We had a wonderful opportunity to turn the focus of our most recent book signing into a benefit for an amazing charity. The Beatitude House of Youngstown empowers women to rise above their current circumstances and move into fuller lives. When Carolyn Cruz invited us to have a book signing at her salon, Magnolia's on the Green, we knew immediately it was something we wanted to do.

 

What Magnolia's, The Apple You Were Fed, and The Beatitude House all have in common is finding joy in women making the most of themselves. From the surface to the soul, the evening we created drew individuals and organizations together. Our friend, Kayte Targrove involved the Welcome Wagon, which provided delicious food and cookies. We brought books and beverages, and Magnolia's also provided wine and a fantastic atmosphere.

 

The women from the education department of the Beatitude House were able to join us, and the two of them shared information, statistics, and success stories about their ministry. There was nothing more fun than seeing their faces when Lisa presented the Girl Scout's donation of money and the additional financial and household donations. Their reactions were as inspiring as spending an evening with women of common purpose. 

 

As always, we're learning. This latest lesson reinforced the idea that the more we are ourselves the greater our opportunities are to change the landscape of our world.

 

 

 

 

 

Shake It Off and Step Up

A parable is told of a farmer who owned an old mule. The mule fell into the farmer's well. The farmer heard the mule "braying," or whatever mules do when they fall into wells. After carefully assessing the situation, the farmer sympathized with the mule, but decided that neither the mule nor the well was worth the trouble of saving. Instead, he called his neighbors together and told them what had happened...and enlisted them to help haul dirt to bury the old mule in the well and put him out of his misery.

 

Initially, the old mule was hysterical! But as the farmer and his neighbors continued shoveling and the dirt hit his back...a thought struck him. It suddenly dawned on him that every time a shovel load of dirt landed on his back...HE SHOULD SHAKE IT OFF AND STEP UP! This he did, blow after blow..."Shake it off and step up...shake it off and step up...shake it off and step up!" he repeated to encourage himself. No matter how painful the blows, or distressing the situation seemed the old mule fought "panic" and just kept right on SHAKING IT OFF AND STEPPING UP!

 

 It wasn't long before the old mule, battered and exhausted, STEPPED TRIUMPHANTLY OVER THE WALL OF THAT WELL! What seemed like it would bury him, actually blessed him...all because of the manner in which he handled his adversity. THAT'S LIFE! If we face our problems and respond to them positively, and refuse to give in to panic, bitterness, or self-pity...THE ADVERSITIES THAT COME ALONG TO BURY US USUALLY HAVE WITHIN THEM THE POTENTIAL TO BENEFIT AND BLESS US!

 

Remember that FORGIVENESS--FAITH--PRAYER-- PRAISE and HOPE...all are excellent ways to "SHAKE IT OFF AND STEP UP" out of the wells in which we find ourselves! "Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, can lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and allow us to run with endurance, the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith. For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls. Shake it off and step up.

 

Ladder Climbing

1.      First read the story

2.      Answer the questions

3.      Reflect on your own experiences

 

 

(Excerpt taken directly from The Apple You Were Fed - chapter 7 pg. 115 )

 

...The painter’s white cargo van drove past my front window from the newly built house up the street, so I asked, “Want to go see the new house? The painter just left. If we don’t get in there soon, the family is going to move in; we’ll miss our chance.” I threw my on coat and adjusted the scarf I was already wearing.

“Let’s go!” Kimberly agreed, buttoning her coat and taking the last gulp of her coffee.

Within minutes we’d walked down the street and were trying the back door; it was unlocked. Inside, the floors and counters were gorgeous, and the appliances in the kitchen gave me a twinge of envy; they were some of the nicest I’d ever seen. We gave ourselves a tour, oohhing and ahhhing, pointing out things we could have or should have done in our own homes. As we were about to leave, we heard the engine of a car. Rushing to the window, we saw the family’s gray minivan parking in the driveway. Tip toeing out of sight, we huddled at the front door. We were caught.

Panicked, I asked, “What’s the etiquette on showing yourself through someone’s house before they move in?” I hoped they would enter through the garage so we could slip out the front.

“There must be different rules for vacant properties,” Kimberly answered sarcastically mimicking my concern, almost enjoying the tension.

Standing deer eyed to our new neighbors from inside their own front door, I spoke first, “Hi.” I tilted my head politely folding my hands, “We live right up,” I pointed the wrong way, “down the street...just coming in to see...”

“How nicely everything is done,” Kimberly interrupted, suddenly using her radio personality voice. ”It really is beautiful.” Her guilty grin grew bigger solidifying into a smile.

I didn’t realize I’d been holding my breath, until I sighed in relief as Mrs. New Owner told us she didn’t care about our curiosity. She wanted to share her ideas about built-in shelves and storage solutions. Walking back into the kitchen, she directed our attention to her six-burner stove. By her third comment on her expertise in the kitchen, I was aggravated. She doesn’t know who she’s talking to, I thought, picturing my own six-burner stove.

Walking home, I was fuming. Hearing her talk about soufflés and quiches and double wall ovens, I thought, She’s not a chef; she didn’t go to school for it. I can cook like a chef. All you need is a good recipe. This bazaar feeling of irritation and a desire to outcook her was pressing in on me, but before I started to make derogatory comments to Kimberly about our new neighbor; I thought about the ladder. I was ready to put down the woman I’d just met because I feared she was trying to shove me off the rung of best cook, which I had been clinging to for years. But as an alternative, I admitted to Kimberly how I was feeling.

“You know,” I said, “This is the first time I resisted the urge to say something mean about another person and tell the truth about what was really motivating the remarks I wanted to make.” I realized it was probably what the Bible meant when it admonished us to confess our faults one to another...

