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011: itching to listen
Hello you,
God is itching to tell you that He hears you. That the tears you shed are not ignored. That your cries are not just swallowed up by the emptiness you have imagined around you. That you are not alone.
God is itching to tell you that He’s taking care of you. That nothing you are facing could ever be bigger than the Sovereign King. That while you sit paralyzed in fear and discouragement, His promises are already in unstoppable motion. That He will carry you to victory.
God is itching to tell you that He loves you. That you don’t have to make yourself perfect. That He can fill the voids in your heart, especially the areas that are cracked. That yes, you are worthy.
Let God speak. He’s got some things He’d like to say to you, and I think you’ll want to hear it.
I know I do.
Sincerely, Lou
009: A LITTLE ADVICE ON INVESTING
Hello you,
To invest or not to invest, that is the question. At least that’s the question that’s been on my mind these days. Not so much financial investments (even though I really should start thinking about if my frequent Sunlife runs are worth the imminent bankruptcy I’m forcing upon myself). No, I’m talking about emotional investment. Care. Friendship. Effort.
It is so interesting to me how we can decide who and/or what we want to invest our time and energy in. Let’s face it, I’m only human so I have limited resources in regards to how much of myself I can afford to put into a relationship or assignment or activity. There comes that threshold where I just can’t invest anymore, and then I have to reallocate what’s left of me so that I don’t self combust and end up having nothing left to give at all.
And what is it about certain people or experiences that classifies them in either the “worth it” or “don’t even bother” categories? What distinguishes someone who you would stay up texting for hours (even though you know full well the exhaustion will hit you the next day), from someone who texts you, yet still shows up as an unknown contact in your phone because you didn’t even take the time to save their name?
Is it based on what they can give us? What we can get from them? Is life really just one giant, living, breathing example of the uses and gratifications theory, where involvement is based on whether or not our needs will be satisfied?
Goodness I hope not. I like to think that we’re not all that selfish as communication patterns and theories make us out to be. I can’t help but feel that God is behind these purposive decisions and connections. We dig our roots into any earth we find, but He is the One who chooses where to water us. In which soil we will grow. Where we blossom, where we wilt.
All this time when I thought I was the "little plant that could", focusing my energy on the best soil that will allow me to flourish, I realize I am nothing without the One who waters me, the One who gives me life. Besides, does the seed choose where it’s planted, or does the Gardener?
Let the Gardener guide you, water you, grow you. Watch and see how you’ll bloom.
Sincerely, Lou
008: HERE'S TO HOPING
Hello you,
I hope that when you look back on these years of your life, you walk away feeling refreshed, not remorseful.
I hope that when way down the line you are reminiscing on the peaks of the golden days, memories of the breathtaking view from the top outnumber the times you opted to stay in your valleys.
I hope that when all is said and done, you feel reassured that you passed the test of life, and life did not pass you by.
But I also hope that you recognize joy right now. In this moment. As it sits beside you in the passenger seat, rather than faintly noticing it in the rear view mirror.
Don’t wait to experience the treasures in life. Because they won’t wait for you.
Sincerely, Lou
006: LAUNDRY DAY
Hello you,
Life sure can be messy. It’s like you try so hard to dress it up in your best outfit, only to go about your days tiptoeing through experiences, fearing that something might get you dirty; constantly holding anyone and anything at least an arm’s length away, just in case they get too close and ruin your pristine appearance.
I hate to break it to you: it’s inevitable that you’ll encounter a mess too large or too unexpected and before you know it the perfect outfit of your life is “ruined." And it feels like the more you try to rub the stains out it just makes it worse.
But don’t stress, because the stains really aren’t that permanent. God gave us this life knowing it would be temporary, that both the hardships and the triumphs wouldn’t last. What will last is how we use this life to see the blessings He wants to reveal to us. Moment by moment, big or small, I promise you they’re there. We just have to step back and not be so fixated on the mess, because Jesus is waiting with heavy duty detergent to wash away the stains. All we have to do is hand over that favorite sweater/t-shirt/habit/guilty pleasure, the one that is oh so comfortable, the one we’re afraid won’t fit right anymore if we toss it in the wash.
I sure hope it doesn’t fit right. I hope that when you try on that sweater that you once were so addicted to, that was once your source of worth or affirmation, you realize you’ve outgrown it. That you realize you don’t need it anymore. Because Jesus has a new sweater tailored specifically for you, one that’s made with salvation, redemption, encouragement, mercy, love. The best part? This one doesn’t stain.
Which means you don't have to be afraid to live life to it's fullest, to experience completely everything that this beautiful and intimidating world has to offer. Because you've got your trusty new sweater to withstand anything that this world can throw at you.
It’s made new every single day, always the perfect fit - just for you.
Sincerely, Lou
004: (ROLE) MODEL BEHAVIOR
Hello you,
I have a lot of role models. Individuals who are more admirable than superheroes because their Clark Kent by day is indistinguishable from their Superman at night. They are extraordinary and inspiring 100% of the time - at least I think they are. That’s what makes them models after all, right?
