My Hobby

Not long ago, I was asked a question about my hobbies.  I went through mentally what were things I had done in the past.  It was a reach into the past before I was able to come up with what seemed an acceptable answer, however I wasn't satisfied.  Was it just that I'm a mom with a young one that I don't invest in hobbies anymore?  Do I waste my time vegging out to the boob tube, rather than investing in something I really like?  Or perhaps its that my interests for hiking and the great outdoors aren't just something readily accessible...  Or MAYBE I'M BORING!  Oh goodness, what if I'm boring?  Maybe I've just given up?

I'm laughing at myself now ...

I am pressing myself and trying to explore new things in Hobbyland.  I recently purchased a pre-owned table and have engaged in the undertaking of refinishing it and recovering all the seats.  I've learned through the process, that I can do it, I'm hoping I can get the job done, but this isn't necessarily my next hobby.

I was reading a little yesterday.  It's a book written by the creator of the Dilbert cartoon.  He talked about how when he was young there were certain activities he would engage in.  One such activity was riding an old motorcycle.  There were many times he ended up laying the bike down, or flying off of it in a field that he came to the conclusion, the risk just wasn't worth it.

Another activity was drawing cartoons.  He'd find himself drawing all the time... in the dirt, in the snow, in class.  He'd oftentimes take great risk in doodles on the teacher or bullies that were bigger than him just to have the chance to draw and make some of his fellow classmates laugh.  That;s when it hit him that there has to be something to what you invest your time and interest into and the associated risk that you are willing to take.

This has helped me frame my hobbies in a whole new light.

I recently watched a clip online featuring my friend, Mike.  There is a full clip of his presentation, but for a taste, here's the 3 minute link.

It was only a matter of time before my mind hit what I like to call "the playground".  Mike talks about uncharted territory. He shares about being solutions focused and the ability to spot patterns.  I love uncharted territory and live to breathe that crisp clean air.  As Mike was able to state it, I saw a lot of similarities in myself, but if anything in collaboration and connectivity for a solution.  There have been times when I saw the benefit for the greater community to launch an endeavor for a solution, and it just comes to me so easy.  And risk?  What risk?  Maybe some of that was undertaken in my younger days and perhaps I was a bit naive to put myself out there like that in public, politically, or never asking what failure could look like.  However, this is simply just a rush.  It's too much fun to be had to think we can invest our time and labor and the result could be... for example- the development of young professionals in feeding a community's leadership pipeline, or perhaps in charting a new territory, collaboratively, to meet the transportation needs of a county in ways that hadn't been tried before.

I will be the first to admit, the things I do or undertake, the full idea is never owned just by me.  That's part of my hobby... I love gathering the players, coming up with something greater than I ever could come up with alone, empowering others to meet their potential while making relentless progress towards whatever problem we are tackling.  But the reality is...my hobby isn't just problem solving...it isn't to put my name to some solution... My hobby, as it turns out, is the journey.

2015 Challenge

This past weekend I had the honor and privilege of hosting seven young ladies in my home for something my church puts on called Disciple Now.  Each of these wonderful 7th graders came with such sweet, different, funny, and great dispositions.  Though out the weekend, I got to follow these young ladies on their own journey, attending with them different services and engaging them in a local service project.  We had times for them to share what's going on in their world and its amazing to me, in what should be such a simple age, how complex life is already for these sweet girls.  Some reported dealing with bullying, others said some of their peers are already engaging in alcohol, some are standing for their faith in situations where they are getting called out, and another sweet girl lost her mom to complications from cancer this last year.

All weekend I looked for opportunities to put an arm around them- to encourage them, and let them know how happy I was to have them for the weekend.  I'm hopeful to continue my relationship with the girls and have the joy of watching them become young ladies, and if possible provide them with encouragement.

The weekend's speaker's name is Austin and he's from the Denton area.  I'm so thrilled I was able to go with the girls twice to hear him speak.  His stories of passionately living up to the call Jesus has for his life was challenging to say the least.  I've really been thinking about the stories he shared about people passionately loving other people and sharing the gospel in parts of the world where they suffer serious consequences for doing so.

I'm so thankful to live in a community that is embracing, but how do I push the envelope?  How do I not get comfortable?

In the last two weeks a man committed suicide in his car by parking on the rail road tracks less than a quarter of a mile from my home and on a near by street a three-year-old boy was killed by his mom's 20 year old boyfriend.

My heart is grieved.

These are my neighbors.

I'm not sure what the future holds, but I have been challenged not just to love my community through involvement in the local chamber or in sitting in positions that allow me to speak into the future of the community.  These hands, these feet are called to love like Christ.  I have to personally love people and at the same time look at the systems of a community that can breathe life into the lives and situations of my neighbors, no matter if they are .5 a mile or 10 miles from me.  I also see the importance of empowering others, whether that be through ASCEND, my engagement at church, or hosting a special dinner in a friend's honor. What if we truly love?  What if we authentically encourage?   Don't we grow into a stronger and more loving community?

That is my hope for 2015.  For my friends, for those I come into contact with in the community, and for these precious 7th grade girls.  I hope that I can love them all well, and that in the end, we will be there for the child who is bullied, the man who has lost his hope, to encourage the 20-year-old with patience and love, and to support those who have lost.