 

1. Have you ever been faced with a person who, just by their expertise, made you feel weaker?
2. Is that the fault of the “expert” or your perspective of them...Why do you think that is?
3. Could the expert have been a really nice person just sharing themselves?
4. Can we find the inner distortion in this story with those of our own experiences?
5. Can we accept ourselves as good enough in the face of others greatness? Can we challenge ourselves to be inspired by them, supportive of their gifts?
6. Are you willing to take that look in the mirror and decide that You Are Enough?

 

Reflection: 

Some people will always question your kind motives...be kind today anyway.

Some people will never be happy by your success...be successful today anyway.

Some people will be jealous of your happiness...be happy today anyway!

 

Be the change you want to see in the world. It starts in the mirror. It starts by seeing your value and wholeness. When full, whole, you can spill out onto others and have no need to take anything from them or feel they are taking from you. You will also see when others attempt to tear you down, or one-up you with gossip or ladder climbing...love them anyway. They are still seeking fulfillment in the world and through others. Today...know You are enough!

 

Prayer:

Father, thank you for my wholeness in You. Thank you for allowing me to take that look in the mirror and heal from the inside the brokenness. Thank you for helping me recognize, to not take things personally, the brokenness in others and loving them by seeing past it to who they really are. Guide me to know Your Presence and love surrounds me and that I am abundant. Thank you for ridding me of negativity and replacing it with inner peace and joy for this vibrant world. Amen.

UPDATE!  We have both finished reading A New Earth so we wanted to update this post. Our goal is to connect with people who want the deep sense of spirituality shown in A New Earth and who relate to the idea of automatic reactions and a lack of personal awareness. However, while we believe we were created by God and that we can bring glory to God - we do not believe we are God. We do not subscribe to the theory of evolution because we believe our value comes from the love that fashioned us as we were created. We do not think thought and expression are peripheral; our individuality, thoughts, feelings, and opinions can be sinful when they are born of our sinful desires - but when they come from our abundant life in Christ, they are essential to express our life to the world. As followers of Christ, we look forward to spending eternity with God, not absorbed into the “One Life.”

The Apple You Were Fed is positioned uniquely between the two halves of the message of Jesus. When fragmented they fall to either side as extreme versions of truth. To the right, we find strict, rule following believers who protect their interpretation of the Gospel to the detriment of themselves and others. To the left, we see human beings struggling without an anchor as the depth of their spirituality is not rooted in God, but in their own awareness and desire to do good.

When united, the whole message reflects what we see as faith and works in harmony. Faith is dead if it is in God but severed from the acts of awareness and desire to do good that are found in the left side of truth. The awareness and desire to do good are dead if they attempt to stand alone as God instead of in Him.

The Apple You Were Fed shows how the two of us each came from opposite sides. Through our friendship, we saw how our own personal belief system was incomplete. Together, we moved toward the center to find the union of sides - a complete message of forgiveness, grace, love and acceptance that freed us to live our lives as originally intended! 

Ohio is blanketed in heather gray skies as is to be expected in the April shower season, but this spring is alive with a different hope for us. We see the world stirring, tapped by the refreshing drops of spiritual rain going on all over the globe. Being part of something far beyond ourselves, and yet infinitely personal, is such a joy. When the idea of Jesus grows beyond a set of rules or a filter through which we see the people in our lives, when Jesus ceases to be an idea and becomes the relationship we’ve heard about and talked about and wanted – that’s when dynamic things start to happen.

We are stepping out into a powerful new season where people can connect with others through honest dialog and open mindedness. I know what I believe, so there is no fear in hearing the thoughts and feelings of another. My faith is a fluid connection to a God I cannot see, yet know beyond doubt is with me. This faith is not a choice, a decision, a feeling, or a religion. It is a reaction to being still and knowing God. In the stillness, I am free to engage others because I no longer have to test my position by what is being said. I am steadfast, yet adaptable.

We have the song 2am on our website and myspace because the words are so true to our experiences in writing the book. She sings...2am and I'm still awake writing this song. If I get it all down on paper it's no longer inside of me, threatening the life it belongs to. Well, I feel like I'm naked in front of a crowd, but these words are my diary screaming out loud and I know that you'll use them however you want to...How true that really is for all of us. When we decide to really be ourselves, show our authentic lives to the world in an effort to simply be real - for once- a few people will try to push us back. To some, stepping out and being real is so frightening that even being around the kind of person who can is intimidating, even when we just want to relate, be their friend, share life with them. Expect that your new way of life will not be easy for some of the people who you may have thought were your friends or close family. Be ready for the people who want to shame you, blame you, or somehow make themselves the victim of your aliveness. It hurts most when it's those very people, friends-neighbors-family, whom you've only wanted to love and have a relationship with. Sometimes the hurt comes from the almost-palpable, deliberate silence.

 

But then the phone rings, an email is sent, you run into someone who you haven't seen in awhile, and they confirm all you've done to change was worth it. All the words you've spoken, or written, or sung, were worth the effort. Some people will use your spiritual freedom against you, but most...thank God, the very more often thing is that people will support, relate, and join in the journey. How great it has been to get those calls, to meet people from all walks of life, to share this great bounty of life with. We have so much to be thankful for, so much to be appreciative in, and through it all, so much more we want to give back. We are in awe of the great people in our lives everyday, the people who have stepped up and cheered us on, and I am continually inspired to press forward in the Truth of who I am.

 

Sometimes, we just have to let it go...the past, the shame, the anger. Let it go and live. Choose love. Choose forgiveness. Choose to see the best in others - look for their light within. Sometimes, being naked in front of the crowd screaming out loud is the best way to let it go. It was for us. If it is for you, we'll be there to cheer you on, too.

 

Kim & An