Don’t get me wrong, this isn’t one of those cases where I place people on a pedestal, automatically making me think they’re immune to failing or imperfections. In fact, being relatable is one of the key components I look for in a role model. Someone who isn’t afraid to make mistakes, someone who is humble enough to ask for help, someone who is relatably human. (Although my dog can be my role model sometimes, too. Getting away with eating and sleeping all day? You’re lying if you say you wouldn’t want pointers from a pampered pup).
Another thing I look for is sincerity. The people who are daring enough to cut through the small talk and replace the passerby “how are you?” with “how are you really?”; the people who don’t just answer the front door when they hear you ring the doorbell, but they're eagerly stationed at the peephole and come rushing out, excited to greet you, to meet you wherever you are so you aren’t walking in alone; the people who you have no doubt will honor a pinky swear forever and always. These are the people I wish to emulate.
Usually when people ask me who my role models are, my immediate response is my mom and dad. And how could it not be my gut reaction, I mean the Big Man Upstairs blessed me with the literal best parents I could’ve ever asked for, and they’ve never stopped supporting me, encouraging me, and loving me and I know they never will. The way they’ve treated me is how I want to treat others, that’s my personalization of the golden rule.
My nearest and dearest friends are also my role models. They dream big and work hard, and I’m in awe of how they each are tackling this crazy confusing chapter of life called adulthood. They are honest and true to themselves, and I look up to them immensely for so many different reasons, and I don’t think I could ever express enough through words, years of friendship, Instagram PDA, and memes just how much I admire them.
I have other role models too, though, ones who I can say I don’t even really have any relationship with whatsoever. These are the people who I’m exposed to for a very brief moment of time, and yet their impact on my life is inexplicably monumental. Writers have this effect on me, individuals who I’m lucky enough to come across their work and I just feel like “wow, they wrote that for me” and they don’t even know it but they change my life a little bit (or a lot bit) right then and there. And I wish that I could tell them thank you somehow.
Which got me thinking, there are people out there who are role models, and they haven’t the slightest clue. They could be going on with their lives as if it’s just an ordinary day but really, they are affecting others extraordinarily. People like you. Please don’t disagree with me, I’m just trying to give credit where credit is due. You are a role model whether you like it or not, and all the while you’ve been silently screaming into the universe to find some purpose or direction or companionship, you’re forgetting that you are somebody’s universe.
I hope this isn’t the first time you’re hearing this, because you deserve to be told that often and always. My hope is that you will be affirmed by these words and you will continue to make the difference that you make every day just by waking up in the morning and being. The world needs people like you, to live boldly, genuinely, fearlessly, kindly, brightly. There’s a Light that was placed within you, and you should know that you’re not the dim lantern buried deep in an underground mineshaft that you thought you were. You’re a lighthouse perched at the cusp of sand and vast ocean, and people from all nooks and crannies of your life are flocking to see YOU. Everyone needs a role model. Don’t be so hard to find.
Sincerely, Lou
003: BARE BONES
Hello you,
The human body is an intriguing thing. I’m no expert in anatomy, but sometimes I find it fascinating to think about all the different layers that we’re made up of. We’ve got the shiny, outer exterior where most of our efforts in maintaining our appearances are devoted. It’s what everyone else can see, and we’ve got a huge say in how others see us. There are cliche sayings like “wearing your heart on your sleeve” or “having tough skin” that make me think about the complexity of how we present ourselves, and just how much of ourselves we allow people to experience.
You won’t know who I am until you can see my emotions shine through my eyes or in the laugh lines on my face. You won’t know who I am until I use my words to translate the thoughts that are silently buzzing in my brain.
You won’t know who I am until my carefully curated outer layers are shed, one by one, until all that’s left are the bare bones that make up the simple structure of my genuine being.
I think this is what this is - “this” referring to this collection of posts, that I still refuse to honor with the description of a blog (because like I said it’s not that sophisticated at all). These lines of words strung together mimic my bare bones. There’s no outward projection to hide behind, no skin to toughen up and build a resistance against outward hazards or dangers. Just the frailty, yet strength, of me in the most uncovered sense.
Wearing your heart on your sleeve is admirable, I’m a firm believer of that. But I believe beauty also lies in the heart staying exactly where it is, only shielded from the world by a single layer - more like outlines of a layer even. I believe there’s beauty in seeing straight through these outlines to witness the lungs breathing in and out, and taking note on exactly what fills these lungs with life in the first place.
So, as I write to you in this daily collection of thoughts, I’d like to set expectations. There won’t be any photos or graphics or fancy details (unless I’m feeling particularly extra that day). It’s just my words and my ideas and my attempt at learning more about what God is going to do in this year ahead. This will be a release, my way of grasping the bigness of life with literary devices and operating as if someone and no one is listening at the same time. With everything that goes on up in this noggin, I think the simplicity will be a nice cozy little home. If you don’t mind the mess, you are most certainly welcome here.
Sincerely, Lou