..... the list goes on and on....all because they choose to believe that for themselves.

A man who hath friends must shew himself friendly*.  Loneliness comes from one not reaching out....from hiding oneself.  Oh it’s easy to fall into the prideful trap of “no one cares about me”, “if I try, they will just say no” and the thoughts spiral and swirl and crush....

But this is not the truth and we were meant to live and walk and breathe the truth!  Hold onto it, breathe it, live it.  “Show yourself....”  Be seen.  Be there.  Speak, laugh, love, give, help, listen....BE the person you want to have as a friend.  Yes, you will give and give and give and some days you will feel like you never get back a tenth of what you have given, but give anyway.  

A friend sticketh closer than a brother*..who is He?

 Jesus.  

Yes, He truly is the friend that never leaves, never forsakes, is always patient, always listening, always there to help in time of need.  

Do not idolize friendship. I have done this for too many years.  Yes, the Hallmark cards, facebook posts, books and TV would have you believe differently...that there is a friend who sticks closer than Christ...but it’s simply not true. Friends will disappoint. Friends will sin against you (and not ask for forgiveness).  Friends will think of themselves and not you first. Friends will.... you fill in the blank. Because, friends are human.  And so are you. But you can choose to not be lonely. It’s your choice. Do you want to be the loneliest person?  For it really is your choice.  Show yourself....be there. Be human. Make mistakes and say you are sorry and if they accept it and trust you, Great! And, if not...keeping being, keep loving, keep showing yourself friendly.  He is there. Always faithful. All forgiving. He calls you Friend. And knowing and trusting this means you are never alone.


John 15:13–15, "Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you."

*Proverbs 18:24

Five Minute Friday: Writer

It’s Friday somewhere, right?

Writer. (Ready, Set, Go)

A label.  An identity.  A hope.  A dream. Impossible.  Possible.  Already?  On my way...

What is a writer?  Is it someone who aspires to write a novel, get published?  A blogger, a journalist or just someone who must, write.  I have never considered myself a writer because I have not written short stories. I don’t write articles or even poems.  I don’t have dreams to write a novel, though I have my whole adult life thought that I would like to help people somehow by sharing my experiences and what God has taught me through a book of my own.  

I have always had to scribble something down. 

Sometimes on a document typing as fast as I can before I can hardly put my seat down.  Sometimes in a journal, a pretty one, a spiral bound cheapy one (I’ve found those are really the best) and on the nearest scrap of paper.  Why? Do I think someday I will organize all these scattered thoughts and get them together into something that will make a difference somehow? Or, is it because I simply must....write. Write to get it out. To see it. To understand. To hopefully share.  

I know I am a writer.  It just looks differently than the classic definition in my mind which I think has held me back from sharing so many years.  I am determined in 2014 to be a writer who shares. Who does not keep this to herself.  Who shows herself, little bit by little bit to the world who is already watching and not really seeing who this person is.

(Stop)

Crowd

I'm linking up with Lisa-Jo Baker for her 5 Minute Friday. This is my first Five Minute Friday post.

CROWD.  Go.

And, I have to say, five minutes is not going to be enough. I’m graciously going to give myself permission to not feel constrained as this is a giant leap of faith for me.  Rather I’ve decided to see these five minutes as a launching pad to get me started.   

I love to write....for me.  To vent, to process, to be creative and learn as I go.  But never to share.  I am pretty sure this is the next step God wants me to take.  So I'm tightrope walking it, sure He is going to once again stretch me, teach me, grow me and change me. I'm taking this risk, this Friday dare of my very own doing.

Will you take this leap and start putting yourself out there?  Yes, I will.  I told my family.  I told a friend....and then another.  My accountability set in place.  And then, the past couple days....excitement and wonder of what the word, the writing prompt would be on this very first of hopefully many Fridays to come.  And then, it's here and the word of the day is.... CROWD.  Crowd?  “Lord, help me.”  

Right away I heard, "crowd out."  Not a full sentence or even a complete thought.  And then the mind starts racing.  Roll over, roll over...and they all rolled over and one fell out and the little one said, I'm crowded, roll over.  And they all rolled over and one fell out.  Six bears in the bed and the little one said....  I’m crowded, ro-o-o-o-l over.   

Crowd out.  Crowd out what?  Flitting from one idea to another, the scattered and fear driven mind keeps racing.  Mulling it over while washing the dishes and dishing up dinner.  Crowds are exciting.  ? Crowds are overwhelming. Crowds are energizing. Crowds make me feel claustrophobic.  ?  

Pressure is on, what will I write about?  This is the first time I'm putting myself out there and I'm contemplating typing about little bears rolling one by one off the edge of a bed?  Lord, I want to use this gift, such that it is.  For You.  If I'm going to do this, it's got to be Your work.  And what I'm hearing is confusing.  Whenever I usually write.... for myself,  I feel relaxed, at peace and the words just come. But now I am feeling overwhelmed by the possibilities, tense with the knowledge that others will read it and crippled by the perfectionist tendencies that may never see this through. God, I need Your clarity.  I need to just step out, imperfect as it is. Please give me the words to share at least one thing that is true.

And, it comes.  THEY are the crowd, the confusing ones.  The ones that crowd out.  They are the bad company that corrupts good character. You know, the ones that push in on, and push out the truth? We listen to them and they shove and intimidate.  Laughing at you, they name call and tell you to give up.  Loud and obnoxious, they cause confusion and fear.  But the still, soft, sure and steady voice of Truth tells me not to listen to the lies of the Liar.  

All the while, the bully is right there crouching,

"You'll never be a writer."

"Give up right now, this was a stupid idea"    ("...besides, it's easier and more comfortable to just give up.")  

“This is so overwhelming, you don’t know where to start. So don’t.”

The Bully reminds me of my lack of training and skill.  The Truth Teller reassures my anxious heart that we are all a work in progress and there is always hope for growth and learning.  Besides, my resources are huge in Christ!  

The truth sets me free and gives me wings. The lies enslave, intimidate and dash my hope.  

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:10

And, that is straight from the Truth Teller. The One who creates space, pushes back the crowd, gives you air to breathe and promises to prosper. And, the little bears, yes the ones that look so cute and cuddly sometimes?  They can keep rolling off the bed one by one till all I'm left with is plenty of room for rest.  

Stop.  WAY more than 5 minutes later.